question about heat cycle

[Jeannie]

Ok so I searched the forums and I didn't find an answer to my question so I am asking it. I have never had an intact female before (well except Panda, but that was only for 2 weeks) Anyway I know a heat cycle usually lasts for three weeks. My questions: When in the cycle do they start bleeding? How long do they bleed? Can you tell by the amount of blood how far along they are?

May be stupid questions, but I need to know.

 

[Sherry in California]

It is NOT a stupid question...How would you know , if you have never experenced it. I have found no 2 dogs to be the same..some bleed alot more than others, they usually start with a small amount of spotting, and then it gets heavier, and they swell up and get puffy looking and sort of hard. Then the discharge slows way down, and they begin to get soft back there...and usually that is when they are ready... I stress usually, because about the time you think you have seen everything you get a surprise and your girl breeds either real early in her cycle or late. This is just me experience....My vet does AI's on a lagre scale(several a day) and they have tests to show when your bitch is ready to bred, but I have never had it done...usually my male's can tell me when she is ready !

I guess I need to add...This is my experience with my own dogs, as I have not had a female Newf in heat yet, but I have had other large breeds, and lots of small ones...and hopefuuly you will get some hints here from Newfy owners.You know, its kind of like "women" in general...when you think about it. No two of us are exactly alike, either

 

[sarnewfie]

LOL Sherry, it is a good thing no two of us are alike huh??

What sherry said and i would like to add, to really tell if your girl is ovulating progesterone tests are the key.
at our vet we start our progesterone on a new female on day 3 and go every other day until it spikes. we can usually wait on morgan and penny becouse i know kinda when they will ovulate, and than i can wait until day 5 i count days from when i first see swelling, and in both my girls i see that before the bleeding starts.

 

[newfvo]

I agree that progestrone testing is probably the most accurate way to tell where a bitch is in her cycle but for those who do not intend to breed, one visual way to tell where they are at is the color of the discharge. It starts out pink, turns to a bright red, goes to a rusty color and then ends up straw colored.

SUSAN

 

[Jeannie]

Great, I got my question answered. I should have stressed I am not looking to know when a bitch is ready to be bred, but when is one going to go out of heat. The discharge is brown, or at least it was Sunday so maybe it is near the end???

 

[newfvo]

I would guess you have about 5 to 7 days left. Hang in there! This too shall pass. At least for another 6 months!!!

 

[sarnewfie]

Well now, i feel stupid for the answer i gave. as far as stupid questions i believe there is never such a thing.