What Happens When Your Chihuahua Goes On Heat

Last Updated on February 14, 2023

Statistics do show that there are more female pets than male pets that are being chosen as pets. This goes the same for Chihuahuas too. There are several reasons why owners love to have female dogs over male dogs, and one of the top reason is that female dogs do not pee around aimlessly, unlike male dogs! But while female Chihuahuas are indeed preferred over their male counterparts, the main problem will occur when the female Chihuahua goes into heat. If you are not aware of this, you might be an unfortunate owner of many Chihuahua puppies. While you may rejoice over this, do remember that Chihuahua has one of the loudest bark, and imagine having a litter of them barking incessantly. The sound generated will surely exceed that from the jet engines! Of course, you can purchase bark collars for Chihuahuas, but that means you have to purchase a ton of them!

Hence, it is pretty important that you start to take note when your Chihuahua goes into heat. For first time owners, you might not know how to handle it. While there are many guides out there on how to handle the bloody situation, we have just the ultimate guide to what to expect when your female Chihuahua goes on heat. Read on!

Things To Note When Your Female Chihuahua Goes On Heat

To ensure that you are not caught unprepared when your female Chihuahua goes on heat, it is paramount that you read and understand what does it mean when your dog goes on heat as well as the seasonality of it. But first of all, you should know that your female Chihuahua will have her first heat when she is about 6 months old. Of course, this varies with all female Chihuahuas. Should your Chihuahua’s heat still does not arrive when they are about 2 years of age, then it might be an indication that your dog is having some health issues and a trip to the vet is warranted.

While the following might not be that relevant to dog owners, it is good to know the exact process during the entire heat cycle that your female Chihuahua is experiencing.

The Four Stages Of Heat Cycle

A heat cycle usually lasts between two to three weeks, and it will occur at most twice a year, with about six months between each cycle. There are four stages, or processes, that happens during a heat cycle.

• 1st Stage – Proestrus
  When your Chihuahua is about to go into heat. there are several telltale signs that you can notice. These signs are related to changes in their body as well as changes to their mood. I know it sounds exactly like humans, but let us carry on. Some physical changes can be enlarged and reddish nipples as well as blood spots on the floor. You will notice that your dog starts to lick more often than usual. Apart from the physical differences, a telltale sign that your Chihuahua is going onto Proestrus is that they will start to chase other dogs like some literal horny dog asking for a hump. Heck, they might even try to hump your leg. If this is the case, you should always be firm with your dog and not let them develop the negative habit of humping your leg or any random dog that they see, especially when the female Chihuahua is going through heat.
• 2nd Stage – Estrus
  During the 2nd stage, it is when you should be actively monitoring your dog, especially if there are male dogs in your vicinity. This is because this is when your Chihuahua is the horniest, or perhaps the most fertile. A telltale sign of a Chihuahua in the Estrus stage is when the female Chihuahua start to chase the male dog around as well as having enlarged and reddish genitals.
• 3rd Stage – Diestrus
  Essentially, this is the period at which the bleeding will stop and all of the previously telltale signs of a dog in heat will dissipate over 1 to 3 months time.
• 4th Stage – Anestrus
  During this final stage of the dog’s heat cycle, all the genitals should return back to normal. Depending on your dog’s body condition, this stage will last from 1 month to 4 months. Once this cycle is finished, your dog will go into heat all and experience stage 1 again.

How To Prepare For Your Female Chihuahua First Heat

If this is your female Chihuahua, or perhaps your first time experiencing a dog that is going through heat, then you will want to take note of the following.

1. Never Let Your Dog Breed During Her Very First Heat Cycle
   This is important, as you would want your Chihuahua to experience her first heat cycle as a whole first. This will allow the dog, as well as her body, to get accustomed to the process itself. Should she be impregnated during her very first heat cycle, she will be subjected to health complications. As a rule of thumb, never let male dogs impregnate your female Chihuahua during her first heat cycle.
2. Avoid Male Dogs
   During your female Chihuahua first heat cycle, try to prevent male dogs from approaching your Chihuahua. It can be quite tough if you bring your female Chihuahua out. This is because when the female dog is in heat, their body will secrete a scent that will attract male dogs. As such, we tend to keep the female dog indoors, separated from the male dogs, when they are experiencing heat.
3. Wear Diapers For Dogs
   In order to prevent infection as well as to keep your floor clean of blood spots, it is recommended for your dog to wear diapers.
4. Care For Your Female Chihuahua
   During heat, your Chihuahua will experience mood swings like how humans experience mood swings during their menstrual periods. As such, they might display needy characteristics as well as having severe mood swings during heat. Always be understanding to the dog, and keep her healthy during this period too.

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