Expert: Jannie Balliett - 10/3/2009

Question
My boxer is nine months old, how long will her bleeding take to stop.What wood be the longest and the shortest her cycle could take. Should her vagina swell,I have know idea what to expect this is her first cycle and I've never had a female dog. If you could help I would be very thankful.                                                                                             Joshua C.

Answer
Josh, you're in for a lot of new experience.

A bitch heat cycle last approximately three (3) weeks.

There are four different stages of the estrous cycle from beginning to accepting the male and fertilization occurring or not occurring, and end of cycle.

Four stages of the cycle:

1) proestrus (last 9-10 days)
2) oestrus (estrous)   (last 5-9 days)
3) diestrus (9 weeks on average)
4) anestrus (3-4 months on average)

The actual period of when the bitch is “in heat” is made up of the proestrus and estrus stages, and can last from 3-21 days.

The diestrus stage, she becomes unattractive to males. Dogs that do not become pregnant will have very high levels of progesterone circulating in the blood for 2-3 months, and the anestrus stage is when the levels of sex hormones in the dog’s bloodstream are at their lowest. This is a period of sexual inactivity for the dog.

She should come into her heat approximately every 5-6 months average. If she doesn't, have her thyroid checked by your vet as thyroid disorders interrupt the estrous cycle or eliminate it all togher and cannot breed or if does, can loose the pups.

Here are some helpful links for you:

http://www.thepawblog.com/the-heat-cycle-of-the-female-dog/

http://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Dog_Heat_Cycle_and_Breeding (all female dogs cycle)

http://www.boxerdogplanet.com/showthread.php?t=1799

Join Boxerworld.com for free and go into the forums. There is a wealth of information about Boxers (and your girl) and all by Boxer owners/lovers sharing their information, knowledge and experiences. You can get any info and questions answered in their forums. Great site.

Also join Boxerforums.com for free. Same as above. Great site!

You will gain a wealth of info about your girl and share your joys and problems with other wonderful and helpful Boxer owners.

If you are not interested in breeding her, talk to your vet about spaying her now. Bitches that are not going to be breed do better and are healthier once spayed because it lowers their chances of getting mammary and cervical cancer when older. Just a thought to consider. If you are not sure yet, then you have time to consider breeding options, but don't put off spaying over the age of 4 years old.