Dog in heat (dog "periods"): signs, how long it lasts, what to do
Checked against 4 sources
A female dog "in heat" — loosely called her "periods", and medically her season or oestrus — is the fertile part of her normal reproductive cycle, not an illness; most dogs have it about twice a year, and the whole heat usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks124. It isn't the same as a human period: a dog doesn't shed a uterine lining every month, and a blood-tinged discharge with a swollen vulva is usually the first sign owners notice234.
Discharge that is heavy, foul-smelling, or still going well past 4 weeks .
- How often
- About twice a year for most dogs (every 6–7 months); small breeds may cycle 3–4 times a year, giant breeds sometimes just once14
- First signs
- A blood-tinged vaginal discharge and a swollen vulva, often with more frequent urination and marking124
- How long
- The whole heat usually runs 2 to 4 weeks; the bleeding itself is shorter, roughly a week to 10 days24
- Around male dogs
- She can get pregnant during this time — keep her on a leash, away from parks, and never leave her unsupervised outside1
On this page
The stages of a heat
| Stage | What's happening | Usual length |
|---|---|---|
| Proestrus | Swelling and bleeding start; she attracts males but isn't ready to mate yet | About 9 days (range 3–21)2 |
| Estrus | Discharge lightens towards pink or straw-coloured; she is now fertile and receptive to males | About 9 days (range 3–21)23 |
| Diestrus | Hormones settle, whether or not she's pregnant | About 57 days if pregnant, a little longer if not2 |
| Anestrus | A resting phase between cycles | Roughly 4 to 6 months2 |
Dog heat vs a human period
Despite the common phrase "dog periods", a dog's cycle isn't the same as a human period: a dog doesn't shed and rebuild a uterine lining every month, and the bleeding happens as she's getting ready to ovulate, not because nothing was fertilised3. "Dog ko periods hote hai" (she has periods) is how many Indian pet parents describe it, and the signs — discharge, swelling, restlessness — are what vets call being "in heat" or "in season"124.
What to do while she's in heat
- Keep her on a leash on walks, and skip the dog park or daycare until it's over1.
- Expect male dogs — including street dogs — to be drawn to your gate; don't let her out unsupervised, even in a fenced yard1.
- Dog diapers or washable pants, and extra games or routine at home, can help keep her (and the house) comfortable during the bleeding stage14.
- If you don't want a litter and haven't already spoken to your vet about spaying, this is a good time to ask; government and NGO-run clinics in many Indian cities offer low-cost sterilisation — see low-cost vets near you.
When to call a vet
Checked against vet sources. Not yet reviewed by a vet.
- Discharge that is heavy, foul-smelling, or still going well past 4 weeks4.
- A white or unusual-coloured discharge, which can be a sign of infection4.
- Loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, or drinking and urinating noticeably more — especially in the weeks after a heat ends, which can mean a womb infection (pyometra)1.
- She was mated and you weren't planning a litter — call a vet as soon as you can, rather than wait and see3.
- For the full list of signs that mean go now, see when to go to a vet now.
Not fully clear yet
Official sources disagree or leave gaps on these. Confirm before you rely on them.
- Sources give slightly different "average" lengths for each phase of the heat (about 9 days per phase in one source, "2 to 4 weeks" total with about a week to 10 days of bleeding in another) — in practice this varies a lot by dog, so treat these as ranges, not a fixed countdown24.
- We didn't find an Indian-specific study on how heat cycles or pyometra risk differ in Indian street or desi dogs compared with the Western breeds most of this research is based on.
Sources and how we check
Facts checked against the official and veterinary sources below by Thapki. Not yet reviewed by a vet. Written with AI help from the sources below, then checked line by line; the Thapki team reads and approves every page before it goes live. How we check