Have you ever wondered if dogs menstruate? Do you have any idea what vulvovaginitis is in female dogs? Or do you know what happens in the body during the female dog's heat? The female dog's reproductive system is a subject that many guardians do not understand well and that arouses many doubts. One of the main organs of this system is the female dog's vagina, but the truth is that few people understand the anatomy and theMany even confuse it with the female vulva, another organ of the female reproductive system. Knowing all the parts of a dog's body is important because it helps to offer him a much healthier and higher quality life. Therefore, Patas da Casa explains everything about the dog's vagina and answers several questions about the reproductive cycle of the dog.Check it out!

Ovary, uterus, vagina, vulva: bitch has different organs in her reproductive system

The female dog's reproductive system is composed of different organs that act together. The external organ is the vulva, which has two large lips that meet. Many people confuse the vulva with the dog's vagina and end up exchanging their names. Therefore, it is important to note that the external part that we can visualize is the vulva of the dog. The vagina, on the other hand, is the organThe uterus is a hollow organ located in the abdominal region. It is the uterus that captures the sperm that came from the male dog so that they can be fertilized and also houses the fetus until the time of delivery of the bitch. The ovaries are responsible for producing the sperm that come from the male dog.eggs and secrete hormones that help regulate the bitch's heat.

What is the function of the female dog's vagina?

The dog's vagina, as we explained, is an internal organ - so it cannot be confused with the vulva. The male dog, at the time of mating, releases his semen into the bitch. One of the main functions of the vagina is to serve as a passage for this semen, which contains the dog's sperm. Other functions of the bitch's vagina are to protect the semen, to reduce contamination of the cervix (barrier that contains the sperm) and to protect the sperm.protects the uterus) during pregnancy and serves as a passage for the puppies to exit at the time of delivery.

The anatomy of the dog's vagina prevents infections at the site

The female dog's vagina is shaped like a tube that has three layers: mucous, muscular and serous. Although there is mucus, it is not produced by the vagina itself, but by the cervix. A curiosity is that inside the female dog's vagina the PH is more acidic than in other parts of the body. The reason for this is that the more acidic PH helps to prevent infections in the place. However, it is worth mentioning that it is possible tothere are infections in the dog vagina in some circumstances.

What should be the normal appearance of a bitch's vagina and vulva?

It is very important that the guardian always pay attention to any different signs in the vagina or vulva. Bitch usually presents the vulva region in a pinkish color. Ideally, there should be no secretion, lumps, bruises and rashes in the place. As the bitch's vagina is an internal organ, we cannot visualize it. Therefore, to know if there is a problem in this region, it is good to keep an eye onabnormal secretions and bleeding, as these may indicate that there is something abnormal with this organ.

What is female dog heat?

The female dog's vagina is a fundamental organ in the reproductive system and is involved in dog heat. But what is heat anyway? Heat is the period when the female dog is ready to fertilize and possibly have children. It is part of the estrous cycle, which is divided into 4 phases. The first phase of dog heat is Proestrus, which happens when the female begins to release pheromones to attract the female dogs.In this phase, the bitch's vulva is enlarged, but she is not able to fertilise. Then comes Estrus, the phase considered to be the dog's heat itself. The bitch is fertile and can fertilise. Then comes Diestrus, the phase in which hormones are well stimulated and allow a dog's pregnancy to continue. These hormone stimuli happen whether the bitch is pregnant or not, so it is common tothat puppies who have not become pregnant have psychological pregnancy in this phase. Finally, comes Anestrus, which is an interval between the phases of the cycle. In this phase, hormones decrease and there is sexual inactivity.

Does a dog menstruate? Understand if dog menstruation exists

The entire estral cycle of the female dog resembles human menstruation, so many owners wonder: does the dog menstruate? During the heat of the female dog, the dog may have bleeding. However, it is important to note that what happens to the dog is not menstruation, but an estral cycle. The bleeding that occurs during heat is not the same as that which happens in women who are menstruating. Thus,saying that dogs menstruate is not correct.

How many days does the dog get her period?

Another common question is "how many days does the dog get a period?" As we explained, it is not a period, but there is bleeding. This bleeding in the vulva of a female dog in heat is normal in the proestrus phase and lasts about 9 days. However, it is worth mentioning that this average of "how many days does the dog get a period" is not accurate, since the estrous cycle can vary in each animal.

Another frequent question is when the dog "menstruates" for the first time. The age varies according to size. Small dogs have their first heat between 6 and 12 months. Medium and large dogs have their first heat until they are 1 year and 6 months old. Giant dogs, on the other hand, can have their first heat until they are 2 years old. All of this is an average, so it can vary for each pet.

What to do when the dog "menstruates"?

After the first heat, the bitch usually goes through this process again every 6 months (but it can take more or less time according to each animal). So if your dog is not neutered, it is important to know how to deal with her during this period. But after all: what to do when the dog "menstruates"? During this period, it is common to find blood splashes around the house. A solution to thisThese accessories prevent bleeding from spreading around the house and relieve some of the discomfort for the dog. However, they should not be used for long periods of time, as the dog also needs to do her business.

Another tip on what to do when the dog "menstruates" is to avoid stressing the animal. The behavior of the dog in heat can become aggressive, so separate her from other animals and make her comfortable to avoid problems. Finally, keep an eye on the vulva and vagina region. Bitch can end up suffering inflammation in the place, since the vulva naturally swells and this causes the pet to lick the vulva.region, which favors the proliferation of bacteria.

Secretions in the vagina: female dogs can present this condition for several reasons

As we explained, the dog "menstruates" and, when this happens, she releases a bloody secretion. During heat, bleeding is common and soon passes. However, when it occurs outside this period it is good to pay attention, as it may mean that the dog has some disease. One possibility is pyometra in dogs, an infection that affects the dog's uterus after heat. When it is of the typeAnother common cause of discharge outside of the heat period is canine vaginitis, an infection in the dog's vagina. If you notice that your dog's vagina is releasing a discharge (bloody or not) outside of the heat period and/or in very large quantities, take your dog to your veterinarian for an evaluation.

Canine vaginitis is one of the most common diseases of the female dog's vagina

Canine vaginitis is nothing more than an inflammation in the vagina of the female dog. It is a disease that can affect dogs of any breed and age, regardless of the stage of the reproductive cycle in which it is. The reasons that lead to canine vaginitis are many. The most common are bacterial or fungal infections, hormonal changes, immaturity of the reproductive system (dog not yetOne of the most frequent symptoms of canine vaginitis is the release of vaginal discharge. Usually, the discharge is translucent, but it can have color variations and even some blood according to the cause. Other symptoms are fever, vomiting, pain when urinating and lethargy.

It is also common to see dogs with canine vaginitis licking their genitals in an attempt to relieve discomfort - which is dangerous, as excessive licking helps to further proliferate fungi and bacteria in the area. However, as canine vaginitis can have different causes, the symptoms vary greatly. It is worth mentioning that in addition to canine vaginitis (which affects dog vagina),there is vulvitis, when it is the vulva of the dog that suffers inflammation. It can also happen that there is inflammation in both organs at the same time. When this happens, we have vulvovaginitis in dogs.

Castration is the best way to avoid problems in the female dog's vagina

Whether it's canine vaginitis, pyometra or any other condition that affects the organs of the dog's reproductive system, prevention is the same: castration. During heat, the dog suffers from many hormonal changes that end up making the entire reproductive system more prone to developing infections. By performing castration surgery, the puppy suffers much less from the effects of hormones and,Consequently, the risk of diseases and even cancer decreases considerably.

A common question is whether a neutered dog "menstruates", and the answer is no. In the castration surgery, the ovary and uterus are removed and the dog no longer goes into heat. Castration of the dog is very beneficial for the animal and it is usually recommended to perform it from 6 months. Castrating the dog is a way to take care of the health of the vulva, the dog's vagina and her entire organism, ensuring ahealthy development.