Caring for your bitch while she’s in heat
A Shih Tzu first season can be chaotic and stressful for both pets and their owners. However, if you’ve decided not to spay your new puppy or if you plan to breed her in the future, you must manage this inevitable phase.
Some vets recommend having at least one season to fully allow your puppy to reach maturity. Others advise it’s best to neuter immediately. We think this is more about personal choice. And sometimes, the first season catches you unaware!
It’s a good suggestion to have your puppy neutered if you’ve no intention of breeding with her. This will remove the risk of womb infections, unwanted litters and free both you and also your fur baby from the inconvenience associated with their seasons.
Be careful, at 6 months old your Tzu is basically a teenager. She’s immature and breeding at this age carries high risks for her and her puppies. If you are intending to breed it is recommended to wait till her 3rd season, so typically when she is 18 months old before breeding.
Your Shih Tzu First Season – Coming into heat
The age is variable depending on the breed of the dog. At the earliest it’s 6 months and at the latest at 24 months for their first season. The first period of heat corresponds to puberty and therefore to the animal’s ability to reproduce.
There is a big difference between bitches because the heat cycle is dependent on the growth factor, a small size bitch grows faster and shorter, so she is sexually mature faster than a large size breed.
To summarize, the first heat takes place at around 5 to 6 months: for dwarf and small breeds. Yes, this is when your Shih Tzu is going to have her first season. Typically, 6-7 months of age.
Signs of Shih Tzu Season Starting
Typically, you will see spots of blood as your Shih Tzu pup comes on heat but there are also other signs to watch out for as she approaches 6 months old. You can generally tell a bitch is entering into season from various other indicators such as:
- More frequent licking & cleaning of the genital area.
- A swelling of the vulva (generally a number of days before she begins bleeding).
- Urinating more often and usually in smaller amounts
Your Shih Tzu’s first season: Is My Shih Tzu in heat?
Depending on the period of the cycle the bitch is in, the physical and behavioural manifestations are not the same. It is therefore quite easy to see if your dog is in heat. Regardless of the breed of dog, the cycle is the same, there are no differences between a Shih Tzu and a Labrador sized dog.
The female dog’s sexual cycle is broken down into 4 main parts, and each of these phases correspond to behavioural and physiological modifications.
The pre estrus
This corresponds to the onset of heat. It lasts about ten days. The bitch attracts males but refuses mating. Her vulva changes appearance; it swells and may redden, a condition known as edematous vulva. Depending on the bitch, you might also observe bloody vulvar discharge, which can vary in abundance.
The estrus
This is the full period of heat, it lasts about ten days. It is during this period that ovulation takes place. The bitch attracts the males, and this time accepts their interest and is likely to mate. We still observe a swollen vulva, and vulvar discharge but a little clearer, the discharge tends to be more pink.
The metestrus ( or diestrus )
Or whenthe heat is over. The bitch refuses mating again, her vulva returns to a normal size and the bleeding stops. This period lasts about sixty days, during which gestation can take place. The teats swell to a greater or lesser extent whether the bitch is pregnant or not. Please note, during this period, it is not uncommon to observe pathologies (sometimes serious) of the genital system such as infection of the uterus ( pyometra ) or pseudo gestational lactation (nervous / phantom pregnancy).
The anoestrous
This is the period of sexual rest, which lasts between 4 and 8 months. The entire genitalia returns to its normal size, the teats deflate.
Shih Tzu Behaviour Changes In Heat
Every puppy is different, some puppies get more dominant and tend to become sexually aware as the hormones are released. They might try and mount other dogs, furniture or even your legs! Others are confused and anxious with the changes and can become quieter. Nesting can also happen where toys and bedding are gathered to make nests for possibility of puppies.
Be kind, this is a confusing time. Gently discourage mounting, let them nest and be aware to their behaviour changes.
Your Shih Tzu’s first season: Shih Tzu In Heat: How long does a season last?
The duration of a Shih tzu bitch in heat is on average 21 days, or 3 weeks and the heat cycle returns every 6 to 7 months. These numbers are averages, so there are some bitches that may be in heat every 8 months and others every 5 months.
This is not a problem as long as the time between each heat period is the same (or more or less). You will therefore need to ensure the regularity of the cycles, but also their duration, never more than 5 weeks.
For that, there’s nothing better than to note in the health record of your dog, the dates of beginning and end of heat. If you notice any abnormal rhythms or durations, do not hesitate to make an appointment with your veterinarian who can if necessary, set up laboratory examinations to ensure that everything is fine.
Your Shih Tzu’s first season: Are seasons a lifetime thing for Shih Tzu’s?
The canine species has another peculiarity, since it does not have menopause. Even as she gets older, the female Shih Tzu continues to have seasons (be in heat), sometimes a little less marked but still present. This means that from puberty until a very advanced age, the bitch can reproduce; however, after the age of 8, her fertility decreases considerably, and breeding is no longer recommended.
Shih Tzu first season: HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TZU WHEN IN SEASON
First of all, if you don’t intend to breed with your Tzu then early neutering in an option. If the answer is NO, then the best prevention is surgical sterilization (neutering), more heat, more risk of accidental pregnancies. But if the answer is YES, then you will have to put in place some devices to allow you to live serenely with a bitch in heat until the mating.
When a bitch is in heat, she does everything to attract males, and this situation can quickly turn into a nightmare. A neighbor’s dog might howl in front of the gate or dig under the fence to reach her! And be careful, it is not because you have a Shih Tzu and the neighbour has a German Shepherd that there is no risk, on the contrary!
If you can’t make up your mind, ask your veterinarian for advice, who will be able to provide you with information, taking into account many parameters such as age, breed, etc.
Some easy tips to help you and your Shih Tzu when she’s on heat.
- Keep male dogs away. inside and outside the home
- Use baby gates to keep them separate
- Take walks at times that are less busy with other dogs. Your bitch is sending out pheromones that will attract other dogs and they can be intent on getting to her.
- Always keep her on a lead, her behaviour can change and even the best trained dog can suddenly refuse recall commands when her hormones are going haywire.
- Stop any puppy training classes, socialisation is not recommended when she is on heat
- Send quality time with your Shih Tzu. She needs to be occupied so some inside play time and games will help as you’ll be exercising her outside less. Also, if she is feeling anxious and stress, lots of cuddles and time with you can make all the difference.
- A small spot of menthol on the tip of her tail can help disguise the heat scent from other dogs.
- Restrict access to some areas of the house, think about your carpets and soft furnishings or see the section below on puppy and dog diapers to minimise mess.
Your Shih Tzu’s first season: Hygiene Protection For Your Shih Tzu In Season
There are two hygienic protection solutions that can be used for dogs in heat: briefs accompanied by disposable protections or disposable diapers. Their purpose is to contain vulvar losses and thus avoid traces in the house, in the basket… Even if the losses are minimal, they can stain and be difficult to clean from certain surfaces.
There are obviously several sizes of panties or diapers to adapt to each dog.
Disposable Diapers or Pads
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As for the diapers, they close like baby diapers on the sides with adhesive strips. They are for single use only.
Carefully choose the size of the diapers and briefs. If they are too large, they may not be as effective as desired, and if they are too small, they may injure the bitch, among other things, on the inside of the thighs.
The measurement is taken at the level of the belly. Using a tape measure or a tape, go around the abdomen of your dog at the level of the hips, just in front of the thighs. For disposable diapers, the size is typically “small” for Shih Tzus.
Resuable Diapers or Pads
The reusable briefs close on the back with a Velcro or buckle so they can be adjusted to fit. For each brief, there are absorbent protections that can be changed as often as necessary during the day.
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The protections (disposable pads or inserts) must be changed regularly to avoid tissue maceration and irritation of the vulva.
These protection systems are not intended to prevent impregnation. While the vulva is covered by the panties, male dogs are very inventive in these situations! Whatever mode of protection you decide to choose, remember that it will have to be removed to let your dog do her business!