Dogs get their periods just like us humans do, but they’re called ‘estros cycle‘ instead of periods. While it may seem like the idea of a dog getting its shuteye is far-fetched, you might be surprised to find out that many female mammals get their period monthly.

These are some of the most important questions to think about when trying to solve this mystery: What happens if your best friend gets her period? Is there anything you can do to help your furry friend when they’re in pain?

And the most important one: How often does this happen? We’ll answer this question in our article here!

Also, check out Why Do Dogs Have Periods?

How Often Do Dogs Get Their Periods?

The answer can vary on the size of the dog. Some might have them once a year while others might have them every month. The female dog’s reproductive cycle lasts approximately 2-21 days, depending on a few factors such as diet and dogs in heat.

Here are 4 factors that influence dog periods:

1. Weight

Breeds that weigh around 20 pounds or less may have a period every month while dogs that weigh more than 60 pounds may have one once a year. There is usually an increase in the estrogen hormone when the dog starts to get her period. This usually happens when she goes into heat or when she has just finished it. Smaller dogs tend to get their period more often than bigger dogs do because the smaller breeds tend to have higher estrogen levels than big dogs do. The same can be said for older dogs with older female dogs having higher levels of estrogen than younger female dogs do. It’s also pretty common for larger dog breeds to have more eggs during their cycle than smaller ones do.

2. Proper Nutrition

A dog that is eating the proper nutrition and having the right amount of exercise may have a period every month while a dog that is eating junk food and not being exercised might have a period only once every few months. Female dogs that are eating high-quality food will also have a smaller period than ones that are eating junk food. There will also be more complete periods, meaning they’ll have more eggs during their cycle.

3. No Reproductive Cycle

There are dogs that have no reproductive cycle at all, but it’s very rare. The dogs who are born with this are mostly spayed or neutered. There are some that have been spayed or neutered too young and then the dog never had a cycle. There are some dogs who have had a reproductive cycle, but it stopped when they got older.

4. Period Month

Dogs that have a reproductive cycle usually have it in the springtime (because of the breeding season) or after they were spayed or neutered (because their hormones are out of whack). The female dog will go into heat when she reaches six months old. She will return to heat every 6-10 months unless she is spayed or if her hormones are out of whack (which can happen after she is spayed). If the female dog is having her first heat cycle, she could go in any month. If you want to know more about a female dog’s heat cycle, check out our article ‘Do dogs have periods?’

Conclusion

Dogs get their periods about once a month to a year, depending on the size of the dog and breed. In general, they will show symptoms two weeks before it starts. These symptoms include mood changes, lethargy, and a refusal to eat or drink. It is possible that some dogs might not get their periods at all if they are spayed before they become sexually mature.

Thank you for reading the article.

To explore more, check out other articles we have covered on Dog Periods. 

How often does your dog get her period? How do you take care of her during her heat cycle? We would love to hear from you. Please share with our community by leaving a comment below!