As an owner of a female Cane Corso dog, it is extremely important to learn how to recognize the heat cycle signs. And not just that. Taking care of a dog in heat can be rather challenging so it’s good for you to know what is really going on with your Cane Corso in these weeks, what to expect and how to handle your dog properly.
Cane Corso dog goes into her first heat somewhere between 10 and 12 months of age. The heat cycle usually repeats approximately every 6-9 months and lasts for approximately 3 weeks. Usual symptoms are the swollen vulva, increased urination, red discharge but also some behavioral as well as appetite changes.
Spaying procedure is generally recommended, in the case of Cane Corso might be performed between the age of 4 to 9 months. However, breeding is not recommended before 18 months of age as this breed has a long puppy stage and you should wait second and even third heat cycle to breed your Cane Corso girl.
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When Cane Corso Dog Goes Into First Heat?
There is a general rule of thumb that larger breeds go into heat later than smaller ones. Cane Corso dogs usually go into first heat somewhere between 10 and 12 months of age. Of course, the first heat may happen earlier- in the period of 6 months but also significantly later, close to your dog’s second birthday.
Heat cycles can be irregular in the beginning but tend to normalize in the first two years.
How Long Do Cane Corso Dogs Bleed While in Heat?
Large dogs, like Cane Corso, tend to bleed more than smaller breeds, and Cane Corso dogs even more. Still, every dog in heat is trying to maintain the maximum level of hygiene by constant licking. So unless your Cane Corso girl has a very heavy flow the mess that she makes will be moderate.
A Cane Corso girl may bleed 7-10 days. Bloody discharge is characteristic of the first 11 days of a heat cycle.
During the first phase of the heat cycle – Proestrus -the body of your dog is getting ready to mate. The Cane Corso girl won’t be receptive to males, may show a certain level of hostility and aggressiveness towards males while in this phase but you should still keep a close eye on her all the time.
Some light bleeding may continue after the first phase, when your dog passes to another phase called Estrus, but that discharge ( if there is any) will be pale in color ( yellow or pink) and less in quantity.
How To Know If My Cane Corso Dog is In Heat?
Heat signs are pretty obvious and you won’t need much effort to learn how to recognize them.
Every dog in heat goes through three major phases, Proestrus, Estrus, and Diestrus.
Proestrus is the period during which the body of your furry friend is getting ready to mate. Physical changes like swollen vulva and bloody discharge are completely normal and expected. Excessive licking of the genital area is also one of the symptoms.
Your Cane Corso girl won’t be in the mood to mate yet, moreover, she may show some aggression toward males.
Behavioral changes are also something you will surely notice – your Cane Corso girl may experience a lack of energy and decreased appetite. Also, she might become more clingy and affectionate with you.
Whatever you put in the bowl, she will just turn her head away. You shouldn’t worry about this as losing some pounds won’t hurt her. She will get back on track very soon.
Estrus is the most dangerous period unless you want Cane Corso babies. This is the phase during which your Cane Corso girl is in the mood to hang around boys. On the other hand, she may express aggression towards females because she feels she needs to fight for the attention of the males.
Swelling of the vulva is reduced but still exists in order to make the vulva soft enough for penetration. Bleeding has been stopped or still exists but just in traces.
Actually, the most fertile period (11-14th day of the beginning of the heat cycle) for a dog is when the discharge becomes watery, this is the time of ovulation.
You might spot more frequent urination in your Cane Corso dog during this period. She releases pheromones with the urine which are an invitation to all males and information that she is ready to mate.
Diestrus is the third phase of the heat cycle. The body is getting back to normal again. The vulva is not swollen anymore, there is not any discharge and your Cane Corso girl returns to her usual self. This phase lasts for about 2 months.
The Diestrus phase is followed by the Anestrus phase. This is an inactive stage of the heat cycle. In the case of large dogs like Cane Cors, this phase may last 150 days. Even at the beginning of this phase, your dog can get pregnant so keep her away from males until all heat symptoms vanish.
What Is A Silent Heat?
Silent heat is a rare condition in which Cane Corso dogs ovulate and can mate but the typical heat symptoms ( like swollen vulva and bloody discharge) are missing. In some, even more, rare cases dogs may suffer from an autoimmune disease that affects their ovaries and interfere with the heat cycle.
Also if your dog has a problem with the thyroid gland, that can cause irregular heat cycles.
If you have doubts about your dog and whether she is in heat or not, you should consult the vet. He/she will perform vaginal cytology and progesterone tests to determine if your Cane Corso girl is in heat or not.
How Often Do Cane Corso Dogs Go Into Heat?
Cane Corso dogs usually go into heat twice a year or every 6 months. Of course, this can vary, especially as this is a large breed, and large/giant breeds may go into heat less frequently than other breeds.
When Should I Spay My Cane Corso?
Unless you tend to breed your Cane Corso girl you should spay her.
However, you should not spay your pet before her growth plates close since this procedure will affect the production of hormones essential to bone health and growth.
Some experts say it should be done before or right after her first heat ( 6-9 months of age) while others suggest waiting a little bit until your dog is full-grown (18-24 months)
The most reliable advice you will get from your vet, of course. The general rule of thumb is that large dogs should be spayed later than smaller breeds.
Spaying has many advantages though. Many studies have shown that spayed dogs have fewer chances to get mammary cancer.
Since this procedure involves removing ovaries and uterus, this means that your dog will never get cancer-related to these organs.
Don’t forget that if you spay her, you won’t have to deal with unwanted pregnancy and litter.
