If you have a female Rottweiler dog, it is crucial to learn how to recognize the heat cycle signs. This period is very special for your dog, she may act and feel differently than usual so it’s good for you to know what is really going on with her and how to handle her properly.
Rottweiler dog goes into their first heat somewhere between 6 and 12 months of age, most commonly around 9 months of age. The heat cycle usually repeats every 6 months or so and lasts for approximately 3 weeks. Usual symptoms are a swollen vulva, bloody discharge, and excessive licking of the genital area but also some behavioral as well as appetite changes.
Even though the spaying procedure is generally recommended, in the case of Rotweiller dogs should be prolonged for the period after the dog hits the second birthday.
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When Rottweiler Dog Goes Into First Heat?
It is important to know when your Rottweiler will go into her first heat since this event marks the entry into the dog’s puberty. There is a general rule of thumb that larger breeds go into heat later than smaller ones.
Rottweiler dog usually goes into first heat somewhere between 6 and 12 months of age, most probably when she is 9 months old. It can happen that your Rottweiler experiences a heat cycle much later as some large breeds of dogs might not go into first heat before 18-24 months of age.
Heat cycles can be irregular in the beginning but tend to normalize in the first two years.
If you do plan to breed your Rottweiler, bear in mind that she won’t be sexually mature before 18 months of age. It’s not recommended to breed any Rottweiler before the second or even third heat.
If you do breed immature Rottweilers, the pregnancy can bring multiple health complications but also the young mother may neglect her puppies, having no intention to take care of them.
How Long Do Rottweiler Dogs Bleed While in Heat?
There is no big difference between large and small breeds when it comes to bleeding time during the menstrual cycle.
A Rottweiler may bleed anywhere between 4 days and 2 weeks. Bloody discharge ( red in color) is characteristic of this first phase of the heat cycle called Proestrus.
Although the body of your dog is getting ready to mate, your Rottweiler girl won’t be receptive to 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.
Unless your Rottweiler girl has a very heavy flow you may not see a single drop of blood. Dogs tend to lick their genital area intensively during the heat period so your female dog might not create any mess.
How To Know If My Rottweiler Dog is In Heat?
Heat signs are pretty clear and you won’t need much effort to learn how to recognize them. Every dog in heat goes through three major stages, Proestrus, Estrus, and Diestrus.
The most obvious signs that your Rottweiler is in heat are :
- Swollen vulva
- Bloody discharge ( characteristic for the first phase Proestrus)
- Excessive licking of genital area
- Frequent urination ( as a part of marking behavior )
- Lack of energy
- Decreased appetite
- Flagging behavior ( charecteristic for the second phase called Estrus)
- Nesting, clingy behavior, moodiness
- Agression towards males ( characteristic for the first phase Proestrus)
- Agreesion towards females ( characteristic for the second phase Estrus)
- Excessive barking and howling
During Proestrus your Rottweiler girl won’t be in the mood to mate yet, moreover, she may show some aggression toward males. On the contrary, males will be pretty much interested in her.
Behavioral changes are also something you will surely notice – your Rottweiler girl may experience a lack of energy and reduced appetite. She may also become anxious and develop clingy behavior.
Regarding her appetite- whatever you put in the bowl, she will just turn her head away. You shouldn’t worry about this as losing some weight won’t hurt her. She will start eating soon again.
Estrus is the most dangerous period unless you want Rottweiler babies. This is the phase during which your female dog is in the mood to hang around boys. You may notice ”flagging” behavior when she moves her tail to the side making herself available to the male dog.
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.
Discharge may become watery and that means that the dog is most fertile then. This is the period of ovulation.
Your Rottweiler girl knows to be very loud in this period. Howling is not a sign of some pain or sadness as humans usually interpret it but a call/invitation to all males from the neighborhood.
Don’t be surprised if you notice that your dog shows major interest in one particular toy, that she is hiding or hiding that toy. Also, your Rott girl will become needy, seeking more of your attention and time.
Don’t worry, all this strange and crazy behavior will end in 7-10 days, as this phase usually lasts that much.
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 no discharge and your Rott girl returns to her usual self. This phase lasts for about 2 months.
What Is A Silent Heat?
Silent heat is a rare condition in which Rott dogs ovulate and can mate but the typical heat symptoms ( like swollen vulva and bloody discharge as well as interest in the male dogs) 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, diabetes, or even cancer 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 Rottweiler girl is in heat or not.
Silent heat shouldn’t be confused with missing heat. If your Rott has missing heat, it means she really didn’t have heat when she should have. We can speak about missing heat if 10-12 months passed from the previous heat.
How Often Do Rottweiler Dogs Go Into Heat?
Rottweiler dogs usually go into heat twice a year or every 6 months. Of course, this can vary, especially as this large breed may go into heat less frequently than other breeds.
When Should I Spay My Rottweiler Dog?
Unless you tend to breed your Rottweiler you should spay her.
The right time for performing the spaying procedure is around your Rottweiler’s second birthday. Even though the procedure can be done once she turns 1 year, it’s not recommended.
If a spaying procedure has been done too early, your dog might suffer from bone cancer in her older age. And not just bone cancer but also Lymphoma, Hemangiosarcoma, or Mast cell tumors. She can face various disorders like hip/elbow dysplasia, Cranial cruciate ligament tears.
The risk of getting some of listed diseases and diorders is smaller if you spay your Rott after her second birthday.
The procedure can be done even during the heat, even though most surgeons dislike this option as carries many risks.
For the most reliable advice do consult your vet, of course. The general rule of thumb is that large dogs should be spayed later than smaller breeds.
Spaying has many advantages. A lot of studies have shown that spayed dogs have fewer chances to get mammary cancer.
Since this operation involves removing ovaries and the uterus, this means that your dog will never get cancer related to these organs.
In terms of behavior, the experts say that spayed dogs are less prone to aggression not to mention that your Rottweiler girl won’t be going through all that behavioral and physical changes every 6 months or so.
Don’t forget that if you spay her, you won’t have to deal with unwanted pregnancy and litter ( remember that Rottweiller dog have rather large litters).
