HOW MANY HEAT CYCLES YEARLY?

[mercedes_baby_boo]

I HAVE A 9 MONTH OLD  3 .12 OUNCE CHIHUAHUA AND HAVE BEEN READING UP ON THE BREED AS MUCH AS POSSIABLE AND CAME ACROSS A STATEMENT THAT THEY ONLY COME IN HEAT 2 TIMES A YEAR. IS THIS TRUE?

[leann357]

I have a 8 year old lab and she comes into heat twice a year. It last for about 3 weeks.

[Ghilly]

Most female dogs come into season twice a year, six months apart.  Each heat cycle lasts about 21 days.  

The first sign of heat you will notice is blood droplets on the floor or wherever she has been sitting.  Her vulva will be swollen to a much larger than normal size.  Normally, the female will still not allow a male to breed her during the phase when she is bleeding.  It's after that that she becomes fertile and willing to breed.  All dogs are individuals, however, so as long as her vulva is swollen, she should be kept away from all males to prevent her from being bred.  

In tiny dogs like chihuahuas, it's even more important to make sure they are not accidentally bred, since giving birth for them is difficult and risky as it is, but if they are bred by a dog that is larger than they are, if a C-section is not performed, the puppies can be so large that normal whelping can kill her AND the puppies.  The safest thing to do is to have her spayed.  That way you don't have to worry about puppies and other health problems that come with not spaying.

Ghilly