[SOLVED ] Q. My Bichon just started coming in to heat yesterday She ate, but has been laying around most of the day". Now she is acting sick.

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :

A. If she is unwell you should take her to your vet. She may have for example, uterus infection which at early stage can look very similar to season.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

Lethargic Behavior: Some dogs become less energetic as they go into heat. If your dog seems unusually tired, or not as interested in playing with you, it could be a sign they are beginning their heat cycle.

Is your dog in heat? They may also be acting sick or not feeling well, or showing other potential problems, such as a swollen vulva, not eating, bleeding too much, or bad smells. Some signals can mean they need to see your vet. Sometimes, though, this is a normal sign of a dog in heat.

Signs of a heat include a swollen vulva (private parts), bleeding, and changes in behaviour. To prevent an unwanted pregnancy, it`s important to keep your dog away from uncastrated males while she`s in season. Once a female dog is speyed, she will stop having seasons and won`t be able to get pregnant.

Appetite changes are common when female dogs are in heat. While the majority of dogs will experience a decrease in appetite, some may experience an increase (Farricelli, 2016). Whether your dog has a small appetite or if she is hungrier than usual, feeding her nutritious food is key.

Diet during Heat Cycle

Fiber-rich food items like oats will keep her digestion in check. Offer her tasty food items. This can be anything that she likes in general. Fruits like blueberries will also be nutritious for her.

A dog`s season is the time during the reproductive cycle when the dog is fertile and can get pregnant. It usually lasts around two to four weeks, and the dog may show behavioural and physical changes due to hormone fluctuations.

The canine estrous (reproductive) cycle is made up of 4 different stages. These are proestrus, estrus, diestrus, and anestrus. Each stage has differing signs related to behavior, physical or clinical changes, hormonal changes, physiologic changes, and cytologic (vaginal smear) changes.

Some signs of a female dog going into heat may include lower energy levels, more aggressive behavior, differences in leg-raising while urinating, urinating more often than usual, and even running away from home. This is unlike male dogs, who do not experience heat cycles.

Agitated, nervous, or aggressive behavior: In the first phase of estrus, your dog might seem skittery or nervous. It might be aggressive towards other household pets, or even towards you. As estrus progresses, your dog may be aggressive towards other female dogs, but welcoming to male dogs.

Bathing a dog in heat is similar to bathing your dog at any other time, except that you will want to watch for unpredictable, unexpected behavior and avoid over-bathing, which can cause dry or irritated skin.

Although not uncommon, this particular odor is definitely peculiar. There are a few common reasons why your dog might be giving off a fishy odor, like: Your dog rolled in something outside. Hormonal changes when a female dog is in heat.

Not only are they not fertile, but their reproductive organs won`t open for penetration unless they are in heat so they can`t even engage in intercourse. If you discover that your female dog has engaged in intercourse, chances are that her heat symptoms were minimal or silent, so you did not realize she was in heat.

Don`t: Let her near male dogs

It only takes a few seconds for a male (who can smell a female in heat up to three miles away) to mount and do his thing. It`s even been recommended to close your windows to contain your dog`s scent inside!

You might notice spotting or bleeding at this time. Just try to keep it out of her fur and wipe the area clean. To keep her private area clean while she`s in heat, keep a spray bottle of water on hand for a quick spray and wipe down. Always use a clean cloth or a fresh wet wipe for this wiping process.

Each heat cycle lasts around 18 days, for generally anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks. The frequency depends on your dog, but her estrus cycles should be consistent. If these are inconsistent, your vet can determine if your dog has irregular seasons. As your dog gets older, the frequency of her seasons may slow down.

For most females, the best time for breeding is between the tenth and fourteenth day of estrus. However, some females ovulate as early as the third or fourth day or as late as the eighteenth day. It is normal to arrange for two matings (also called stud services) for your dog, often 24 to 48 hours apart.

Some dogs experience a condition called silent heat, in which they do ovulate but the characteristic signs of being in heat, such as vulvar swelling and discharge, are not observed. Although rare, some dogs may also have an autoimmune disease that affects their ovaries and interferes with estrous cycling.

3. Diestrus Stage. The diestrus stage lasts from 10 days,¹ depending on the dog`s breed, and signals the end of the heat cycle. Once the dog has reached this stage, they`re no longer fertile, so they may be less accepting of male company.

According to BeChewy, medium and long coat dogs should bathe every four to six weeks, and owners of dogs with short coats should bathe their pets somewhere between every month and every three months.

So, it is normal for your dog to sleep or rest for a majority of the day. However, excessive sleep can be concerning for any pet owner. If your dog is sleeping too much, this could indicate health issues, such as canine depression, diabetes and hypothyroidism, says the AKC.

Most dogs are less energetic during the heat of the day – especially with our 100+ degree days lately. For those dogs, they are probably getting less exercise than normal. But they still need some exercise, which is best done early in the morning or later in the evening when it cools off.

For some, play is out of the question. This is because your dog`s body needs to work hard to reduce its temperature during hotter weather. During exercise, your dog will pant hard to do this, as well as sweat through their pads. This causes dogs to tire more easily as more of their energy is put into cooling down.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. We have a 4 yr old lab-pit mix we raise from 6 weeks.If my husband tries to take hin by the collar and make him go out to pottie he growls.Problem?

ANSWER : A. This is not good behavior. Rather than take him by the collar, call him to come with you. If he’s not good about coming when called, you can work on that. Keeps treats on hand to to entice him out and reward him when he does go potty and he’ll come to look forward to it. Clicker training is another great way to teach a dog all kinds of things, from obedience to tricks.

Have treats on hand that you know he loves, then simply click and treat. He will come to associate the sound with getting a treat. Start putting distance between you so he has to come to you. Call and click and when he comes to you for that treat, treat him and give him lots of praise. Move to hiding somewhere in the house, call and click. When he comes to you reliably inside when you call, click and treat. When this behavior is consistent, move outdoors with a very long leash. Call and click, if he doesn’t respond, give a light tug on the leash. If he takes even a single step toward you, click, treat and lots of praise. Keep doing this until he comes eagerly. Next, try him off-leash in a securely fenced area. Call and click. At this point he should be responding well and coming easily to the call and click. If he does not, go back to the last step he performed reliably and work on that again until he responds well. Eventually, you can start not treating him every time, but still praise him. Gradually lessen the frequency of the treats until he comes just to the click and praise.

Keep training sessions short, ten or fifteen minutes to start, no more than 30 minutes at a time and do it a few times a day. Try not to do it any time he is overly excited so that he can pay attention to you. Always end a training session on a good note, even if it is just getting him to do something he already does well on command. And never, NEVER punish a dog when they come to you, no matter how far they’ve made you chase them, no matter how frustrated and angry you might be. That teaches your dog that coming to you is a bad thing.

Read Full Q/A … : Causes of Limping in Dogs

Q. My puppy will be 8 weeks old tomorrow. I’ve had her for a week now, and she still isn’t responding to any training or her name. What can I do?

ANSWER : A. Try clicker training her to come when called. Clicker training is an effective way of training you dog to not only come when called, but can be used to teach a variety of tricks and tasks.

Have treats on hand that you know she loves, then simply click and treat. She will come to associate the sound with getting a treat. Start putting distance between you so she has to come to you. Call and click and when she comes to you for that treat, treat him and give her lots of praise. Move to hiding somewhere in the house, call and click. When she comes to you reliably inside when you call, click and treat. When this behavior is consistent, move outdoors with a very long leash. Call and click, if she doesn’t respond, give a light tug on the leash. If she takes even a single step toward you, click, treat and lots of praise. Keep doing this until she comes eagerly. Next, try her off-leash in a securely fenced area. Call and click. At this point she should be responding well and coming easily to the call and click. If she does not, go back to the last step she performed reliably and work on that again until she responds well. Eventually, you can start not treating her every time, but still praise her. Gradually lessen the frequency of the treats until she comes just to the click and praise.

Keep training sessions short, ten or fifteen minutes to start, no more than 30 minutes at a time and do it a few times a day. Try not to do it any time she is overly excited so that she can pay attention to you. Always end a training session on a good note, even if it is just getting him to do something she already does well on command. And never, NEVER punish a dog when they come to you, no matter how far they’ve made you chase them, no matter how frustrated and angry you might be. That teaches your dog that coming to you is a bad thing.

Read Full Q/A … : How To Teach Your Puppy His Name – Puppy In Training

Q. My Bichon just started coming in to heat yesterday She ate, but has been laying around most of the day”. Now she is acting sick.

ANSWER : A. If she is unwell you should take her to your vet. She may have for example, uterus infection which at early stage can look very similar to season.

Read Full Q/A … : Dog lethargy? He doesn't want to eat and is just laying …

Q. I moved from an apt to a mobile home and one of my cats is terrified, he will not come out from under the bed. Going on for 3 days, w/o food or water

ANSWER : A. Give your cat time to adjust.. Animals can be quite fragile. Try feeding and watering your cat while she’s under the bed. Maybe give her some wet food (more moisture) every day, add a little bit of water to it, put it under the bed for her to eat, toss some kitty treats under there, give her a bowl of water under the bed.. just make her comfortable under there and act like nothing is unusual. She will eventually come around.

When she does end up coming out from under the bed, don’t make a big deal of it. Continue doing whatever it is you’re doing, and act like she isn’t even there. The more you make a big deal of things, the more she will make a big deal of them too, and it will end up making her more fearful.

Read Full Q/A … : How to Keep a Cat from Running Away when It Is Moved

Q. Rescued a dog almost two weeks ago, and now that her kennel cough is gone her personality shines!! No previous training, how should I start?

ANSWER : A. POST FOUR:

After your dog is familiar with the behavior you lured from scratch, and taught to your dog, you can start to use the “no-reward marker” I talked about. What you do is ask the dog to perform the behavior, and if the dog does not perform the behavior, you simply say your no-reward marker (choose one: eh-eh, hey, uh-oh, oops) show them the treat, put it behind your back, and BRIEFLY ignore your dog. Just turn your back for a second or two, before turning back to your dog and saying, “let’s try that again.” When you’re ready to start over with your dog, make sure you move around. If you are repeating the same cue while in the same position, while your dog is in the same position, you are likely to receive the same results. The more you move around, and start fresh, the better your chances are of having your dog listen to your cue the second time around. BIG rewards when they dog it successfully! Lots of praise and treats.

My no-reward marker is “hey.” When my dog does something wrong I say, “hey” and she immediately understands that she needs to offer a different behavior. This is clear to her. I don’t have to say it in a mean way, I simply say, “hey” in a normal tone of voice and she understands what the word means.

Once you’ve built up that connection and communication with your new dog, you can work on all kinds of fun behaviors! I personally enjoy the more zen-like behaviors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruy9UMcuGh8

I like to teach my dog fun tricks that offer her a “job” to do of sorts like object retrieval: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4iertZSva8

(object retrieval training completed; what it looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx0Dml28FGY)

Scent-games are fun too! Very confidence building. Hide a REALLY smelly treat in a box, and place that box in a line of boxes. Let your dog go in the room while saying something like “search!” or “find it!” and watch them hunt for that smelly treat! Lots of rewards when they find it!

Read Full Q/A … : M – Happy Tails – Dachshund Rescue of North America

Q. My 2 dogs ate 4 different kinds of aquarium fish food. Will it make them sick? What should I do?

ANSWER : A. Fish food is unlikely to be toxic, however it may cause them some major digestive upset if they ate enough. If the ate the plastic container with the food, then watching for foreign body signs may be good as well. You will likely see vomiting and diarrhea for a day or so, and feeding a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice may be best for the next day or so to help soothe and settle their stomachs.

If you suspect a foreign body from eating a container itself, or if the symptoms of digestive upset do not improve in a day or two, contain blood, or worsen, then it is best to contact your local veterinarian.

Read Full Q/A … : Goldfish Behavior – Male Goldfish and Female Goldfish …

Q. Our golden retriever will not lay down. He will sit. He has been standing for much of the day. He has urinated and pooped today as usual.

ANSWER : A. An injury to one of the limbs, problem with the anal glands, or tenderness in the abdomen or chest may also be preventing your dog from laying down comfortably. It is also possible that your dog is feeling sore from too much activity and so it is painful to lay on the floor or his usual bed. Placing extra blankets down or a warmed up towel may help provide some relief so that he can rest. It is a good idea to schedule a checkup if the behavior continues for more than a day.

If you notice any signs of open wounds, bloated belly, labored or distressed breathing or other serious issues that could be preventing his ability to lay down, it is best to contact your vet ASAP as these can indicate a potential medical emergency.

Read Full Q/A … : Dog lethargy? He doesn't want to eat and is just laying …

Q. i believe my cat is pregnant but showing signs of being in heat

ANSWER : A. Cats are induced ovulators, meaning they will continue to go into heat until they are bred, or spayed (reproductive organs removed). If your cat is showing signs of being in heat (excessive yowling, presenting her rear to you for inspection, attempting to get out or other cats hanging near your house) and you don’t want kittens, it is best to have her spayed. Most cats are also semi-seasonal in their heat cycle meaning they will more likely be in heat through Spring-Summer than in Fall-Winter.

Pregnancy in cats lasts about 60 days. Signs of pregnancy may include weight gain, increased appetite, nipples that become pronounced or “leak” and seeking nesting areas to deliver kittens. If you saw that your cat was in heat, or had her mated, you can use the date she was bred to determine when she may be due for kittens. Your local vet can help determine if she is indeed pregnant and can also take an X-ray to determine the number of kittens present if your cat is nearing her due date. Be sure to feed mom a kitten formula in the last few weeks of her pregnancy and during nursing as it will help provide extra beneficial nutrients for both mom and babies.

If you do not want kittens, some very early term pregnancies can be aborted with spaying, otherwise spaying mom is usually done when kittens are weaned from their mom.

Read Full Q/A … : How to Tell if a Cat is Pregnant: 12 Steps (with Pictures)