Pugs Heat Cycle: Discover The 5 Main Cycle Signs

Got a female Pug baby? Then you might be probably thinking about whether to spay her or not. Most shelters and vet offices recommend getting rid of a dog’s ovaries if a pet parent is not interested in breeding his/her furry dame. This helps keep a fluffy girl mild-tempered, prevent reproductive organ cancer as well as keep her stress-free since male dogs won’t be sensing her heat cycles. Thus, she won’t be attacked by a male wanting to mate right there and then. However, if you are against spaying or thinking about mating your femme, then you should know everything you can about Pug’s heat cycle. And we are about to cover the topic in detail.

Pug’s Heat Cycle: When Does It Start?

So how does it all begin for a girl Pug? Let’s find out right now.

A precious little furball is born. She can’t see/hear yet, and she is too weak to go explore her surroundings. All she can do at this point is stick close to her mom to get the necessary nutrients from her breastmilk and get stronger with each day. By the time she is 3 months old, she can be weaned off a Pug momma’s milk and switch to regular dog food, either canned or dry. Also, at 3 months of age, a puppy can be adopted by its two-legged family. The breastfeeding is over and our little explorer can finally become independent. 

Usually, a Pug pup will get her first heat cycle anywhere from 4 to 6 months of age. Some pups get it earlier than others. The way it works is very similar to human femmes: some girls will get their first period a lot earlier than others. Yet, a pet parent should consider it alarming if his/her beautiful flat-faced lady hasn’t entered into her heat cycle by 15 months. In this case, a puppy should be taken to the veterinary specialist ASAP to find out what the reason might be. He/she will perform all the necessary procedures to get to the root of the problem.

Now, even if you know that your girl is supposed to get her “period,” how do you know that? What are the signs that you have a Pug in heat?   

Related Reading: What Does It Mean When A Dog Is In Heat?

Pug’s Heat Cycle: Signs and Peculiarities

• A Change in Demeanor: an owner may notice that his/her female became more stressed, and cranky, while actively seeking solitude. She can even bite if she feels threatened in any way. Just one wrong touch may send her ballistic! Or quite the opposite may happen: she would seek extra comfort from her humans. In case she is not the one who loves to cuddle much, this might change with the heat cycle. All of a sudden she would want to jump on the couch with you and snuggle.
• Nesting Behavior: very typical of the femmes in heat. She may start preparing her “nest” for the possible litter arrival. Some of the nesting signs can include dragging all her blankets into one safe, warm, and secluded spot. Or bringing plush toys, piling them up like a giant pillow. A human Pug mom/dad will often witness how a lady Pug starts taking more naps in that prepared sanctuary. This type of behavior aids in gearing up for a possible motherhood process as our dame tries to retain her strength.

• Enlarged Genitals: if you examine your Pug’s private parts area during her heat period, you will notice a very distinctive labia enlargement. It will look like a bee stung it and it immediately swells up in reaction to the venom. Kind of a freaky sight to see, but that’s how you’ll know your canine femme is ready to be a mom.
• Discharge: it is very similar to a two-legged female cycle. Just like girls get their fair share of the bloody discharge once a month, so do Pug misses. That’s why an owner should not think that something is wrong with his/her fur baby and rush into the vet’s office upon noticing it somewhere in the house. It’s just girls are being girls, that’s all. The amount of discharge will be quite trivial: just a few drops of light to dark pinkish color. Therefore, you should not worry about your queen staining the couch or the rug. She will most certainly clean herself up long before heat cycle fluids end up anywhere in the house. Canine Male Interest: oh yeah, that’s where the trouble starts! Forget about bringing her to the dog run/doggy daycare as she will be surrounded by very interested canine males having one thought in mind: Pugs mating. They will sense a dame’s particular scent during her cycle, attracting gentlemen to her like a bee to a flower. To avoid your girl Pug from being stalked, it is best to temporarily postpone trips to locations where she can meet canine machos. Better be safe than sorry.

How Long Are Pugs In Heat?

A female Pug will enter her heat cycle every 6 months on average. Sometimes the gap could be shorter or longer: every five months or up to 8 months respectively. As every human lady’s cycle is individual, the same is true about Pugs. That brings an average canine cycle’s frequency to about twice a year. As far as its longevity: it lasts up to 3 weeks, sometimes less. It all depends on various factors such as a Pug’s age, weight, and overall wellness state. 

On some occasions, a Pug may have what’s called split or silent heat. This is an abnormality in a reproductive organ’s function and should be looked into by a veterinarian. The former is when a cycle would start, then stop for a few days and start again. It could be linked to the hormone imbalance in a canine’s body. The latter is when a female dog does not exhibit any signs of a heat cycle: no crankiness, little to no discharge, and no nesting.  

Curl-Up

We have just looked in detail at a Pug’s heat cycle and its peculiarities. Most veterinary professionals highly recommend spaying canines if a pet parent is not planning to breed his/her fluffy companion. Besides, it helps prevent behavioral issues such as aggression, anxiety, and depression. If you notice that a mutt didn’t get her cycle by the time she reached 15 months of age, you should immediately take her to the animal specialist. 

Related Reading: Do Girl Dogs Get Periods? Canine Estrous Cycle