Is my young dog's first heat normal if she's quiet and sleepy?

Bitches do not normally become quiet and depressed, or aggressive to family, because they are in season. I would have Fey checked by a vet to rule out any physical causes for this behavior first. If she is healthy, try to determine when it started, and if anything changed in your normal household routine at that time. She may be reacting to something she finds threatening or upsetting. You can click on the prompt to initiate a consult so we can discuss this in depth and work out a solution for you.

Lethargy and diarrhea re not usually normal during a heat cycle. Most dogs will be actively looking to mate, alert, receptive and have swelling of the vulva along with some bleeding. If you are seeing discharge that is not bleeding, diarrhea and lethargy it is best to bring her into a vet as soon as possible.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Dogs do not appear to develop pain like women do thankfully. She may though become less playful perhaps at the beginning though she should come around fairly quickly. If no improvement is observed, have her evaluated by your veterinarian. She is likely just fine for now though. Good luck and have a good night

Poor girl. Some dogs have a tougher time than others when it comes to their first heat cycle. However she does seem to bra late bloomer as most dogs have their first heat cycle around 6-10 months. If she is this ill I would recommend having her to examined by your vet to make sure she isn't having any complications or other underlying illness that's causing this. If she is found to have a ln abnormally intense heat cycle, then the vet can prescribe some safe pet friendly pain medicaiton for her to get for the next few days until the brunt of her menstrual cycle has passed. In the meantime I try placing a warm compress on her belly for a few minutes (be very careful not to leave on too long or you can easily burn your pets skin) to help ease some of the discomfort. hope she feels better soon!

Seasons in dogs are usually not related to low energy levels and lethargy. If you also noticed that Brava is drinking excessively and is off food you should take her to your vet to make sure that she doesn't have uterine infection. Regarding pain relief- we don't think that seasons are painful to dogs so we generally don't recommend pain killers for that.

Pain is not common during a dog's heat cycle, however hormonal changes can cause some behavioral changes in dogs while they are in heat. If she is appearing in pain or is having odd symptoms in addition to her heat cycle it is best to have a veterinarian exam her. Do NOT give any over the counter medications without veterinary instruction as they could harm or make Panda very ill. If you do not wish to have puppies, having Panda spayed after her heat cycle is finished may be beneficial.

Sometimes dogs will feel uncomfortable during their first cycle. They may be lethargic, have a decreased appetite, and crave attention more than normal. All of this is completely normal. The itchy paws does not really fit with being in heat, and could be caused by fleas, mange, lice, infections (bacterial or yeast), ringworm, allergies, among others. You can try a medicated shampoo, like Dechra MalAcetic Ultra Shampoo along with a good flea preventative. If it continues after her heat cycle is over, you should see a vet for diagnosis.