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Why is my dog so sad, tired, and not eating during her heat cycle?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | unspayed | 11 months and 26 days old | 30 lbs

My 11 month old beagle is now in heat and experiencing depression, loss of appetite, ignoring me, and just sleeping all day. I need help...

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 18th, 2017

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!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA
Veterinarian
Published on February 17th, 2018
It is not normal for a dog to not have a heat cycle until 3 years. It is also not normal for a heat cycle to last a month. I would be concerned about an infection in the uterus. This could potentially be life threatening and I would urge you to take Roxy to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on August 19th, 2018
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. Because hormones are changing quite a bit during and after a heat cycle, there can be behaviors that will be evident that normally are not. Typically, about 5-7 days after the heat cycle ends, there will be residual hormones circulating throughout the body and will take time to degrade. I have not seen any abnormal behaviors last beyond 7 days once the heat cycle is over in my experience. If she does not go back to her normal self then I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Sakoni so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ana M, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 3rd, 2018
Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. A dog's heat cycle can definitely affect attitude and appetite. This should be temporary. If she begins to show other signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, coughing or sneezing, then she will need to see her veterinarian as there will be another cause of her inappetance. Otherwise encourage her to eat and drink as best you can. I hope this information helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My dog in heat is vomiting and tired. Is this normal or concerning?

Dogs can feel lethargic and not want to eat during their heat cycle especially their first one. However, this shouldn't last long. Vomiting is a bit unusual for a heat cycle. She should get a physical examination by a veterinarian to make sure she doesn't have gastroenteritis or pancreatitis.

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Why is my dog in heat sick and not eating after being outside?

It's possible, if she is in heat and was outside, that a male dog came into contact with her. If she is now acting very ill or lethargic, it would be best to seek out veterinary care to make sure there isn't another underlying cause, injury, or illness causing her symptoms.

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My dog is in heat, uncomfortable, and won't eat. What helps?

Poor Lily. You can try a heating pad, but keep the heat low and cover it with a towel so she doesn't get a burn. Offer her some boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice. Have her seen by a vet if she won't eat this.

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My 1-year-old lab is lethargic. Could it be her first heat cycle?

That is possible. If she has any vomiting, is unable to stand/walk, stops eating, develops a vaginal discharge or seems painful it could be something else going on and she should be examined by a veterinarian.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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Why is my female dog not eating during her heat cycle? Is it normal?

Yes that could be completely normal, especially during heat period. As differential can be many, the approach must be logic, starting from offering different kind of food. A check up is needed if inappetence is complete and last for more than 24hours. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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My puppy's first heat: Why is she tired, needy, and chewing paws?

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Why is my dog in heat bleeding from her anus and losing appetite?

All of this can be normally seen with a dog in heat, except for the blood coming from the anus. If you are certain that blood is oozing from her anus, then I would be much more concerned and would recommend a visit to the vet in the next 24 hours. Bleeding from the colon/rectum can indicate a severe infection and it's best to get these treated as soon as possible to avoid life-threatening complications such as amemia. I would first make sure that the blood is in-fact coming from her anus. One way to tell is if there is blood in her stool. If she's having normal stool with no blood, then it's not likely that the blood is truly coming from her anus. A decrease in activity and in appetite can happen when they are in heat, so if she is otherwise normal, then I wouldn't be too worried. However, the best option is to have a vet examine her to be safe. Below is a link with more information about a dog's heat cycle. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/estrus-cycles-in-dogs I hope that helps and all is well with Shadow.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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