Benson

Question
Hi Kristin.
Hi Patti. I have male dogs. is a 13 year old Rough Collie named Benson. .Benson is in heat! Some people say that male dogs dont go into heat....but they do! Benson had been in heat for avery long time  and my family and I are fed up with it. He is consistenly barking and barking. The barking isnt because of food or anything because food and fresh water are always available to him.  I dont want to have him done because I think he is too old what do you think is there any medication I can get him from the vets. Cheers Helen

Answer
Hi Helen,

Female dogs, unlike people do not have a menopause. Their heat cycles may slow or become erratic as they get older, but they do not stop. Dogs can get pregnant at any age, even old age. Male dogs do not go through a heat cycle, they only react to a female's cycle. If your dog has never been neutered he will always react to a female dog that is in heat, no matter how old he is. The female dog might not live anywhere near you, but your dog can still detect that she's in heat, and be impossible to live with during the heat cycle. This by itself is a very good reason for neutering male dogs.

Your dog will continue to act this way for as long as he lives. You'll need to deal with it as you always have, since he may be too old to undergo the neutering surgery at this point. There isn't a medication to suppress your dog's hormones. If your dog is healthy, he still may be a candidate for surgery even at age 13. Your vet can do some blood work to confirm how healthy he is, and if the surgery would be an option.

There is also the possibility that your dog's current behavior has nothing to do with a female's heat cycle. Older dogs can develop a condition which is similar to Alzheimer's Disease called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. This condition can cause a dog to have disorientation, which could include barking for no reason. Your vet would have to examine Benson to see if CCDS, but it's wise to have an older dog examined by a vet anytime it has a change in it's normal behavior.

Best of luck,

Patti