senior dog in her heat

Question
hi ,
first off all thanks for your help.
i have a 15 years old big dog.An she has been in her heat for 2 months now.She eats well and do her pie and poo.
Is this bleeding normal?
at what age  do dogs' have their last heat?
thanks

Answer
Thank you for writing to me regarding your dog.

Here is some information on a female dog in heat:

The average heat cycle for a dog is approximately 3 weeks and since this an an average, some heats are shorter (as little as 7-10 days), others are longer (4 weeks or more).

Average times between heat periods is seven months but some dogs can cycle as early as every 4 months, some once a year.

Lengths of heat cycles and intervals between cycles are different for each dog but most dogs hit somewhere close to the averages.

The first part of heat you will notice bleeding from the vulva, swelling of the vulva, possible increase in urination and the most noticeable, male dogs hanging around the house. During this period (proestrus), females will not allow the males to breed with them although the males will be very persistent.

The second part or estrus is the time in which the female will allow the male to breed her and this can last anywhere from 4-21 days. A female, most of the time, will allow most any male to breed during this time. As the female starts to go out of heat or enter diestrus, she will be less willing to breed.

Again this stage can last 4-14 days but averages approximately 7 days. The next cycle usually begins about 7 months from the start of the last heat cycle, not the end of that cycle but again this varies from dog to dog.

Two months of bleeding is a sure sign that something is seriously wrong.  Not only is it abnormal and a possible sign of cancer but your dog may be anemic from all the blood loss.  I urge you to have her examined by your vet.

Best Regards,
Shelley Davis