Golden Retriever Heat Cycle After Whelping

Question
My 2 1/2 year old Golden whelped a litter of beautiful pups (4 puppies) on
October 19, 2006.  It is now Oct 10 of 2007 and to the best of my knowledge
she has not come in heat yet.  Is this normal.  What is the typical time
between whelping and the first heat after that?

Answer
Hi Susie:

On average, dogs will have a heat cycle every 6 to 8 months, regardless of whether or not pregnancy occurred. She should have had a cycle between late February to late April of this year. It's possible she's had a "silent" heat that went unnoticed or she may just be bucking the odds & be late in her next cycle. I would, however, suggest having your vet give her a thorough exam to rule out any potential health concerns with her reproductive organs.