Poodle Has Heavy Period

Question
My 12 year old poodle has a fairly heavy flow, How long will this last? How long is it between flows, should I be concerned at any point? Thanks so much, this is my first dog and I am so worried!!

Answer
Hi Danielle:

On average a dog's heat cycle will last about a total of three weeks but she should only experience the bloody vaginal discharge for about the first 9 to 10 days. After that point, she will enter into the estrus (fertile) portion of the cycle, which is when she'll be receptive to mating & will attract males & encourage them to breed. At this point the discharge will lighten in flow & color, becoming more of a light pink to straw color. On average, she'll have a heat cycle about every 6 months. I would strongly recommend, due to her age, that you have her spayed ASAP. This will greatly improve her chances for a longer, happy life by preventing many cancers that often develop in the reproductive organs & of course, it will also prevent any future heat cycles & the chance of an accidental breeding. Hope this helps!