FAQ ABOUT OUR ANIMAL HOSPITAL IN GERING, NE

Non-spayed female dogs will go into "heat" or estrus usually twice a year. The age at which they start their cycles and the duration of the cycle varies greatly between the breeds of dogs and individual dogs. There are four stages to the canine estrus cycle:

• Proestrus: vaginal discharge, males attracted to females, females unwilling to mate. Length: 4-20 days. A dog is most fertile after they cease to bleed.
• Estrus: swollen vulva, yellowish vaginal discharge, mating occurs during this phase. Length: 5-13 days.
• Metestrus (or Diestrus): period after estrus or mating. Length: 60-90 days. If pregnant, pregnancy lasts between 60-64 days in the dog.
• Anestrus: period of inactivity (sexual and hormonal) between estrus phases. Length: 2-3 months.

• The first estrus cycle usually occurs by age 6-12 months; for some small breeds, as early as 5 months, and for some large and giant breeds, the first cycle may not occur until 14 months of age or older.
• On average, dogs have two cycles a year.
• The estrus cycle lasts on average 12-21 days, but maybe be as short as a few days to four weeks. The estrus period length varies widely between breeds and individual dogs. The length of a cycle varies widely, even for dogs of the same breed. If in doubt, assume the longer end of the range for the cycle length.
• Bleeding occurs prior to a female being receptive to a male (allowing mounting by the male), but male dogs will be very attracted to the female in the proestrus stage.
• Dogs can get pregnant during their first heat cycle, but this is not advisable as a 6-month old dog is not yet fully grown/mature, and complications for the mother and the puppies are more likely.

• Avocados: The fruit, pit and plant are all toxic. They can cause difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart
• Broccoli: reported to be pretty potent gastrointestinal irritant
• Cherry: rapid breathing, shock, mouth inflammation, heart rate increase
Chocolate: seizures, coma, hyperactivity, rapid heartbeat, tremors, death. Bakers chocolate is the most dangerous. A dog can consume milk chocolate and appear to be fine because it is not as concentrated but is still very dangerous.
1. 1 oz per lb of body weight for (2 oz per kg) of body weight for bakers chocolate
2. 1 oz per 3 lbs of body weight (1 oz per 1.5 kg body weight) for semi-sweet chocolate
3. 1 oz per 9lbs of body weight (1 oz per 4 kg) for milk chocolate
• Please keep in mind that these are only guidelines, and if you suspect your pet had ingested chocolate, please keep an eye out for ANY signs of poisoning! Every dog reacts differently to quantity.
• Coffee/Tea: Drinks and Food: containing caffeine or sugar may cause many of the same symptoms chocolate causes
• Cooked Bones: uncooked bones should be safe but if they are cooked you should refrain because they deteriorate and easily splinter. Can cause extensive damage to internal organs and passage ways, may times resulting in death.
• Mushrooms: acute gastric effects, liver and kidney damage, abdominal pain, nausea, salivation, vomiting
• Nutmeg: tremors, seizures and death
• Tobacco: nausea, salivation, vomiting, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
• Onion: (cats are more sensitive), gastrointestinal upset, hemolytic anemia, Heinz body anemia, hemoglobinuria, destroys red blood cells
• Grapes/Raisins/Prunes: kidney failure, as little as a single serving of grapes or raisins can kill a dog. It takes anywhere from 9 oz to 2 lbs of grapes and raisins (between .041 and 1.1 oz/kg of body weight), to cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, and possible kidney failure
• Salt: excessive intake can cause kidney problems
• Raw Eggs: many people feed raw eggs to their dogs but keep in mind that they can contain salmonella. Dogs do have a higher immunity against salmonella poisoning but are not immune and have been reported to get it from uncooked eggs.