How do you know if a dog's in heat? In an unspayed female, vulvar swelling, bloody discharge, extra licking or behavior changes may suggest a season. Signs can be subtle; uncertainty needs veterinary advice.
Arrange daily care
Separate her from intact males, including household relatives. Supervise garden access.
Name who will supervise and how the dogs will use separate spaces. Explain the arrangement to anyone taking over; do not assume the next caregiver knows which dog is behind a door.
Use a lead on quieter walks away from dogs. Avoid dog parks and daycare; choose home activities if avoiding loose dogs is impractical.
Dog in heat behavior
Keep routines familiar and respect her choice of company or space.
Towels or dog pants can catch discharge. Pants do not prevent mating.
When to call
Contact your vet about worrying bleeding, painful swelling, unusual discharge or feeling unwell; do not dismiss illness as hormonal.
After mating, contact your vet immediately. Never pull mating dogs apart.
Tell the team what you actually noticed and whether contact with a male occurred. Leave unknown details unknown rather than delaying the call to reconstruct a timeline.
Agree what happens next
Discuss ongoing care and individual spay timing with your vet. Bleeding changes or calendar dates do not establish a safe release day.
For an appointment the clinic arranges, our dog vet-visit preparation guide helps organize questions and the handover. Contact the clinic first about a current concern.