As female dogs get older, they can develop particular health problems , which are especially common among those that have not been spayed. The female hormones –estrogen and progesterone— can fuel the occurrence of these health problems.

Typically, a bitch goes into heat about twice a year. This normally lasts for 3 weeks; the bitch is most fertile around day 10-12. A reddish discharge from the vulva is present during the early part of the heat season, which gradually changes to a light creamy discharge around the time of ovulation. As female dogs get older, the time between each season generally gets longer and each season shorter, with less vulvar discharges. However, if the heat season becomes longer, or there is an abnormal discharge, or if they stop altogether, the possibility of an internal reproductive disease probably exists. This can be life-threatening thus you should take your pet to your Raleigh, NC veterinarian for a thorough checkup and proper treatment.