No. Female dogs and cats do not have menopause understood as the total cessation of ovarian activity, which is what happens in the case of women. They keep her throughout her life, since the first heat occurs, but at a different pace As they get older, that also involves a number of changes.
The reproductive cycle of a female dog is different from that of a human female. As veterinarians explain, in their case the first heat usually arrives around 6 or 8 months of age and it will be repeated, generally, twice a year, approximately every six months. Although some breeds only have one heat per year.
In the case of cats, his jealousy is more variable because they depend, to a large extent, on sunlight. Therefore, they can have several in spring-summer and, instead, have a period of inactivity during the winter months.
Could an older dog get pregnant?
As a bitch or a cat grows old, the chance of getting pregnant is reduced and much more the ability of your body to carry a pregnancy and delivery to a successful conclusion. However, it is important not to forget that they will continue to be fertile even when they’re venerable old ladies. Therefore, as the ‘Dog Whisperer’ César Millán (@cesarmillan), do not think that, by not seeing that your dog «stains», is already free of unwanted pregnancies.
In this regard, it should be noted that «menstruation» is also different in these animals. In female dogs and cats, bleeding indicates the beginning of heat and not the end of the moment of maximum fertility. They are essential details if you have a female and older pet, especially if you detect that at the door of your house you have a group of «lovers» who could make your pet become pregnant, running a serious risk to your health or even for her life if the pregnancy progressed.
In short, female dogs and cats do not have menopause because they continue to ovulate, although your fertile capacity is naturally reduced around the age of 8 or 10 old.
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