Yes, dogs can get pregnant while bleeding. This is because bleeding, specifically bloody vaginal discharge, is a common symptom of proestrus and estrus, two phases of a dog's heat cycle. While bleeding occurs during proestrus, a dog is not yet fertile. However, during the estrus phase, when bleeding may still be present or may have lessened to a watery discharge, a dog is fertile and can conceive.
Understanding a Dog's Heat Cycle
A female dog's heat cycle, also known as estrus, involves several stages:
- Proestrus: The initial phase characterized by swelling of the vulva and bloody vaginal discharge. The dog is not yet receptive to mating during this stage.
- Estrus: The period of fertility where a dog is receptive to mating and can become pregnant. Bleeding may continue, or the discharge might become lighter and watery. This phase is when ovulation occurs.
- Metestrus: The stage after estrus, where the female is no longer receptive to mating.
- Anestrus: The resting phase, where no noticeable signs of heat are present.
Several sources confirm that a dog can get pregnant during estrus, even while some bleeding is still present [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10]. The presence or absence of bleeding doesn't definitively indicate fertility; the receptive behaviour and timing of ovulation are key factors.
[1] BeChewy: During proestrus and estrus a dog will have bloody discharge from the vulva, and during estrus, a dog can get pregnant.
[2] Paws In Hand Dog Training and Behaviour Blog: (Indirectly confirms estrus as the fertile period)
[3] Quora: Dogs can indeed get pregnant while bleeding, as they are most fertile during the estrus phase of their heat cycle.
[4] VCA Animal Hospitals: The female dog usually ovulates at about the time that the vaginal discharge becomes watery; this is when she is most likely to become pregnant.
[5] PDSA: A heat (or season) is when a female dog is fertile and can become pregnant. During a heat, it's likely that your dog will behave differently, bleed from her vulva.
[6] Daily Paws: During heat, a female dog is open to mating and can become pregnant.
