Im not sure if side effects is the right word, but i was wondering what symptoms other dams encounter when they are in heat.

I have found Taylor to be very jittery and barking a lot (normally she is not vocal at all). Often she lies with me and shakes and shivers like she is cold even though she is in a jersey and lying under the covers with me and is warm to the touch. she has never even been afraid of thunder and fireworks so I dont know why she is shaking.

And she is particularly moody which I expect of course. Who can blame her?! She is snappy with the puppy and very protective over every toy, hoof, chew, food bowl, water bowl and sock she can find in the house. if he picks something up she runs over snaps and takes it from him.

more oddly for me, she is constantly scratching with her back legs in the grass like a male dog does when marking his territory (know what i mean). To me that's a very "male" action to be doing! She often does it when taking something away from the puppy as if to say she is in charge.

i am very sympathetic to her changes going on in her body though and try to keep her as happy and as comfortable as i can. are these things just hormone based? Shame, I can definitely see her physical changes and sudden maturity coming through

I am not sure, but Ciara displays the similar "symptoms"

She is very moody (snappy!!! ) with our boxer (male) and with us when we tease her!!!We also know then that we should not go on with her that much!!!Shame, storm already knows to stay out of her way as he gets his nose bitten or ears pulled!!!. She seems more tired around that time as well!!!

I also found it odd when she scratched her paws like that, but I thought its just one of their traits again!!!! Not sure??

The shaking is a sign of pain and you could get a mild pain killer from your vet. My Lizzy got her pain so badly that she would shake and not walk as if her hind legs were stiff and my vet told me that she was in pain from being in heat.

oh no i never realised she might have pain I did notice on saturday after her bath while I was grooming her that she was VERY sensitive around her hind legs and tummy so I backed off from that. She would quiver like i was shocking her she is almost past the bleeding stage of her heat, do you think she could still do with a mild painkiller? I will do anything to keep my baby comfortable. I know what it was like as a child growing up and hitting puberty and how bad I felt and Im sure hers is worse and she has no idea what's going on or why.

I know that when they are in heat they want to spread their scent, so i presumed the scratching of her feet was for that purpose. Shame she was trying her damdest to flirt with Trigger who is a whole 10 weeks old and he just wanted to play! I had to giggle!

Hope this will answer some of your questions:

If you have a male Yorkie, you should be aware of what behavior your male dog may suddenly show when a female in the heat cycle is even remotely close by. His behavior may seem puzzling to you; since he may be sensing something that is out of your line of sight.

Owners wonder, " When does a Yorkie first go into heat? " Others are looking for information as to how long heat lasts for the Yorkie and at what age a Yorkie will finally be done. Does the Yorkie enter menopause? How long does the heat cycle last and how often does it happen?

Having a dog in heat brings up many issues; not only how to care for your dog when she is in heat, but also the subjects of ovarian cancer, and how to fend off male dogs that can sense her at this time from km's away.

You may be surprised to know that this applies to all females dogs of any age; a 14 month old puppy and a 14 year old adult female Yorkie will both have heat cycle issues.

How Does This Apply If I Have a Male?

An un-neutered male Yorkie has a very strong, inbred urge to find and pursue a female dog that is in heat. A female will usually not allow a male to mount her unless she is in heat; therefore once a female is in this stage the male will follow her to the ends of the Earth!

The male dog is capable of walking for 2-3 km's to chase the scent of a female dog. This can be avoided if your have your male Yorkie neutered. Until that time, beware of the strong urge your dog may have that is usually stronger than any training he has had to stay put at home! If your male dog seems anxious, restless, keeps trying to look out the windows, rushes ahead or seems to walk out of control while you are walking him or he leaps and bounds at a fence...these are signs that he is having the urge to run. Extra care should be taken to make sure that your dog cannot run away. Even one second of having an open door is all he will need to take off in pursuit.

What Exactly is Heat?

Heat is somewhat equivalent to the human female menstruation; however it does differ in many ways.

What Age Does a Yorkie Go Into Heat?

A female will have her first heat cycle as young as 5 months old. However, all dogs will vary. If your Yorkie does not enter heat by the age of 14 months, this is a warning sign and she must be taken to the veterinarian for a checkup.

At What Age Does a Yorkie Stop Having Heat? Will She Enter Menopause?

This is one element in which the Yorkie differs greatly from humans. A Yorkie may stop the heat cycle somewhere around 10-12 years old. However, some female dogs never stop entering heat. An older dog having to endure this can be very rough on her body. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to have your Yorkie spayed as soon as possible if you know that you will not be breeding her. Spaying is best done as soon as possible. Vets often spay even before the 1st heat cycle.

How Long Does Heat Last for the Yorkie?

Heat can last from 2 to 4 weeks. Each cycle may be different. For example, your Yorkie's first heat may last 2 weeks and her next one may last 4.

At What Time During Heat Can My Yorkie Get Pregnant?

Your dog is able to get pregnant at any time during heat; even the first day. However, the most fertile days for your dog will be 10-14 days into her heat cycle. During this time, she will usually allow any dog to mount her.

If you are not planning on having Yorkie puppies or mixed breed pups, it is vitally important to keep her in the home as much as possible and when outside, have her on a short leash. She will be releasing pheromones when she urinates. Therefore, male dogs from literally km's around may sense her presence. Any male dogs that are unleashed may be hanging around close to your home.

Never allow your female Yorkie to go outside alone, even for a moment! A larger male dog may injure her and it only takes a few minutes for a dog to mount her and get her pregnant. This is not a good time to go for walks in dog parks, etc.

Will My Yorkie Bleed a Lot?

Yes and no. Smaller dogs do not bleed as much as larger breed dogs; however the amount varies from dog to dog. In any event, there will be some blood that discharges from her vagina and her vulva will become swollen. You may not notice any blood; however if your dog is bleeding noticeable amounts you may put a dog diaper on her. The discharge may be more of a pink color. This is becoming a popular trend; as there is no reason to confine your dog to one room or spend each day cleaning up after her, when you can simply put a cute and decorative diaper on her to catch any discharge.

How Often Will My Yorkie Go Into Heat?

Your Yorkie will enter heat approximately every 6 to 8 months; therefore you should expect this phase about twice per year.

Should I Have My Yorkie Spayed to Stop Her Heat Cycle?

It is very strongly recommended to have your dog spayed. In today's day and age, veterinarians are spaying dogs even before their first heat cycle. Spaying your female dog will severely lessen her odds of falling victim to ovarian and mammary gland cancer. Entering heat just 1 time, increases the odds of cancer by 16%! If you are not planning on breeding her, spaying will help you have peace of mind that she will be safe from male dogs and there will be no unwanted pregnancies. In addition, since a Yorkie is able to have puppies even as an elderly dog, it is very important to have her spayed. A Yorkie older than 8 should not have to endure having pups!