Home Remedies for Dogs in Heat

A female dog will enter her first heat around 6 months of age and will continue to go into heat every six months for the rest of her life, unless she is spayed. "Heat" is a term used to refer to a dog who is ready to mate and produce offspring. Unfortunately, a female dog in heat can be extremely irritating for an owner, but several home remedies can help this time pass.

  1. Diapers for Dogs

    • Female dogs will produce a bloody discharge for several days during a heat cycle, which can be problematic for an owner's carpet and furniture. Fortunately, many pet stores sell disposable diapers (that will accommodate a canine tail) specifically for this purpose. However, an owner can also make their own washable diapers using diaper cloth and pins to help combat the discharge.

    Soothing Music

    • Soothing music, such as classical music, can help calm a pet down during her heat cycle. However, veterinarian Michael W. Fox notes that music that produces a vibrant beat or produces sounds that may be mistaken for other animals, can worsen the situation and cause the female to react in unwanted ways including humping objects, people or other pets.

    Extra Attention

    • Additional attention can help take a female dog's mind off her sexual needs, according to The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Cats and Dogs. Even spending some additional time petting (or grooming, if that soothes the dog) can help calm a female dog dog down.

      Furthermore, the owner may want to consider giving the dog in heat some additional playtime indoors. This could include any favorite games that the dog may enjoy. However, avoid going outdoors as her scent could attract male dogs from as far as 3 miles, according to Elaine Wenner Gilbertson in The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Cats and Dogs.

    Vicks Vapor Rub

    • To deal with the additional attention a female dog may be receiving (especially if a male dog is in the home,) the owner may want to use Vicks Vapor Rub at the base of the tail. The scent of the Vicks Vapor Rub helps to deter male dogs from the area. However, try to keep the female dog from consuming it.

    Regular Baths

    • Another solution to deterring male dogs is to regularly bathe the female's back end once or twice a day. This can help decrease the scent of the odor produced, according to dog breeder Chris Walkowicz.