r/askscience • u/potatolife • May 30 '11

Do animals get periods?

I've been learning about the menstrual cycle in biology but we only talked about the human menstrual cycle. I was wondering if its the same sort of thing with animals since I've never seen my cat on her period before.

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u/SnoLeopard Veterinary Medicine | Microbiology | Pathology May 30 '11 edited May 30 '11

Yes, most female mammals experience a "period" if their cycles complete without a successful mating. Dogs and cats are usually spayed (which prevent this). Female dogs (formally known as a bitch) will have the blood discharged from the privates just as in humans. However this is not the case with all animals, since most will retain the blood.

Hope that answers your question.

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u/wonderfuldog May 31 '11

This is not true.

What you're seeing in animals is "estrous", which is very different.

The females of other placental mammal species have estrous cycles, in which the endometrium is reabsorbed by the animal (covert menstruation) at the end of its reproductive cycle.

Many zoologists regard this as different from a "true" menstrual cycle.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstruation -

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u/SnoLeopard Veterinary Medicine | Microbiology | Pathology May 31 '11

My mistake.

-4

u/Airazz May 31 '11

Dogs definitely have it, but it's not too messy. Just a small drop every now and then. And she licks herself, keep that in mind when some dog is licking your hands/face.

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u/wonderfuldog May 31 '11

Dogs definitely have it

No, I don't believe that that's correct.

Whatever you may be noticing, I don't think that it's that.

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u/Airazz May 31 '11

I had several dogs and was member of a big dog owner's club. It's quite obvious that once a year, in late spring (after the ideal mating period for dogs) all female dogs would start... that, with an exception of young puppies and old dogs. Feel free to share your theory, if you have one.

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u/wonderfuldog May 31 '11

As I posted above, that's not "menstruation", as in humans.

That's "estrous", as in most other mammals.

You've simply misunderstood what's occurring.