The term nymphomania
is used to describe bitches that present a number of abnormal behaviour
symptoms
1. Increased libido (sexual
activity)
2. Those bitches that come on heat
more frequently than normal and are almost continually pestered by dogs
3. The bitches that roam
persistently and show an increased interest in dogs
4. Bitches in which pro-estrus
is abnormally prolonged. Bitches may bleed for six weeks or more
Why some bitches
exhibit this abnormal behaviour is unknown but is widely accepted that
it is in some way associated with enlarged or persistent follicles in
the ovaries that produce increased amounts of the female sex hormone
oestrogen. Bitches will display mounting behaviour when on heat,
simulating the role of the male. It is best not to intervene
unless the bitches in question become irritated with each other.
Surgical spaying is by far the best treatment for bitches with this
condition
but chemical spaying is the next best thing. Consult your
veterinary surgeon to find the appropriate treatment for your bitch.
It is unwise to breed from bitches which suffer from this condition
since the condition could be perpetuated as it may be an inherited
trait.
source: Book of the Bitch JM Evans & Kay White
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Is
my Bitch a Nymphomaniac?
Abnormal
Sexual Behaviors In Female Dogs
Ryan
O'Meara
Admit it, the headline got you here, didn't it?
Rarely seen, true nymphomania is an exaggerated sexual response in the
female of the species. Most commonly this condition is associated with
other forms of abnormal sexual behavior.
Some bitches will exhibit a variety of estral signs, making them
extremely attractive to males. While they may "flag," present their
rear and signal a willingness to breed, they will almost never permit a
male to mount.
There can also be evidence in this condition of normal estral signs
such as an enlarged vulva and blood-stained discharge. True nymphomania
is believed to originate from a prolonged estral cycle, one during
which an excessive amount of the female hormone estrogen is produced.
The cause of this excessive estrogen production is believed to be
cystic ovaries. A prolonged swollen appearance of the genitalia may be
indicative of nymphomania. Another indication is prolonged periods of
excessive sexual desire, usually without allowing a breeding. Should a
breeding occur, it is usually without conception, as most females of
this condition are sterile.
Females suffering from the condition of true nymphomania may often be
nervous, irritable or even occasionally vicious. They may, at times,
mount and ride males whenever present. If no males are convenient, they
may attempt to mount and ride various family members of any age and
either sex. Toys have also been employed for the expression of
masturbation.
Successful treatment of true nymphomania is rare. A few veterinarians
have had moderate success through massaging or rupturing the ovarian
cysts by laparotomy. Sometimes effective treatment has been achieved
through hormone injections that help to establish a normal and regular
cycle. The success of therapy is not by any measure consistent. Most
veterinarians recommend spaying as the normal and only viable course of
treatment.
Hyperestrinism is another condition where the animal suffers from an
excessive production of the female hormone estrogen. This condition
leaves the female totally devoid of sexual desire. Through her scent,
however, she remains an attractive nuisance to males. Again, cystic
ovaries are the most common source of this problem. The dysfunction of
the pituitary or adrenal glands should never go unchecked by the
veterinarian, as their impairment may also cause hyperestrinism.
Vaginitis, another relatively common condition, also exhibits signs
similar to those of a female in estrus. Although attractive and
stimulating to males, a female with this condition will not exhibit
signs of sexual desire. Other factors that can attract and stimulate
males and appear to be caused by an estral cycle are infections of the
vulva, cervix, bladder and anal sacs. The elimination of a possible
infection and determination of a true estrous cycle is best made by
your veterinarian, someone trained and equipped to make knowledgeable
and definitive diagnoses.
So, when you see a bitch hopping onto the back of another dog (or
bitch) it's highly unlikely that the behaviour is a result of
nymphomaniac tendencies. In fact, it's a very common sight amongst
packs of dogs, where females will 'ride' females or males. It is not
something to worry about or stress over, dogs who do this are perfectly
'normal'. Normal, that is, for a dog. They have their own code of
conduct and idiosyncratic methods of socialising with their mates.
reprinted with
kind permission from Ryan O'Meara
Editor in chief
K9 Magazine
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