Is Being in Heat This Often Bad for Her??

[lap rats]

My newest rat, Olive, i about 4 months old. She will be getting spayed this Tuesday.
Bean is one of my other rat, a rescue so i'm only guessing she is around 1.5 years or a little more. Not spayed (i was unsure of her age and if it would be safe).
I'm beginning introductions, and Bean seems to be accepting Olive, so i put them on the couch (on a comforter, their play area) together often. Every single time i put them both on there, Bean is triggered into a heat (which i'm guessing is maybe why she's being so accepting). Every day, morning or night, she goes into heat. I remember she also did this last time i introduced a new female, though not as often, and she now lives with the other female without going into heat.
But i know with ferrets, a female has to be spayed because they will stay in heat until mated, and this makes them anemic and is very dangerous. So i'm just wondering, is it unhealthy for Bean to be in heat this often, every day, sometimes twice a day, if only for 15 minutes at a time?
This seems very weird to me. I don't know if it's common with females. I wonder if it will change when Olive is spayed. But Bean is definitely in heat. Jumpy, vibrating ears, arched back.
Is this dangerous for her?

 

[lilspaz68]

What signs of heat are you seeing? Girls go into heat every 4-5 days normally. I do have some girls who arch their back all the time but are not actually IN heat.

 

[lap rats]

Like i said, she's right jumpy (which is not like her; she's usually so calm), then freezes and vibrates her ears when Olive just touches her. If Olive climbs higher on her back, Bean arches her back and puts her tail up. Then she'll squeak, kick Olive, and bounce out of the way. And goes through the whole process again like 10 seconds later. I've seen my females in heat before, and it's exactly like this. But like you said, it's usually every 4 days. That's why i was wondering if this was harmful... :think: I hope not poor girl. :undecided:

 

[lilspaz68]

The good thing is that being in heat won't hurt her. Her hormones may be changing due to her age, so hopefully it'll settle down in time.

 

[jorats]

I wouldn't say it hurts them but it's definitely not a good feeling for them, it's pretty all stress since they can't get the deed done. But once they get to know their buddy, they settle down, so that's good.