My dog has a problem when in heat. What is it and how to prevent?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tootsie. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. The vulva will swell with heat, but you want to ensure there is not a complicating factor such as a vaginal prolapse starting. I hope this information helps!

You have some great questions! When Luna goes into heat, keep her and your make completely separate at all times until it passes. You are right that she shouldn’t be bred until closer to two years of age. No, they will not mate when she’s not in heat. Signs of heat include a swollen vulva, bleeding, and mounting behavior. A dog goes into heat once every six months, and it lasts 3-4 weeks. I hope this helps!

This looks like a vaginal prolapse. That is when the vagina turns inside out. This is very swollen and needs to be lubricated and then manipulated back into place. You can clean it gently with a warm wet cloth, then apply KY Jelly to it or Vaseline to protect the sensitive skin from injury, then I'd bring her in tomorrow morning to get this examined and treated. I'm afraid if you leave this it may not get back to normal. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Piper.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. Her swollen vulva and the blood tinged discharge are consist with her heat cycle starting. However, the lesion in the pictures is abnormal. She could have traumatized herself by licking. If there is tissue protruding from her vagina, then I worry about a prolapse. If the area enlarges or seems to bother her, then she will need to see her veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Athena. Your pictures are a bit fuzzy, but she does appear to have tissue protruding from her vulva. This may be a vaginal prolapse. She will need to see her veterinarian to confirm this suspicion. If this is the case, it will likely repeat with each subsequent heat cycle unless she is spayed. In the meantime, prevent her from licking the area. I hope this information helps!

This is called a "vaginal prolapse" and is common in young intact females. It usually happens right before or during the dog's heat cycle. This is a hormonal problem associated with an overabundance of estrogen and usually, spaying the dog will remedy this. It usually happens right before or during the dog's heat cycle.

When a dog goes in heat you may see some behavioural changes, sometimes some lack of appetite and of course some spotting (bleeding). It is highly recommended to spay your dog as it will eliminate the risk of mammary gland cancer (very common in unspayed dogs) and pyometra (uterine infection). The downside is a higher risk developing incontinence at a later age as well as obesity (which can be avoided with proper diet).