Can my dog swim in a pond while in heat? Is there an infection risk?

If Carly is showing any other signs of illness such as vomiting, lethargy or drinking excessive water go to the vet asap as she may be developing a pyometra which is a life threatening uterine infection. If she is otherwise normal I still recomend a vet visit asap but it may be ok to wait until Monday vs an ER clinic. But please have her checked as any signs of infection of reproductive tract in a dog that recently went through a heat cycle could be serious. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

She may be in heat still (up to three weeks after stopping bleeding) or indeed she may have a uterine infection. Nestle will need to be seen by a veterinarian for a hands-on exam. If the vet suspects an infection he will want to verify this with an ultrasound exam or an x-ray. A uterine infection can be life threatening and the best treatment would be surgery to remove it and its purulent content. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian now.

The incision looks ok at this point but water can potentially introduce infection into the incision. Miley should be confined and leash walked only for at least 10 days after surgery. No jumping, no swimming, no running off leash. Monitor the incision for redness, swelling or discharge and let her vet know if you notice any of this.

A dog's heat cycle usually lasts 2-4 weeks. To be safe, I would wait until your dog's vulvar bleeding has stopped for a whole week AND her vulva has returned to its normal size/is no longer swollen. It is always recommended to stay close to Seyla at the dog park in order to intervene quickly in case aggression/attempted mating even if she is no longer in heat occurs.

This is definitely possible that she is already back in heat. She could also have an infection so be sure to keep an eye out for any abnormal behavior like not eating, lethargy, or vomiting. If you see any abnormal behavior or just want to be sure, I would have your vet take a look at her to ensure she is healthy. I would not breed her during this heat cycle since she just had a litter. I hope this helps!

Either one is possible and it’s impossible to know without further information or an exam. The vulva can become swollen with both conditions and discharge is normal in both conditions. Typically an infection will show up with colored discharge and the pet will usually act sick. The heat cycle can start off with clear discharge and will progress to a thin bloody discharge and the pet will act normal. When in doubt, have Leela see her veterinarian who should be able to tell the difference. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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!