When does a female ferret's vulva return to normal after breeding?

Thanks for reaching out about your ferrets. It is difficult to say whether they get along during pregnancy and kit rearing, as hormones can easily change behaviors and create competition over territory, food and other resources. Might be better to either not breed (but bring them out of season) or breed and separate. Good luck.

tAs long as she didn't get bred or is going through a false pregnancy, most dogs will shrink down within 2-3 weeks or so months from the heat cycle. It should be noted they will never shrink back to the size they were prior to here heat cycle. Since her teats and vulva are still swollen, I recommend to have her examined to find out if something is wrong or if she is pregnant. I do recommend to spay Oakley unless she is planned to be a breeding dog. There are many health and behavioral benefits to the procedure. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It is not unusual for the vulva to remain swollen for a period of time after the "heat" cycle is over. In dogs, there are [4 stages of estrus](https://www.petcoach.co/article/anatomy-and-function-of-the-reproductive-system-in-dogs). The combination of proestrus and estrus, which is often referred to as "heat" by breeders, lasts approximately 21 days. "Heat" is followed by diestrus and anestrus. During proestrus, the vulva swells and has a bloody discharge. During estrus, the vulva softens and becomes pliable in preparation for mating. It can take several weeks following estrus for the vulva to shrink back down in size, but it will never go back to the size it was before the first heat cycle. The same is true of the mammary glands, which enlarge slightly in preparation for [pregnancy](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pregnancy/).

Not necessarily. A vulva can stay enlarged and swollen for weeks after coming out of heat. Keep a close eye on her. You can have your vet check with an ultrasound at 30 days of pregnancy and with X-rays st 45 days to confirm pregnancy. I hope this helps.

Yes, there will be. Millie will stop bleeding, her vulva will shrink (but will never go back to it's previous size), and the vulva won't be as red. I would wait a few days after the bleeding has stopped before bringing her around other dogs.

Hello! Yes, I would recommend getting Bandit spayed. Female ferrets will continuously go into heat until they are bred. This, over time, causes a common syndrome of estrogen toxicity and fatal bone marrow suppression in intact female ferrets. She will have a much longer and happier life if she is spayed while she is young. :) I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Normally these are signs of going into heat, but since your ferret is spayed it is more likely that she has a problem with her adrenal glands. This could be an adrenal tumor that is causing the signs of estrus. You will need to take Lariska to a vet, preferably one that has experience with ferrets, for an exam. Because her body thinks it is in estrus, she is peeing and pooping everywhere to spread her scent for potential mates.