Dog has clear discharge after heat. Is it normal or an emergency?

When you say you saw a white discharge you do not indicate where you saw the discharge coming from. Since you discussed heat later in the question I assume you mean you saw discharge from the vulva. An occurrence small amount of whitish discharge can be a normal finding. However, if you are noticing a yellow or blood tinged discharge, if she is drinking more than usual, if she isn’t eating well or otherwise acting “sick” then I would be concerned. Pyometra is an infection of the uterus and can be fatal. So if you are concerned that you are seeing abnormal vaginal discharge then she should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. If this is the problem they will recommend to have her spayed immediately . Best of luck and I hope she is back to normal soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello, sorry to hear about Pepper. Vaginal secretions like this could be normal especially in an intact female. However, if she had a heat about 3-4 weeks ago, this discharge could be more concerning for an infection (pyometra) or a false pregnancy. Other signs associated with a pyometra could include a decreased appetite, lethargy, painful abdomen, and persistent discharge from her vulva. If you note any of these, then Pepper should be evaluated by her veterinarian immediately. Finally, discharge from the vulva could indicate a urinary tract infection, vaginitis, perhaps her heat cycle. If you note continue to note this discharge, then have Pepper evaluated. Hope this helps and best of luck.

The discharge pictured is a greenish-yellow, so I'm concerned that Athena may have [pyometra](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pyometra/), which is a potentially deadly infection of the uterus that can happen in dogs. A tiny bit of white vulvar discharge can be within normal variations for puppies (called a "puppy vaginitis"), but a greenish-yellow discharge is never normal. I recommend having Athena evaluated by her vet or an emergency vet right away. Your vet will likely [recommend spaying](https://www.petcoach.co/article/spay-and-neuter-basics-for-dogs-and-cats/) Athena right away if they [diagnose a pyometra](https://www.petcoach.co/article/pyometra-infections-of-the-uterus-in-dogs/), as this removes the pus-filled uterus and ovaries. Spaying stops the heat cycle, eliminates the risk and cost of unwanted breeding, reduces the risk of breast cancer, and prevents the a pyometra from developing.

Uh-oh, this is quite concerning. This could be vaginitis, but probably is a uterine infection (pyometra, open). This is an emergency and she needs to be seen by a vet preferably today. Your vet will give Daisy a thorough exam, and then probably will want to do an x-ray to verify his diagnosis. Treatment is surgery to remove the uterus with all the pus contained. Antibiotics sometimes work, however that would only delay the surgery as she will have another uterine infection when she has her next heat. Please take her to your veterinarian ASAP.

Unfortunately without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain if the white discharge and smell is a major concern. It could be a sign of a pyometra, and that is fatal without treatment. To be safe, I think it's best you take her into a vet now to get checked out. Best of luck.

I am sorry for the delay in answering your question. As dogs come into heat, initially a bloody discharge is seen. Then usually about 1-2 weeks later that discharge becomes more yellow in color, and that is when they are receptive to a male dog. They tend to accept the male for 1-2 weeks, and a yellowish discharge can be normal, though it should not be in very large amounts. So I don't think what you are describing is completely abnormal, especially if she is eating, isn't lethargic or acting sick. You may find the following article helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/faqs-on-reproduction-heats-pregnancies-in-dogs/ I hope that helps you! Thanks for asking PetCoach!

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.