My dog has anal bleeding after heat, but seems healthy. What's wrong?

All of this can be normally seen with a dog in heat, except for the blood coming from the anus. If you are certain that blood is oozing from her anus, then I would be much more concerned and would recommend a visit to the vet in the next 24 hours. Bleeding from the colon/rectum can indicate a severe infection and it's best to get these treated as soon as possible to avoid life-threatening complications such as amemia. I would first make sure that the blood is in-fact coming from her anus. One way to tell is if there is blood in her stool. If she's having normal stool with no blood, then it's not likely that the blood is truly coming from her anus. A decrease in activity and in appetite can happen when they are in heat, so if she is otherwise normal, then I wouldn't be too worried. However, the best option is to have a vet examine her to be safe. Below is a link with more information about a dog's heat cycle. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/estrus-cycles-in-dogs I hope that helps and all is well with Shadow.

She may have an infected anal sac or the mucous membrane of the rectum may be injured or she may have a rectal tumor. If the bleeding does not stop you will need to take her to a veterinarian or pet ER for an exam.

If the bleeding is coming from the anus it's not a heat cycle, it's probably a gastrointestinal infection, in such a case Lucy needs to see a vet right away to get treatment, if it is coming from the vagina then it's probably a heat cycle, in that case you don't have to do anything as it is normal.

These signs are quite concerning as they could be compatible with a infection of the uterus called pyometra. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

If they vet recommended spaying, I wondering if the bleeding is actually coming from her vulva. If it's definitely from her anus, she needs a rectal exam, abdominal x-rays, and then likely a colonocopy to look for the problem. I would be concerned about a cancerous growth.

Most dogs typically go into heat twice a year. The questions to ask yourself are: 1. Has she ever done this before? 2. Does the blood look different? 3. Is she behaving differently? Occasionally, bitches do slow their bleeding and then start up again briefly towards the end, but it is not worth the risk to assume this is the case here. If this is not how her heat cycles normally progress, it is possible that she has [pyometra](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pyometra/), or an infection of the uterus. Pyometra is common in older, intact female dogs that have recently had a heat cycle. It is a very serious condition that typically requires surgical intervention. Please bring her to your veterinarian or the nearest veterinary ER to be on the safe side. She needs to be seen ASAP, especially if she is lethargic, [feverish](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-your-pet-has-a-fever) or has a tender abdomen.

Yes she should be starting her period soon. You know that a pet is having their period because you will see a very swollen vagina and sometimes a decrease in appetite. So this could explain what you are seeing. Look at Hina's genital area to see if it is indeed swollen. A pets period lasts anywhere from 2-4 weeks on average. And the decrease in appetite is normal during the first week of a pets menstrual cycle, but should improve gradually. If the blood is not coming from her genital area and is instead coming from her rectum, then its best to have her seen by your vet for further treatment. I hope everything works out well for your pet Hina. Take care.