My dog is bleeding and licking after heat. Is it an infection?

No, this is not normal. LuLu may have a uterine infection which can be life threatening. You need to have her examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Drinking and urinating more than usual and appearing quieter than usual would also be signs consistent with an infection. The veterinarian will give her a thorough exam, blood tests and possibly take an x-ray to visualize her uterus. Should LuLu get lethargic you need to take her to an emergency clinic.

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.

I am very concerned that Willow may have pyometra (an infection in her uterus). This type of infection can be life-threatening and typically requires surgery to remove the uterus which is the source of the infection. I would recommend taking her to your vet right away so she can be evaluated for this disease.

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.

Sometimes the genitalia can experience hyperpigmentation after a heat cycle. Some sort of infection is also possible and a physical exam is needed to tell the difference. I recommend to call your veterinarian who is most familiar with Zoe. They may recommend an exam. Best of luck.

Chiquis likely is suffering from a bacterial dermatitis in this area or possibly a yeast infection. You will need to keep her from licking by placing a cone/e-collar on her. I suggest you make an appointment with your vet for an exam. The vet will likely take a swab and check the material under the microscope to verify that this is indeed a bacterial infection or a fungal (yeast) infection and them prescribe the relevant antibiotic or antifungal medication.

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.