First heat: My dog has no swelling or discharge. Is this normal?

Yes, it is possible that Peanut is in heat for the first time, as dogs may not always have obvious bleeding during heat. If she cleans herself very well, she may be licking up any bloody discharge. To be safe, I would keep her away from any intact dogs, and do not allow her out into the yard unsupervised. It's never recommend to breed a dog on their first heat, as she will not be mature enough physically and emotionally to raise puppies.

Vaginal swelling is itself a sign of estrus/heat even without discharge. If it is the first season it may be that you won't notice any discharge at all. It is actually possible that the estrus is over already and vaginal swelling will go down in the next week time. 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.

Normally, bitches in season do not behave very differently from their usual selves. Since it is her first heat, there may be a problem showing up that was not evident before her reproductive organs became active. Or, it could be something else altogether. Your best bet is to take her to the vet for a thorough exam to determine an accurate diagnosis and, if necessary, appropriate treatment plan.

If Luna has a blood tinged discharge and your male dog is showing an increased interest in her, it is likely she is in heat and possible just very early stages and this is why her vulva isn't swollen. You can read more about the heat cycle in this article: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952188 (it is about false pregnancy but gives a good idea of the stages of the cycle). If, however, you think it is possible the blood could be in her urine/she is having urinary accidents/asking to pee more frequently then a vet visit is recommended.

Yes, this is normal to see a swollen vulva during a dog's heat, and in this picture, Stormy's vulva does not look abnormally swollen. Thank you for providing a picture, as it really helped with my answer. So to answer your question, yes this is normal!

Yes, it can be normal. Often times though, they have gone into heat, you just didn't notice. Some dogs keep their vulva clean so you don't notice any bleeding. If you are worried then I suggest you take her to your vet for a breeding soundness examination.

Hello. The nipple is definitely red & inflamed, but this does not always indicate the presence of an infection. For now, you can rub a little 1% hydrocortisone on the skin 2-3 times a day, & if it is not looking any better by early in the week, please have your veterinarian take a look. Thank you.