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My dog's in heat for 2 weeks, why is her vulva still red & swollen?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pit Bull Terrier | Female | unspayed | 8 months and 9 days old | 40 lbs

My 8 months pitbull is in heat but it's been two weeks or more and her vagina looks really swollen and red. It had not gone down. I was wondering why? Or how long heating process goes through for first time puppies?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on January 23rd, 2018

Hi there, and thank you for posting this question. The average heat cycle lasts about 4 weeks, however there is some variation. Typically dogs do not have bloody discharge for more than a week or so during this process. The vulva does remain swollen during this time, and after their first heat cycle it will remain more "mature" in appearance than it was prior. If you plan to spay her I would recommend waiting about 1 month after to allow the internal blood supply to regress back down to more normal size. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Lotus Altholtz
Veterinarian, Board-Certified Lab Animal Medicine Specialist
Published on March 13th, 2019
The heat cycle in a female dog generally lasts 3 weeks so the bleeding should stop and her vulva should start to become less swollen in the coming week. Definitely keep her away from un-neutered male dogs to prevent an unwanted pregnancy and also schedule an appointment with your vet to discuss having her spayed as she will be more likely to develop mammary cancer or a life threatening condition called pyometra with each heat cycle. Pyometra usually occurs after a heat cycle and can be characterized by foul smelling, brown vulgar discharge, lethargy and inappetance. The only treatment is having her spayed. If she continues to bleed for more than another week, the safest bet would be to have her examined by your vet. Good luck!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jenny, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 25th, 2017
The swelling is normal for a heat cycle. You can see about getting her spayed but there are increased risk to doing it while in heat. Make dogs can show up or she will wander off it let so be very careful when letting her out. A heat cycle typically last for 3 weeks then the discharge and swelling will go away. A heat cycle typically reoccurs about every 6-8 months
14Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Why is my dog's vulva still swollen after heat, and nipples enlarged?

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/).

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my dog still swollen weeks after her heat cycle ended?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It can take several weeks for the blood vessels to Decrease in size after a heat cycle. I usually say about 6 weeks after you see bleeding. If you see any discharge, she’s licking the area, or not acting herself, I would recommend taking her to a vet for any exam. Good luck and kisses to Lillie!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog was spayed in heat. How long will she bleed and vulva swell?

The hormones can stay around for several weeks after a dog in heat is spayed, so you can expect some bleeding for another week or two. The vulvar swelling should decrease some after that, but I will say that for some dogs the vulva stays large after just one heat cycle.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why are my dog's nipples/vagina still swollen 2 months after heat?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's heat cycle is lasting weeks. Is her swollen vulva normal?

I would not be overly concerned about the single episode of vomiting/hard stool and would advise a bland diet of chicken and rice for 2-3days to see if the bowel issue resolves. I would howver be concerned about a heat cycle that has persisted for 7weeks+ and would recommend a check up with your vet tomorrow to rule out infection or other medical complications. I would recommend neutering her unless you have a need to breed from her in at the next heat cycle as excessive blood loss could become a significant issue with each cycle

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

How long does a puppy's first heat last and will she bleed daily?

When she bleeds, she is in pre-estrus. This is the time where she prepares for estrus (heat). This means she will be bleeding for about 2-3 weeks, continuously. Then the bleeding gets less and her discharge will be more of a clear red-tinged discharge. This is when she actually will go into heat for another 3 weeks, approximately, and this is where is can conceive. You should wait until about two months after her heat cycle is over before having her spayed. Here is some good information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/anatomy-and-function-of-the-reproductive-system-in-dogs/

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

How long do heat cycles last for my medium to large mixed breed dog?

On average, a heat cycle in a female dog will last 2-3 weeks (from the start of the vulva appearing swollen, to vaginal bleeding/discharge to the female no longer being attractive to male dogs at the end of the heat cycle) and generally occur every 6 months although it is not uncommon for large breed dogs to come into heat/estrus only once a year. Some female dogs can bleed for 2-3 weeks (much longer than human menstrual periods!). Hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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