My dog's vagina is swollen after heat. Could it be prolapse?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It looks like your pet has a case of vaginitis, inflammation of the vagina, or she has an ongoing discharge, possibly due to an infection in the cervix or uterus. She may need antibiotics, especially if she is off her appetite, drinking an excesssive amount of water &/ or peeing a lot, or seems unhappy or lethargic. Otherwise, if she seems normal, give her a few days to see if things begin to clear up. You can use warm water, or a gentle facial wipe to keep the area clean, & monitor for any further changes. Hopefully, all will be normal soon. Take care.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tootsie. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. The vulva will swell with heat, but you want to ensure there is not a complicating factor such as a vaginal prolapse starting. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Athena. Your pictures are a bit fuzzy, but she does appear to have tissue protruding from her vulva. This may be a vaginal prolapse. She will need to see her veterinarian to confirm this suspicion. If this is the case, it will likely repeat with each subsequent heat cycle unless she is spayed. In the meantime, prevent her from licking the area. I hope this information helps!

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. This is not normal for a heat cycle. The perivulvar area looks red and inflamed which is most likely from the diaper. The diaper is keeping too much heat and moisture in/around the vulva. You may be keeping the diaper on for too many hours. If you continue with the diaper this area will likely get infected. You will need to leave the diaper off and you can treat the affected area with this: ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/3-oz-3-fl-oz-hot-spot-antimicr-2877113 ) If she is bleeding a lot you will need to keep her in a kennel, bathroom or kitchen area so she does not track blood around your house. As a side note, if you are not using specific dog diapers I suggest you do so. Human products often cause this type of problem. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Yes, swelling of the vulva is normal during a heat, and it can get large especially if Poke already has a relatively large vulva. It can also be caused by an allergic reaction or an infection. It's always good to have it checked out by a vet just to be safe. I hope this helps!

Yes keeping her inside so it can stay clean would be best. You can apply lubricant to it such as KY to keep it moist. It does usually resolve when the heat cycle passes and the hormones settle down or getting her spayed at your regular vet will fix it faster.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. Her swollen vulva and the blood tinged discharge are consist with her heat cycle starting. However, the lesion in the pictures is abnormal. She could have traumatized herself by licking. If there is tissue protruding from her vagina, then I worry about a prolapse. If the area enlarges or seems to bother her, then she will need to see her veterinarian. I hope this information helps!