My dog's vulva is swollen with clear discharge. Is it heat or infection?

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.

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!

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.

This is definitely possible that she is already back in heat. She could also have an infection so be sure to keep an eye out for any abnormal behavior like not eating, lethargy, or vomiting. If you see any abnormal behavior or just want to be sure, I would have your vet take a look at her to ensure she is healthy. I would not breed her during this heat cycle since she just had a litter. I hope this helps!

It is the skin around the vulva that is irritated and swollen, not the vulva itself. The vulva will swell when they are going into heat. This is a skin infection. I suggest you have her to your vet for an exam.

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!

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!