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

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog's vagina never shrunk down after she was in heat. Her bottom two nipples are also enlarged and feel swollen when pushed on. She is 100% not pregnant.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Laura E. McRae

Veterinary Technician

Published on February 9th, 2015

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. 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.

526Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on March 16th, 2017
When a dog is in heat, their nipples can swell as well. This will resolve itself in the next week or so once her heat is over. I would keep an eye on Jane for now, and if her nipples do not go down over the next week, I would have her seen by a vet. .
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA
Veterinarian
Published on December 17th, 2017
It is possible she is still swollen because the hormones haven’t gotten completely out of her system. She may also be pregnant if she was ever left unattended outside during her heat cycle or she could be going through a false pregnancy. If her nipples continue to stay swollen and she gains weight she is likely pregnant. You can have your vet do some X-rays after 45 days of gestation to prove whether or not she is pregnant. An ultrasound can be done as early as 30 days if your vet has one. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

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

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

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Is my dog pregnant if her vulva is still enlarged after heat?

Not necessarily. A vulva can stay enlarged and swollen for weeks after coming out of heat. Keep a close eye on her. You can have your vet check with an ultrasound at 30 days of pregnancy and with X-rays st 45 days to confirm pregnancy. I hope this helps.

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

Health & Wellness

My puppy's vulva and nipples are swollen after heat, plus hair loss?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It can take a bit for the vulva and mammary glands to decrease from the hormones. She could also be experiencing a false pregnancy, which is a hormonal imbalance that can cause pregnancy symptoms: swollen mammary glands, milk development, nesting behavior, anxiety, carrying stuffed animals around. It usually resolves in 2-3 months. Causes for the area of hair loss are: trauma/injury/abrasion, skin infection, ring worm, demodex. I would put her on one of the oral flea and tick medications: Nexgard, Bravecto, or Simparica. All 3 also kill demodex as well. If the spot grows or doesn't resolve then I would have her seen. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's vulva is swollen 2 months after birth, no blood. Is she in heat?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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