Why is my dog's vulva blue/grey and sensitive after her first heat?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Skyler. The vulva will stay larger after the first heat cycle and can change in appearance. The mammary chains will also stay larger as compared to before her first cycle. The vulva still looks normal to me, but she should see her veterinarian if you are concerned. I hope this information helps!

Sometimes the genitalia can experience hyperpigmentation after a heat cycle. Some sort of infection is also possible and a physical exam is needed to tell the difference. I recommend to call your veterinarian who is most familiar with Zoe. They may recommend an exam. Best of luck.

She is going out of heat and you will Roxie the swelling start to decrease. If there is no mucous vaginal discharge and she is acting normally, then I would not worry about the skin changing colors. There is not a known condition that causes this, but it is normal and usually will turn back with time. You may notice this happen on her belly too and it does not have to be related to a heat cycle

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.

Unfortunately, without images or a physical exam, it is difficult to determine exactly what is going on with your dog. There are [multiple potential causes](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/skin-ulcers-and-draining-lesions/) for the symptoms. That said, black or bluish discoloration of the skin may indicate necrosis (dying off of normal tissue) or a severe inflammatory reaction (if mainly black and also coarse to the touch). I would suspect a potential spider/centipede bite or severe yeast infection (if mainly black and coarse to the touch) or severe [vaginitis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/vaginitis/) are potential causes which should also be looked at by your vet ASAP. If this is a spider/centipede bite, it should be treated quickly with steroid therapy to stop the reaction from spreading and causing systemic (whole body) illness. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent licking until she sees the vet.

Inflammation in that area can make it look red. Dogs can get vaginitis, infections, tumors or it can get inflamed if she has been licking at it more than normal. Pay close attention to her urination habits as a UTI can cause pain which can cause increased licking. If the redness does not go away after a few days, if she seems uncomfortable or itchy, or if you see a change her urination, have her seen by her veterinarian. It never hurts though to have it checked out right away. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It does not appear raised or the tissue inflamed. I would monitor the area for any changes. Some pigment changes can be normal in dogs. If it starts to have an odor or seems to bother her or get bumpy then I would have it checked