My Jack Russell's vulva isn't swollen. When is the best breeding time?

Once you see blood and vulvar swelling, count about 7-10 days after. That is the best time to mate her. Ideally, she should be examined by your veterinarian. Progesterone blood levels and vaginal cytology can give a more accurate time to breed her.

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.

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/).

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!

Hi there. A swollen vulva indicates that she's starting her heat cycle, even if she isn't actually bleeding yet. Different veterinary clinics have different policies regarding spaying dogs who are currently in heat, so I would recommend calling your vet in the morning to ask.

A swollen vulva and swollen breast point to her either having had puppies very recently or she is already very pregnant and will have puppies soon. Best to have her x-rayed by your veterinarian to determine whether had puppies or how many puppies she will have and when, so you can prepare. Low appetite can also point to a pregnancy. When you take her to the vet you can also have her wormed and possibly vaccinated, if your veterinarian recommends it. This will depend on the stage of pregnancy.

In a younger dog I would say she’s pregnant. In her case being older I recommend a veterinary exam to make sure there is nothing medically wrong causing these symptoms, and they can do an ultrasound or X-rays to determine if she’s pregnant. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Daisy.