My older dog in heat has black blood. Is this normal or a vet concern?

It's not normal for a dog to have a black bloody discharge with a bad smell during her heat, and I would have Pip seen by a vet right away. I would be very concerned that this dark blood and bad smell could be indicative of an infection of the uterus. Have her seen by a vet ASAP for a health check.

Most dogs typically go into heat twice a year. The questions to ask yourself are: 1. Has she ever done this before? 2. Does the blood look different? 3. Is she behaving differently? Occasionally, bitches do slow their bleeding and then start up again briefly towards the end, but it is not worth the risk to assume this is the case here. If this is not how her heat cycles normally progress, it is possible that she has [pyometra](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pyometra/), or an infection of the uterus. Pyometra is common in older, intact female dogs that have recently had a heat cycle. It is a very serious condition that typically requires surgical intervention. Please bring her to your veterinarian or the nearest veterinary ER to be on the safe side. She needs to be seen ASAP, especially if she is lethargic, [feverish](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-common-signs-your-pet-has-a-fever) or has a tender abdomen.

Hi, it is probably better to have her checked over. Sometimes it can be secondary to hormonal fluctuations and changes in the uterus over the course of the years. However, best to be on the safer side and have a check up to make sure that she is not becoming anaemic and that the bleeding is not secondary to something else more concerning .

Poor girl. Some pets do bleed heavier than others. I would make sure that try and replace her fluids by offering her Pedialyte non-flavored mixed 50:50 with water. This will help replace her electrolytes and also make sure she hydrates herself. I would most definitely still recommend keeping her appointment tomorrow so that the vet can access her to ensure she isn't becoming mildly anemic due to the extensive blood loss. If she has, then the vet will likely recommend iron supplements for her to treat for this. I am not sure what the concern is for other dogs. Her bloody discharge isn't contagious nor should it be a problem for other pets. Just clean as needed and the other pets should be just fine. Best of luck at the vet tomorrow.

I recommend to have Izzy examined by her veterinarian today. Dogs who are in heat will have a bloody discharge that is usually very light colored. Infections in the uterus can be severe and even fatal if not treated quickly so it’s best to have her checked for this today. Cancer and vaginitis are also possible. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

No, bleeding a lot is not normal and if she was coming out of heat, the bleeding would be slowing down and stopping. Not bleeding more. I would be concerned that there is something else wrong with Sakoni such as an uterine infection. Because of this, I would have her seen by a vet as soon as possible. Please take her into a vet now. Best of luck.

No, this is not normal. LuLu may have a uterine infection which can be life threatening. You need to have her examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Drinking and urinating more than usual and appearing quieter than usual would also be signs consistent with an infection. The veterinarian will give her a thorough exam, blood tests and possibly take an x-ray to visualize her uterus. Should LuLu get lethargic you need to take her to an emergency clinic.