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My pregnant dog has bloody vaginal discharge. Are her puppies okay?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | English Bulldog | Female | unspayed | 5 years and 9 months old | 45 lbs

My dog is 33 days pregnant , from 1st breeding !! And she started having fluid come from her vagina this morning w/ a little bit of blood what do I need to do or is it to late to save her litter ?? She's a 5 yr. old English Bulldog !! Thanks a bunch !!

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Karly Macon, DVM, MS, CVA Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Veterinarian

Published on October 8th, 2017

Some discharge can be normal during pregnancy, but the best thing to do is to take her to a vet who deals with canine reproduction for a full exam. I would do a vaginal cytology and/or culture to see if the discharge is normal, and take xrays or do an abdominal ultrasound to see how far along she is and to make sure the feti look normal, and that there is no sign of gas in the uterus which can indicate dead puppies. She should be far enough along to see heartbeats and count a heart rate on the puppies, which is the best indication of puppy health. Feel free to schedule a consult if you'd like to discuss this in more depth. Hope that helps!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 8th, 2019
Hello, congratulations on your upcoming pups. Clear discharge from the vulva is expected and normal if only happening occasionally. If this discharge becomes persistent, if she becomes lethargic, loses her appetite, has a painful belly, or is having worse discharge, then she should be evaluated by her veterinarian immediately. Otherwise, as long as she is acting like her normal self and this discharge is self limiting, you may continue to watch her at home.

Hope this helps and best of luck.
8Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on June 24th, 2018
Maria is very cute! Seeing a clear discharge is normal, and she could be crying out because she's in the first stage of labor. During this stage, the cervix begins to dilate and the uterine contractions start. This first stage of labor can last up to 18 hours, after which the dog begins actively pushing and gives birth to the puppies. Continue to keep an eye on her, and if you have any concerns about her behavior, it's always best to take her into a vet to be safe. Best of luck, I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on February 2nd, 2019
Vaginal discharge can be caused by a number of things. Both the urethra and vaginal openings exit the vaginal/vulvar area so discharge could indicate a problem with the urinary tract or with the reproductive tract. If your dog is unspayed and showing other signs of heat, it may also indicate she is getting ready to go into heat. With any strange discharge, it is a good idea to schedule a veterinary appointment to check it out. If the discharge becomes cloudy, green or yellow in color, it is best to seek veterinary care as soon as possible as that may indicate something more serious such as a uterine infection.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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