My senior dog is bleeding after heat, in pain, and has an ear infection?

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 .

I am very concerned that Willow may have pyometra (an infection in her uterus). This type of infection can be life-threatening and typically requires surgery to remove the uterus which is the source of the infection. I would recommend taking her to your vet right away so she can be evaluated for this disease.

She may be in heat still (up to three weeks after stopping bleeding) or indeed she may have a uterine infection. Nestle will need to be seen by a veterinarian for a hands-on exam. If the vet suspects an infection he will want to verify this with an ultrasound exam or an x-ray. A uterine infection can be life threatening and the best treatment would be surgery to remove it and its purulent content. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian now.

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.

These signs are quite concerning as they could be compatible with a infection of the uterus called pyometra. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. 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. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

Yes, this can be due to a problem in her uterus. It could normal but since it’s been so long since she bled before there could be an infection or mass in the uterus or vagina. I recommend an exam and they may want to do an X-ray to make sure her uterus is normal size. I do recommend spaying her if you can so they can remove and examine the uterus and prevent her from getting a uterine infection or cancer. Also unspayed females have a higher incidence of breast cancer so that’s another reason for having her spayed soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care Lily.

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear your pet is having an issue. By vaginal infection, I am unsure if you mean she is having vaginitis, a urinary tract infection or even a uterine infection (also called a pyometra). If she is having repeat UTIs it is a good idea to have her urine cultured and also to do some imaging diagnostics like X-rays and even an ultrasound. If she is not spayed and the infection is coming from her uterus it is very important to have her spayed as this will resolve the issue. If your veterinarian is unsure as to where the infection is coming from then the next step is urine culture and an ultrasound. In some cases a resistant bacteria is present and the culture will help rule that out. An ultrasound will help determine if there are any complicating factors like bladder inflammation, bladder stones or even cancer. More information provided by you may help us make additional suggestions. I hope this helps clear some things up for you!