My spayed dog seems to be in heat. Is this normal or serious?

If a dog is spayed correctly they not long have heat cycles and should not be spotting or bleeding. If there is a discharge noted, it is best to start with a urine sample and an ultrasound to look at the bladder and kidneys and look at the cervix to see if there is an infection or a growth.

That is unusual behavior for a dog but I do not suspect it is related to her mentally thinking she is in heat. That being said, dogs can have a heat cycle if they were not spayed properly or if they have too many ovaries. Your veterinarian can preform a simple blood test to determine if ovarian tissue is present. Next time she exhibits these symptoms, have her seen while she is showing signs as a blood test is more likely to find evidence of ovaries if they are present. That will at least rule that out. Other potential causes could include Addison’s disease or anxiety. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Yes and no! If Arrow was spayed recently (in the past few weeks) and was about to go into heat sometimes the hormones stay around long enough for one heat cycle. Occasionally ovarian tissue is left behind or there is extra tissue that can then cause a heat cycle. It’s also possible that she has bloody discharge from the vulva due to a urinary tract infection or bladder stones. I would recommend seeing your veterinarian. They might recommend collecting a urine sample or obtaining a sample for vaginal cytology to see if it looks like Arrow is truly in heat.

Bleeding from the vulva in a spayed dog is not normal. Possible causes include bleeding from the urinary tract (UTI, urinary bladder stones, tumor) or bleeding from the vaginal vault (tumor or infection). Some bleeding/clotting disorders can also be causing the blood you see. I would recommend that Isabella be checked out by a veterinarian. After a thorough physical and vaginal exam, your vet may recommend bloodwork, clotting times, x-rays, or ultrasound.

No, it isn't normal that Bella isn't eat or move a lot. While a dog's reproductive organs can get quite swollen during a heat, I would be concerned that her additional signs indicate that she is suffering from a systemic illness. If she is peeing blood, it could be there is blood in her urine coming from her bladder in addition to her uterus. This could be due to a UTI or bladder stones. I would have Bella seen by a vet right away for a health check.

Yes she should be starting her period soon. You know that a pet is having their period because you will see a very swollen vagina and sometimes a decrease in appetite. So this could explain what you are seeing. Look at Hina's genital area to see if it is indeed swollen. A pets period lasts anywhere from 2-4 weeks on average. And the decrease in appetite is normal during the first week of a pets menstrual cycle, but should improve gradually. If the blood is not coming from her genital area and is instead coming from her rectum, then its best to have her seen by your vet for further treatment. I hope everything works out well for your pet Hina. Take care.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Dog's heats will last a variable amount of time from animal to animal. Some will last a few days, and some can last up to 3 weeks. Most will be on average around 7 days long. A fair amount of blood coloured fluid will be produced, however dogs are pretty good at cleaning themselves up. About 1 month after she has finished bleeding, I would talk to your vet about getting her desexed to prevent pyometra (pus filled uterus), decrease her risks of mastitis, and many different types of cancers, and prevent unwanted pregnancies. Best of luck with Bella!