Why is my 9-year-old unspayed chihuahua bleeding? Is it stress?

Hi there. If Izzy has never had any vaginal discharge during her heat cycles previously, that's very odd. I would be concerned that what you are seeing now may indicated a pyometra (uterine infection), as this is a common cause of vaginal discharge in middle-aged and older intact females. If she does have a pyometra, this is a serious problem that can be life-threatening - so I would recommend taking her to the vet today for an exam to find out for sure what's going on.

Has she been in heat recently? At her age with not being spayed I would worry about thisbdisxharge being from the uterus and her having an uterine infection. This can be an emergency that typically requires surgery. Often times they are weak, drinking more water, vomiting and not eating. Other options include a bladder infection which will need antibiotics. Your vet can distguish between the two and see what is needed

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.

Given her age and that she has had a recent heat, she may have a uterine infection (pyometra). This can be a serious infection if left untreated. Crystal should be examined by a veterinarian to be safe and treated if indicated. Surgery may be required if she has pyometra.

She is likely in pre-estrus, the time before heat where a female bleeds. You may not notice it during the day, as she may be cleaning herself while awake. When the bleeding stops or gets very faint you will need to watch out as she may get pregnant. This will be up to three weeks after the bleeding ceases.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Spotting blood is most likely related to uterine infection called pyometra. If left untreated, it may become a very serious condition, so please try and get Lacey seen by your local vets as soon as possible. If it is uterine infection, you will have to get Lacey neutered, as this is the only reliable treatment for pyometra.

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.