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My dog's vulva is swollen, but she's not bleeding. Is she in heat?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Basset Hound | Female | unspayed | 45 lbs

my basset hounds vulva swelled 13 days ago but still no sign of her bleeding for her heat yet she is almost 15 months old.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on March 13th, 2018

Vaginal swelling is itself a sign of estrus/heat even without discharge. If it is the first season it may be that you won't notice any discharge at all. It is actually possible that the estrus is over already and vaginal swelling will go down in the next week time. 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.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on November 1st, 2017

    A swollen vulva is a common signal that a female dog is in heat. Sometimes they are fastidious in cleaning themselves and you never see any blood. They are usually ready to breed 10-14 days after the first signs of heat. Here is a good article on the estrus (heat) cycle of dogs: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/estrus-cycles-in-dogs Here is a good article on preparing to breed your dog: http://www.akc.org/dog-breeders/responsible-breeding/

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    Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 21st, 2019

    She is a bit of a late bloomer but that is ok. Sometimes you won't see any blood, especially in small dogs, because they lick themselves clean. A swollen vulva is the best clue that your pet is either in heat or about to go into heat. If you want to verify she is in heat, its best to take her to your vet for an exam. They can also check her blood levels to see if this is an optimal time for her to get pregnant, since mentioned you want her to have pups. If you don't want to go in to the vet, you can just try to see if she will accept a male stud right now. Best wishes with your pet Hershey moving forward! Take care.

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