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My dog's vulva is swollen. Can she be spayed if she's in heat?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | unspayed | 1 year and 1 month old | 50 lbs

I have an appointment to get my dog spayed in a few days. Over the last few days her vulva has swollen but she has not bled. Is it still ok to move forward with the procedure?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on April 2nd, 2019

Hi there. A swollen vulva indicates that she's starting her heat cycle, even if she isn't actually bleeding yet. Different veterinary clinics have different policies regarding spaying dogs who are currently in heat, so I would recommend calling your vet in the morning to ask.

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