Why Is My Dogs Vagina Swollen?

Caring for dogs can be fun and interesting, but it can also be stressful, especially if they fall sick.

At times we are not even sure what is wrong with our dogs because they can’t talk or point out the problem. As such, you should always be on the lookout for symptoms and sudden changes in behavior.

However, the visible symptoms don’t always tell the whole story, and that is one of the reasons why you are trawling the net to find out why your dog’s vagina is swollen.

Well, you just landed on the right page because we are going to tell you some of the reasons why your four-legged friend is the way she is.

For starters, you need to understand that a dog’s vagina can swell due to several reasons. And the fact that it is swollen does not automatically mean that your dog will die.

Plus, in most cases, the condition can be treated if the pet is given the medical care that she needs. Nonetheless, the problem may also go away on its own depending on the cause as you are about to find out.

But, first, let us find out what may be causing your dog’s vagina to swell;

Why Is My Dogs Vagina Swollen?

Vaginal inflammation in dogs can be caused by allergic reactions, bacterial infections, vaginal malformations, cancer, estrus cycle, labor complications, and forced separation during the mating tie.

We are going to look at all the factors in great detail, so don’t be worried even if some don’t make sense at this point.

Cancer

Let’s start off with cancer since it’s a life-threatening disease that everyone should be worried about.

The vagina may swell if the dog in question has cancerous tumors growing inside or around the vulva. Such tumors mainly affect older dogs that are not spayed.

If the tumors are noticed early enough, they can be surgically removed and your dog may go on to live a healthy life.

As such, the first thing that you should do when you notice your dog’s vagina is swollen is to take the animal in for a check-up.

Through this, the dog will get a detailed diagnosis that may save the life of your pet.

Estrus Cycle

This is a recurrent phase that is induced by several reproductive hormones in the dog’s body. Hormones like estrogen can cause the tissue in the vaginal area to expand and stretch outwards.

As a result, the vagina may swell and there will also be a slight change in color, but this should not worry you because this is perfectly normal.

This phase also makes your dog go on heat, so if you are a breeder, this is the best time to mate your dogs.

They will be more responsive to the male dogs, and the chances of them getting pregnant will also be higher.

However, this may not apply to spayed dogs because ovariohysterectomy eliminates the estrus cycle, so if your dog’s vagina swells and it has been spayed, you should take the pet to the vet as soon as possible.

Bacterial Infections

Like humans, dogs can also suffer from bacterial infections, and female dogs are most affected in this case.

Vaginal infections in dogs mainly come about as a result of bladder or other urinary tract complications.

What happens is that bacterial can easily move from the infected area to the vagina by using urine as a medium for transport, thus causing a secondary infection in the vaginal area.

To prevent this from happening, ensure that you treat all urinary tract infections before they affect other parts of your dog’s reproductive system such as the vulva and vagina.

Bacterial infection in dogs can be treated using probiotics and antibiotics, which must be provided by a licensed veterinarian.

Labor Complications

Expectant dogs may experience physiological changes in their vagina when they are a few days or weeks from giving birth.

Like the estrous phase, this is also normal, so you have nothing to worry about. Still, you should take the dog for a quick check-up just to be sure that it is not something serious.

Vaginal malformations

This can occur when congenital anomalies alter the anatomical structure of a dog’s vagina, thereby preventing fluids from flowing through the vaginal tissues as they should.

Allergic Reactions

The vagina is very sensitive and can easily be affected by detergents and dog shampoos as you wash your pet.

That said, if certain chemicals come into direct contact with the vaginal walls, they can damage the vaginal mucosa, thus exposing the vagina to allergens and other foreign bodies that may cause it to swell.

Forced separation during a Mating Tie

As the name suggests, the term tie refers to when a female dog and a male dog “conjoin” when mating.

During this process, the penis of the male dog expands and “locks” inside the vagina, meaning that it cannot come out easily.

If the dogs are interrupted and the male yanks out abruptly, it may cause tissue damage to the vagina. Consequently, the injured area may swell and can also get infected.

Why is my dog discharging fluids from her vagina?

Female dogs may discharge fluids from their vagina when they are on heat or before giving birth. In such cases, the discharge will go away after some time.

Nonetheless, if the discharge is a result of an underlying medical condition, it may go on for days, so you will have to take your furry friend to the vet.

Final Thoughts

Swelling of a dog’s vagina should be treated as a serious medical condition until a detailed diagnosis is given.

As such, you should not jump to conclusions or try out remedies before taking the animal to a licensed veterinarian.

Plus, most of the problems that we have discussed can be cured medically provided that they are identified and treated at the right time.

Additionally, you can protect your dog from some of the complications, so ensure that you take good care of your pet.