why is my 9 month old boston female have a swollen vagina area

by me
(va)

I have a 9 month old female boston terrie that vagina area is swollen and not sure why, and how to help.

She is active and is eating good so not sure what is causing this or if this is normal. this is my first female dog.






Hi
My first guess would be that your pup is coming into her first 'season' or 'heat cycle'.

Generally this happens somewhere between 6 months and 8 months of age. If your pup hasn't been spayed, then I think this is the most likely reason for her swollen genitals.

These will likely be followed by some spotting, then bleeding, which can last for anywhere up to about 3 weeks.

First seasons can be a bit unpredictable and may be shorter or longer than this, they can also be very light in terms of blood loss, or quite heavy. After this first season is over she will most likely have one twice a year, or about every 6 months. Again, it can vary though and some females may have a cycle twice a year, others three times, some only once. It depends on the breed and the individual dog.

I'd recommend having her spayed (see my Dog Spaying page for lots of information and advice on this) once this cycle is over. That way you won't have to worry about this or about her getting pregnant unexpectedly. It can also protect against reproductive order diseases later in life.

If her bleeding soils your carpets or furniture you can buy doggie diapers that she can wear during this time. They're available in most pet stores or online.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your pup.