What is going on?

I don't know what this area is called, but Jesse's "sack" where she pee's is VERY swollen? She just got done being in heat, and it has never swelled like this before?

Can anyone give me a head's up on what this is before we go to the vet? Could it be an infection? I am so worried, and it is sore when I touch close to it.:(

Steph and Jes

Could it be a UTI? We only have male dogs in the house, but I have one that will occasionally get urinary tract infections. His abdomen gets very tender to the touch.

I don't know. I really didn't think that a females rear end would swell up with a UTI.

I did just get off the phone to the vet, I don't remember if they said it could be endometriosis (sp?) or if it could be Pyometra. They said that she will most likely have to be spayed, from what they can tell. She is going in tomorrow at 3:30.

Steph and Jes

The vet is correct in getting the dog fixed ASAP. The area you described being swollen sometimes follows "Heat" in older dogs. I don't want to concern you, but could she be pregnant? That swelling after heat could indicate intercourse had taken place.
Getting her fixed now is best course of action at this point. The swelling should go down soon after the surgery. It doesn't sound like any kind of infection to me at this point. Just natural course of "womanhood".:cool:

Really, I really hope that she isn't pregnant, I don't know how that could've happened. She is never left unsupervised when she is in heat...I really don't think that it is that. BUT maybe my dad left her out when I was gone at my grandma's! Oh no! We have, Hunter (a golden retriever), Bear (a lab, husky, wolf mix), a shih tzu, and a wire-haired daushchund (sp? MAJOR brain fart) mix.. They are ALL possibilities. If she is pregnant, we will find all the puppies a home, but, I don't know where.

I really hope that she and I are both over-reacting. It is just that it is tender that bothers me. She whines when I touch around it. And she is consantly licking it...

Thanks for the advice you two:)
Steph and Jes

Try not to worry at this stage.........see what the vet says first (I know, easier said than done)

Well, thank you all for posting. It was just irritated and she is still in heat. She is in the third stage, SO, we just have to keep her on a medication (I forget what it is called) twice a day, and keep her from running around too much to let the irritation settle.

Thank you once again!
Steph and Jes

ps. We want to get her spayed, but, it costs $110 that we don't really have right now. I will check around in other places to see if they are cheaper.

If she has Pyo, you'll have to get her spayed. I think the reason you said you didn't want to fix her because you were afraid of putting her under again. However, it sounds like you need to perform an emergency spay. You can find cheaper fees at local animal shelters (low-cost spay and neuters). Good Luck!

Sounds like some kind of infection to me.
whatever the case may be,, all paws and fingers crossed for her. :D

how's Jesse doing

If there is even the slightest possibility she could have gotten pregnant then please do shop around for cheaper spay/neuter clinic ASAP. Sometimes the animal shelters offer low cost spaying/neutering. If she is pregnant you can still have her spayed, it will be a lot cheaper and safer than whelping and raising a litter of pups. If you find a lower cost place to have it done you should consider getting those boys done too.

Please beware. It is a common misconception that dogs can only get pregnant while they are in a physical heat - where you see bleeding. HOWEVER, conception occurs in the week following.

Well, Jes is still swollen, after a long period of time, and it is getting red again? I don't know what to do, and she has not been left unsupervised. She can't be pregnant, she isn't gaining weight or anything....I am so confused..

Steph, Jes, and Splinter

She should be out of heat by now right?

I'd take her back to the vets.

Just think about it like this.

$110 isn't that much compared to having to feed and take care of a litter of puppies responsibly for 8 weeks. Maybe that's something to bring up to your folks and start saving your pennies.