hi all, just wondering what truly happens to a bitches vulva after mating, my girl was mated 16 days ago and her vulva has gone down in size although not pre season size am i right in saying this is a sign she has missed or do they go down a bit and swell again for whelping, just sat here in staring mode as it is to early to tell but noticed her vulva decreased in size any thoughts many thanks. Also for the last 3 days she has had a mild cream discharge but the vet says nothing to worry about once again many thanks.

None of my bitches that have been pregnant have had vulvas that have gone back to pre season size. They usually stay slightly swollen.

Yes they do usually go down but as in your girl not as small as pre-season size.

I can only agree with weima and perrodeogua on this, as my girls after a successful mating never go down to a pre season size..... fingers crossed Hey!!

my bitch went almost down to pre season size but not quite. then 2 weeks before they were due it began to swell again, particularly the perinium (bit above vulva)
it was her 2nd litter

thanks for all your feedback ill keep my fingers crossed

I've been breeding dogs for forty two years and have always used the swollen vulva as the first indication that a bitch is in whelp.I've had a few who went back to near pre-season size which were in whelp, but I've never had one that stayed swollen and wasn't in whelp. I've just had a litter from a bitch who goes almost down to pre-season size but not quite. This bitch has a daughter who stays very swollen throughout the whole of her pregnancy, so I would say that all bitches vary, but bear in mind that if she was mated 16 days ago, presumably at about day 12, then she only really finished her season about 9 days ago. If she is still swollen in about a week then the signs are looking good.

Hi
i too have recently mated my bitch (20 days ago)and she has all the 'symptoms' that your bitch has.
Apparently all is well.
Hope your bitch is pregnant as i do mine, exciting isnt it.