Any liquid fluid that leaks from the vulva is considered vaginal discharge. The presence of this fluid in dogs or changes to its appearance may be a sign of a problem. Discharges that are frequently seen are clear and watery, red, mucoid, or purulent (containing pus). Each of these discharge patterns may indicate a variety of ailments, including an infection, a physical anomaly, trauma, or reproductive problems. If you detect your dog dragging their hindquarters, licking the region, or having urinary incontinence, make an appointment with the vet as soon as you can.
A disruption of the usual bodily fluids produced to clean the vagina results in clinically significant or atypical vaginal discharge in dogs. This might be a sign of an injury, infection, or foreign object in the vagina. It might also be an indication of a subsequent urinary tract infection.
Is discharge from my female dog typical?
During a female dog’s heat cycle, a bloody discharge from the vulva is a typical occurrence. Dogs normally bleed and go into heat one to three times each year.
The bleeding, however, can be an indication of a potentially serious health issue if your dog has been spayed or you are aware that it is not yet time for your intact dog to go into heat.
If your dog’s vulva is bleeding, there are a number of potential causes, including trauma, tumors, infections, anatomical anomalies, blood clotting issues, and urinary tract diseases. A vet should examine your dog unless it is known that she is in heat and there are no other problems.
Why does my dog, a female, emit a yellow fluid?
A female dog’s uterus can become infected with bacteria and develop a pyometra. When bacteria invade the uterine endometrium, the condition takes place. This often happens a few weeks after the dog has been “in heat,” however the exact timing depends on the heat cycle. Without causing pregnancy, exposure to high levels of estrogens and progesterone can cause the uterus to develop a cystic lining, which is an ideal place for bacteria to colonize. During the “heat” phase of the dog’s cycle, germs typically ascend through a slightly open cervix, causing the illness.
However, we have also observed the illness in younger dogs and on rare occasions in very young female dogs. Pyometra most frequently affects females >6 years of age. The dog is typically “in heat” for 1 to 12 weeks before being identified. Every fourth female canines that are not spayed or neutered will eventually develop a pyometra.
The typical symptoms of a pyometra include lethargy, inappetance, vomiting, sadness, and occasionally an obviously enlarged abdomen. You can have a “open” or “closed” pyometra. A yellow, green, or reddish-brown abundant discharge from the dog’s vulva indicates the presence of an open pyometra, in which pus leaks from the vaginas. Therefore, if a visible discharge is present, an open pyometra can be diagnosed more easily.
When the cervix is closed and there is no discharge, this is known as a closed pyometra. This can lead to a seriously swollen and potentially ruptured uterus. The diagnosis of a pyometra is occasionally made using further diagnostic procedures, such as blood tests, ultrasounds, or x-rays.
Pyometra, in any case, is a dangerous condition that can be fatal for a female dog. If neglected, it can quickly result in bacterial septicaemia and finally death. As soon as the patient is stable enough for a general anesthetic, surgery is performed after quick intravenous fluid therapy and antibiotics. An urgent ovario-hysterectomy (spey) is necessary to remove the uterus. Pyometras cannot be successfully treated with antibiotics alone.
Pyometra can be easily avoided by desexing your female dog, which we advise performing between the ages of 4-6 months.
How can I tell whether my dog has a UTI?
UTIs (urinary tract infections) are fairly typical in canines. When they go outside, dogs with UTIs typically make frequent attempts to pee. Additionally, if having to urinate hurts, they may struggle or scream out or complain. Even blood has been known to occasionally appear in urine. Frequently licking one’s genitalia or dripping urine are other symptoms of a UTI. Strongly scented urine might also be an indication of an infection in your dog.
“A pause in housetraining is a warning sign that the bladder is not functioning properly.”
A lapse in housetraining is a warning sign that the bladder may be malfunctioning. A UTI may be to fault if this were to happen to your formerly well-behaved dog.
A UTI often happens when bacteria enters the bladder through the urethra. Although the bladder should generate sterile urine, if bacteria get inside, they can thrive and replicate, leading to an infection. Some dogs will also experience bladder stones in addition to their UTI, which creates the possibility of other health problems.
What does a urinalysis look at?
Your vet will first run a urinalysis if your cat exhibits urinary symptoms while visiting the office. When a UTI is suspected, the urinalysis can provide a wealth of crucial information regarding the urine. The following are things your veterinarian will examine:
- specific gravity of urine (how well the dog is concentrating their urine)
- pH (certain pH levels can indicate infection or other problems)
- ketones (sometimes seen in cases of diabetes or body-wasting)
- glucose (sugar in the urine, usually a sign of diabetes)
- bilirubin (a breakdown product of blood)
- blood
- protein
Following the measurement of these levels, the urine sample is put into a centrifuge and spun downward to allow cells and other debris to collect at the sample tube’s bottom. The debris can then be examined under a microscope to reveal the presence of crystals, germs, white blood cells, and even red and white blood cells.
The next steps in determining the dog’s urinary tract ailment may be influenced by what is discovered beneath the microscope’s magnification. For instance, if the urine contains crystals, your veterinarian could advise radiography (X-rays) or an abdominal ultrasound to check for bladder stones.
My veterinarian sent a sample of urine to a laboratory for a culture and sensitivity test. What is this?
Not every urinary tract infection is the same! Escherichia coli, a bacteria found in feces, is the organism that causes UTIs in dogs most frequently, but there are a number of other organisms that could also be at fault. It can only be determined which particular bacteria is at fault by growing it in a lab. The lab can test which drug will work best to treat the infection at the same time.
In order to try to provide the dog instant comfort, a vet will frequently prescribe an antibiotic that is among the most widely used for treating UTIs. A change in diet may also be advised, along with the prescription of painkillers (because UTIs can be painful).
An appropriate antibiotic will be recommended after the results of the culture and sensitivity tests are known. It’s crucial to retest the urinalysis after the course of antibiotics has been administered to ensure that the infection has been treated. If not, it is crucial to look into any other problems that could be causing the recurring UTI.
Are some dogs predisposed to UTIs?
UTIs are more common in older female dogs and canines with diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) than in the general population. Dogs with bladder stones are also more likely to experience UTIs repeatedly. This emphasizes how crucial it is to receive a thorough diagnosis whenever there are signs of disease in the urinary tract. To restore bladder health, bladder stones must be removed or broken apart.
What can I do to prevent a UTI from occurring in the future?
If there is anything you can do to stop the UTI from coming back in your dog, your vet will let you know. A change in diet is frequently suggested. Additionally, they might suggest some drugs or nutritional supplements that might help alter the pH of urine, making it more difficult for an infection to spread. To put techniques in place that have been proven to be helpful, it is advisable to discuss UTI prevention with your veterinarian.
How do I clean the private area of my female dogs?
The vulva on your dog is a delicate area of her body. You can see discharge or blood flowing from the area when she goes into heat. Although she may lick herself frequently, it’s crucial that you assist her in maintaining her cleanliness and hygiene during this time. Her vulva may bulge, particularly during heat cycles. This is typical and doesn’t require any further care. Although a quick wipe or bath will usually do the trick, you should also think about keeping her bedding clean and isolating her while she has discharge, especially from intact male canines.
Dog’s Perspective
Your dog might be intrigued by how her body changes as she goes through her heat cycles. Dryness and irritation may result from excessive licking. Hormone shifts could be the source of her uneasiness. This can manifest in her mood.
The Bathing Method
While your dog is taking a bath, use a washcloth to clean her vulva and other intimate regions.
Always begin by cleaning your dog’s face to prevent bacteria from other parts of her body from getting on it.
Sitting in the water while you wash your dog’s body and face may help remove any stains from her skin and fur if she has discharge or is in heat. Maintain a comfortable temperature. Water that is too warm could damage her if her skin is already sensitive.
Use the washcloth to wipe your dog’s vulva after washing her face and body. Eliminate any discharge or dried blood. Be careful not to rub too vigorously with the washcloth if she is puffy since she can be sensitive.
To prevent dry, itchy skin, make sure to thoroughly rinse off any dog shampoo from her body. Towel her off and pat her dry.
The Wipe and Treat Method
After combining the water and vinegar, dunk a washcloth or other soft cloth in the solution and absorb as much as you can with it. The excess can either be squeezed out to stop the cloth from dripping or left to drip over the dog’s skin.
Wipe the vulva gently from the front to the back. The vinegar will kill some germs and some yeast.
Pat the area dry using a dry cloth. It’s okay to let the area dry naturally, but prevent your dog from licking it while it does so. She probably won’t like vinegar’s flavor.
Apply coconut oil to her skin to relieve the itching if her skin is dry and painful or if she is not in heat but is licking too frequently.
Caution & Considerations
- Consider taking your dog to the clinic if her vulva is discharge-producing but she is not in heat.
- During a heat cycle, a swollen vulva is typical.
- She may be licking herself to clean herself, but repeated licking can lead to dry, itchy skin that irritates much more.
- Yeast infections that cause itching and pain in dogs are possible.
- You might also smell something foul if your small girl pup has a yeast infection or another ailment in the vulva area.
- If your girl pup has a yeast issue, using water and apple cider vinegar can help.
- Adding yogurt or kefir to her diet may prevent yeast from developing if she frequently contracts yeast infections.
- For the dog with persistent yeast infections, a daily vinegar and water wipe down may be recommended.
- 100% coconut oil from your kitchen might relieve her skin if it has become dry and inflamed as a result of frequent licking. If she licks the coconut oil off, it’s alright; you just might need to reapply.
- Regularly bathing your dog should also aid in keeping all surfaces clean. Before using the cloth to clean her vulva and behind, make sure you wash her face.
Conclusion
Cleaning the vulva on your dog is very similar to cleaning the rest of her body. If she is in heat, you should be aware of the changes that will occur to her vulva. Unless she’s itchy and inflamed, a regular bath and self-cleaning work just fine when she’s not in heat. This might be an indication of a yeast infection, which is also easily treatable.
Grooming Questions & Answers
I can’t get rid of the dark brown marks on her vulva. I use the vet-recommended Silvet MC shampoo to shampoo that area. The worst place where they won’t come off is right on the vulva, which is meant to be an open area. Help
I appreciate you asking about Daphne’s issue. To be sure, I would call the veterinarian. I read the instructions and discovered that the shampoo may take a few weeks to start working because I think it is meant to treat a fungal issue. Don’t use it excessively just in case, but consult your veterinarian to confirm the instructions in Daphne’s situation and find out how long the doctor anticipates the issue will persist. Happy New Year!
Add a comment to Estrella’s experience
Every month, we give her a mini-bath, but she often develops a brownish vulva. She has already undergone spaying. What should I do or how can I prevent her from getting that?
Hello, Cathy Ann I appreciate you asking. Your pets are adorable! I would advise a go to the vet in order to rule out anything like an infection or damage in relation to Mini’s brown staining in the region surrounding the vulva. Simple things like Mini’s saliva from licking the affected area turning brown when exposed to the air can sometimes be the source of the staining. Following that, we must ask ourselves why she is licking the area so much. After the vet has ruled out any health issues, you can ask them how to maintain the area clean. Best wishes to Mini!
Add a comment to Mini’s experience
I bathed my doxie because I saw that her private areas had dark, greasy skin. Additionally seen is what appears to be dark dirt around each nipple. Bathing won’t make it go away. Please provide advice. I’m grateful.
Add a comment to Sage’s experience
I attempted to cuddle up with my dog all day, but the sobbing wouldn’t stop. My dog just went into her first heat cycle. Is there anything I can do?
Add a comment to Zara’s experience
My dog has what appear to be lumps between her vagina and butthole, and she is also developing bumps on her legs. She licks and scratches those regions a lot and is balding there.
Grooming Success Stories
So, to our happy surprise, when we picked up our puppy, she wasn’t even eight weeks old and had puppy vaginitus (confirmed by the vet and swab test). I bought probiotics and gave her water with apple cider vinegar or lemon and 2ml of live bio yoghurt twice a day. In two days, happy dof. Additionally, each pee and poo was cleansed. Superb guidance. from a new puppy owner.
Perhaps I’m experiencing the same problem, too. My dog, who we adopted at 7 weeks old, will turn 9 weeks old on Friday. Additionally, she appears to be urinating more regularly while awake, something I haven’t seen before as there is typically a line on the floor.
To clean her toilet area, I simply used ALCALA body wipes that I purchased on Amazon. which, if it’s wet (from pee), can begin to develop dark patches. really soft bamboo material that has had tea tree and aloe pre-moistened. nice aroma worked perfectly. Additionally, she has been applying REMEDY antifungal powder to her region, although it has a clean scent.
Does Teatree harm dogs? Tea tree oil is frequently found in different concentrations, and using it on pets in excessive doses is never a good idea. Applications of 10–20 ml of 100% oil have caused poisoning and death in both dogs and cats, and as little as 7 drops of 100% oil have caused serious poisoning.
On Franny’s fanny, I applied Petkin Pet Wipes! LOL. It smells pleasant. I’m delighted I found these because she sleeps on my bed with me.
