Grr...vaginitis won't go away!
Submitted by Sarah P. on February 3, 2012 - 4:20pmAfter two visits to the vet, a round of antibiotic capsules as well as antibacterial/antfungal ointment Gentizol later, and a vet that is a loss for why Cupcake sometimes has yellow vaginal discharge (he can find no microorganisms present in a culture sample).... I've become an internet doctor and have diagnosed Cupcake with vaginitis. Whether it's puppy or adult vaginitis, I do not know. She's 8 months old so that sounds like puppy vaginitis, however she was spayed at 6 months and that is supposed to be when most puppy vaginitis self-corrects. Vet's only answer is that this is the result of an inverted vulva that is trapping bacteria. (My question to him is, if it's trapping bacteria then why don't you see any bacteria in her culture? Ding ding ding)! Of course he says he doesn't know, but he can do a surgery on her for about $300 that will tuck the skin back and make her vulva not inverted any more.
I'm irritated because he must have realized she had inverted vulva BEFORE he spayed her (of course I had no clue what an inverted vulva meant if I saw it at the time.) But internet research tells me that had he recognized the inverted vulva problem before spaying her, he should have recommended I wait to spay her AFTER her first heat to see if the inverted vulva self-corrected. Now I'm afraid it's too late. Some internet research suggests that if a spay is conducted on a puppy before her first heat and that puppy has an inverted vulva, then we could be looking at a chronic life-long struggle with vaginitis.
The vaginitis is in no way effecting her quality of life; she still eats and plays more than ever. But it's a nuisance as it gets on my duvet and sofa and is just gross. I might do the surgery but wanted to wait and see if this cleared up. So far it's been going on for 2 months. Anyone else familiar with this problem, or have suggestions for me?
Meet Cupcake (born May 15, 2011) and Biscuit (born December 2, 2011)
Heat Cycle
has she had her first heat cycle? If not I would wait until she does....see if the vulva is less inverted after and if the vaginitis clears up. If she still has problems then consider the surgery.
No first heat, she's been spayed
No she hasn't had first heat cycle because she was spayed at 6 months before first heat.
Meet Cupcake (born May 15, 2011) and Biscuit (born December 2, 2011)
Oh Sorry
You did say that in your message. Silly me.
Do you wipe her after she potties? I would try using a vagisil wipe for a month and see if that helps. Did they test for a UTI?
Here's a pretty indepth article, if you haven't already found this one in your research. I would likely get another opinion before having surgery done, especially since the cultures are showing no bacteria. Also becasue she is still young and it is most common in dogs under a year.
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/Medicine/Vaginitis-in-dogs-A-simple-approach-to-a-complex-c/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/557956
Thank you!
Thank you!
Meet Cupcake (born May 15, 2011) and Biscuit (born December 2, 2011)
One round of ab's might not be enough
Sometimes you have to give 2-3 rounds.
I agree.
Or do one long round, maybe 21 days. I did that on my old lady Doberman for a recurring UTI, it worked like a charm. No more UTI's in 1.5 years now. I did a 21 day Amoxicillin round, it did the trick.
Amy and Sophia
I feel your pain
My girl is 6 months old and has the same problem. We call it mis-shapen no no's.
When she was around 11 weeks old we noticed a strange substance around her no no's, and she started to have accidents in her bed. She has been fully potty trained since 8 weeks old. I did some poking around online and found the same information you found about the inverted vulva. Which would explain why when she does pee it runs down her legs (poor girls a side shooter). My vet confirmed my suspicions that it was puppy vaginitis, and said she had inverted naughty parts.
A round of antibiotics cleared it up. We make sure to clean her really good every time she potties. Now we're just waiting for her to go into her first heat to see if it fixes its self or if I need to get it done when I get her fixed.
My girls was't yellow though, it was redish brown. Hope you find a solution for the poor girl.