Race Foster, DVM, Marty Smith, DVM
Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
Vaginitis refers to an
inflammation or infection of the vagina. It can be brought on or caused
by problems occurring within the vagina, or be secondary to conditions elsewhere
in the body. It is a fairly common disorder in dogs of all ages. It may
be the result of trauma, however, this is rarely the cause.
Most cases seen in dogs are caused by the caustic and irritating effects
of urine on the vaginal mucosa or lining. Since urine normally passes through
the vagina with every urination and vaginitis is only seen in a very small
percentage of female dogs, cases of this disorder typically mean the urine
is abnormal or its flow is in some way altered.
In cases of bladder infections (cystitis), the urine contains large numbers
of bacteria. Expelled with the urine, these can easily colonize the vagina,
leading to an infection and inflammation of this structure. In mature female
dogs, especially in those that have been spayed, urinary incontinence can
be a common problem. This is basically a chronic leaking of small quantities
of urine from the bladder. When this occurs, urine may lie against the vaginal
lining much of the time and lead to a 'urine scald' or irritation.
Infections from bacteria, yeasts, and viruses are known to occur within
the vagina. The bacteria isolated from this structure are those commonly
found or passed in the dog's stool. It is thought that when the animal cleans
itself after urination and defecation, the licking may transfer bacteria
from the anus to the vagina. As in other species, yeast infections of the
vagina sometimes occur in animals that are on prolonged antibiotic therapy.
It appears that these medications suppress the normal bacteria living in
this structure, which in some way may prevent the growth of yeast organisms.
The herpes virus known to infect dogs commonly infects the vaginal area.
As in other animals, this is a chronic infection with occasional flare-ups
of clinical signs.
Non-infectious inflammations of the vagina also occur due to the effects
of shampoos, detergents, cleaning agents, and other solutions. The severity
of these is dependent on the properties of the causative agent.
In animals with vulvar fold abnormalities, the vaginitis may be secondary
to irritations resulting from this condition.
Young female dogs less than one year of age may develop 'juvenile vaginitis.'
The cause of this condition is unknown, but generally resolves with age.
Copyright
© 1997-2007, Foster & Smith, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Puppy
Vaginitis
Authored by: Becky Lundgren, DVM
VP Client Information Sheets
Puppy vaginitis is a sticky,
cloudy, white or yellowish vaginal discharge. Puppy vaginitis usually occurs
in puppies that are six weeks to about 8 months of age. Episodes can occur
intermittently, and can last for weeks to months.
Most puppies don’t show any signs, but others may lick their vulva a
lot and develop perivulvar dermatitis. Sometimes the haircoat outside the
vagina gets crusty. Some puppies have a lot of discharge and some don’t.
Cytologic examination of the discharge will show suppurative inflammation.
Your veterinarian will need to perform enough diagnostics to rule out more
significant causes of vulvar discharge and feel comfortable with the diagnosis
of benign puppy vaginitis.
While other causes (a bladder infection or an anatomical abnormality)
of vaginal discharge in puppies call for medical treatment, basic puppy vaginitis
is more an annoyance than a medical concern. The important thing is to differentiate
between puppy vaginitis and a more serious problem.
Treatment of puppy vaginitis is mainly time and patience. You can remove
globs of discharge with a wet baby wipe to keep the vulvar area clean.
Douching, antibiotics, or a lot of diagnostics are not appropriate for
a puppy that has no symptoms other than discharge. Puppy vaginitis usually
goes away on its own, once the dog reaches puberty. Your veterinarian will
advise what is best in your puppy’s case.
Date
Published: 12/11/2006 9:00:00 AM
Copyright
2006 - 2007 by the Veterinary Information Network, Inc. All rights reserved.
This work was originally published by Veterinary Information Network,
Inc. (VIN) and is republished with VIN's permission.
The above information is simply informational. It's intent is
not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a
diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation
of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
