What are the common inflammations of a dog's vulva?

Common inflammations of a dog's vulva include vaginal and urinary tract infections. Symptoms include difficulty urinating, pain, and bad odor, and in severe cases, hematuria. Pyometra, a condition in which the uterus accumulates pus, can cause fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, and in some severe cases, a foul-smelling pus discharge from the vulva.

Causes of vulvar abscess

A dog with a vulvar abscess usually has a lower urinary tract infection. Most of the time, the cause is estrus, during which unneutered male dogs often lick their genital organs, leading to urinary tract infections. It could also be due to long-term exposure to damp environments or excess hair stimulating the urethra and causing infection.

Symptoms of vulvar inflammation

When a dog has vulvar inflammation, it will show pain in the lower abdomen, decreased appetite, poor mental state, and inflammatory discharge from the vulva, which may be accompanied by a foul smell. If there is excessive inflammatory fluid in the uterus, it will cause the uterus to enlarge, pressing on the bladder and intestines, leading to increased urination and defecation, which should alert the owner.

Care and cleaning methods for vulvar inflammation

When a dog has vulvar inflammation, you can rinse the area with physiological saline or 0.01% potassium permanganate solution. Rinsing the vagina alone is not enough to treat the condition, and the owner should purchase antibiotics from a pet hospital to feed the dog. During this time, the owner should not allow the dog to mate to avoid exacerbating the condition.