Discharge from a dog's loop: causes, diagnosis and prevention

Owners of female dogs carefully monitor their health, especially related to reproductive activity. Reproductive health is of great importance for animal breeders, because the good quality of the offspring and their health in the future depends on it.

The “loop” is the name given to the external genitalia of a female dog. Any discharge from the reproductive organ, if not during estrus, causes concern for owners.

Which secretions are normal, and which serve as a signal of disturbances in the body, we will consider further.

Physiological discharge from the loop

Estrus, or estrus, is an indicator of a dog's sexual maturity. According to duration, it is divided into four stages: pre-estrus, ovulation, termination and sexual rest.

Each period is accompanied by characteristic discharge from the loop.

Precursor or proestrus is a swelling of the loop and brown, bloody discharge for a week. These days you can use special panties for estrus.

Estrus (heat) is the culminating moment when ovulation occurs and the dog is allowed to mate. The secretion at this stage may be absent or light pink in color. Veterinary clinics can determine a bitch’s readiness for mating using a smear test.

Metaestrus (end of estrus) - discharge stops, the loop decreases in size.

Anestrus (sexual rest) is a period of absence of estrus, which lasts on average 100-150 days.

As a rule, the estrus cycle occurs twice a year for 10-20 days, depending on the breed of the dog.

The same natural discharge in an animal appears in the period before childbirth and in the postpartum period.

During the period associated with labor, the secreted secretion must satisfy the following characteristics:

a maximum of two days before giving birth, the bitch notices thick discharge;
the color of the secretion is whitish or grayish.

The listed requirements for discharge indicate the beginning of the birth process.

In the postpartum period, for two weeks (until the uterus returns to its prenatal state), brownish discharge (with a permissible blood content) may be observed for three to five days and, every day, acquiring a lighter color, until it stops completely.

Natural secretions should be transparent mucous with an acceptable content of blood impurities and not contain foreign odors or signs of inflammation.

Is it possible to get vaccinations during estrus?

In the annotation for veterinary immunizing drugs there are no contraindications for the use of vaccines in animals during estrus.

Veterinary specialists, based on many years of observations, believe that immunizing a pet during heat does not affect the process of developing immunity to a particular infection. Therefore, if the time has come for the next vaccination, and the dog is in heat, then delaying the procedure is undesirable.

Nevertheless, experienced dog breeders recommend routine preventive vaccinations during the sexual resting phase. This opinion is based on the fact that estrus, although a physiologically normal process, still represents stress for the dog’s body.

Discharge from the loop related to pathologies

If the functioning of any organ in a dog’s body is disrupted, then discharge from its loop can serve as a signal of a pathological process.

Pathological discharges that you need to pay attention to and immediately visit a veterinary clinic include:

any departments during pregnancy;
secretion secreted before childbirth is dark in color (green, yellow, brown) with a strong putrefactive odor;
postpartum prolonged (more than a month) sticky discharge mixed with blood;
purulent (opaque) discharge of white color, as well as a darkish shade of yellow, green, brown or red;
the secreted secretion has a sharp, unpleasant odor;
the appearance of drops of blood from the external genitalia.

All these discharges indicate the development of a disease, a tumor or malignant neoplasm in the genital tract or organs of the dog.

But that's not all

The reasons why a dog has discharge from the loop can also be:

vaginitis (mucous and watery discharge);
problems with blood clotting (abnormal bloody discharge that appears constantly, and not just during estrus);
the presence of a foreign body or injury (blood discharge at the initial stage, later turning into watery and purulent);
sphincter problems or abnormal position of the ureter (persistent watery discharge, often mistaken for urinary incontinence).

Diseases of the reproductive organs in bitches

Pathological secretions are a signal of the presence of a disease in the animal’s body that poses a danger to its health.

Diseases can be divided into the following main groups:

inflammatory processes in the vagina (for example, vaginitis);
inflammatory processes in the uterus (endometritis, pyometra);
malignant neoplasms and tumors of the genital organs.

Let's look at common types of diseases:

Vaginitis occurs in the vagina and causes inflammation of its mucous membrane. The danger of the initial disease is that the owner may mistake scanty discharge for estrus and not rush to visit the clinic. The lack of timely medical care leads to the spread of infection and deterioration of the animal’s condition with aggravating diagnoses - cystitis, endometritis, pyometra.

Endometritis develops as inflammation of the endometrium or lining of the uterus. The disease can occur in acute and chronic form.

In the acute form, the animal experiences rapid development of the disease, accompanied by elevated temperature, purulent discharge from the reproductive organ, lethargy, and loss of appetite. In the absence of timely assistance from a specialist, the animal may die.

The chronic form is dangerous due to its asymptomatic nature and is manifested by the absence of pregnancy: the bitch cannot bear offspring or bears weakened ones, incapable of life; it is also possible that the duration of estrus is impaired, and a decrease in body weight is possible.

Pyometra is a dangerous inflammatory process in the uterus. This inflammation is accompanied by the accumulation of pus in the uterine cavity. If in the open form of inflammation pus is released through the cervix, then in the closed form the pus accumulates in its cavity, leading to intoxication of the body. With a closed form, there is a threat of uterine rupture, peritonitis and death of the animal.

Neoplasms in the genital organs are ovarian tumors and transmissible sarcoma (or venereal).

A pet can become infected with sarcoma during mating. A dangerous disease affects the mucous membrane of the genital organs.

Vaginitis

This is a pathology in which the vaginal mucosa becomes inflamed. Discharge with this disease is not numerous, the bitch licks her genitals more often, so vaginitis is often not noticed at all or is mistaken for a normal estrus. If vaginitis is not detected in time and treated, it will cause serious negative consequences for the dog's health. Vaginitis is treated by douching the vagina with miramistin, a weak solution of potassium permanganate or furatsilin. You can apply an antibacterial ointment, such as streptocide, to the inner surface of the vagina. This should be done with a sterile spatula. If these methods do not help, antibiotic treatment is used. Under no circumstances should you try to treat your dog with antibiotics yourself; they should be prescribed by a veterinarian.

Symptoms of various inflammatory processes

Despite the various foci of damage to the reproductive organs, inflammatory processes have common symptoms of the disease.

Characteristic symptoms of inflammatory processes in the genital organs, in addition to existing discharge, include:

excessive attention of the animal to the genitals: the pet licks the loop more often than usual due to itching from the secretion;
lethargy is noted in behavior;
temperature increase;
increase in abdominal volume;
thirst - the animal consumes a lot of water, vomiting is possible;
depressed state;
hard breath;
weakness;
refusal to go for a walk;
Frequent urination, including at home.

If the symptoms described above appear, you should not self-medicate. It is important to understand that the disease in its advanced form is much more difficult to cure, and if assistance is delayed, the result may be the death of the pet.

Possible treatment options

If a dog has vaginal discharge, a specialist may prescribe both medication and surgery. Of course, if this is natural discharge (during estrus or the postpartum period), then no treatment is required.

If we are talking about a pathological phenomenon (white discharge, purulent, brown, etc.), then this is usually:

surgical removal of the infected uterus. A foreign body, vaginal or uterine tumor must also be removed;
surgical correction of congenital pathologies of the ureter, rectum or vaginal walls;
drug treatment with antibiotics to eliminate the presence of infections, bacteria or inflammation caused by injury;
drug therapy if a problem with blood clotting is identified;
treatment with chemotherapy (indicated in the presence of tumors).

If eliminating the discharge does not require surgical intervention or complex drug therapy, then you can help your pet get rid of the problem at home. True, this will require a lot of effort and follow the recommendations of a specialist. During treatment, you need to be patient and before starting to solve the problem, be sure to show your pet to a veterinarian.

Causes of diseases

Diseases of the reproductive system, accompanied by discharge from the genitals, cause physical inconvenience and suffering to pets in the absence of proper medical care.

The causes of diseases are:

Hormonal disbalance. During puberty or during estrus, the body's defenses weaken and cannot resist the attacks of infection.
Uncontrolled matings.
Missing matings.
Traumatic injuries to the external genitalia.
Unsanitary conditions, failure to comply with hygiene rules, especially during childbirth.
Damage to the internal reproductive organs (uterus) during the birth of large puppies.
Infection of a bitch with a sexually transmitted infection during mating.
Poorly selected medications or hormonal drugs that have dangerous side effects.

Preventive actions

It is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of developing diseases of the reproductive system. Fortunately, veterinarians have developed a system of measures that, if followed, will help reduce this likelihood:

a thorough medical examination before and always after mating;
regular examinations by a veterinarian;
if necessary, taking hormonal medications to normalize the background;
timely vaccination;
regular examination of the genital organs: anus and vagina in females;
strict adherence to hygiene measures.

It has been scientifically proven that sterilization reduces the likelihood of developing a large number of diseases and prolongs the life of pets. If the owners do not plan to breed puppies, this procedure can solve many problems, including discharge from the females’ loops. The procedure is common and completely safe.

Ultimately, whether to sterilize a female or not is up to the owners to decide. But you definitely need to monitor her health so as not to miss discharge of green or other colors and begin treatment for emerging diseases in a timely manner.

Diagnostics in a veterinary clinic

If you notice any abnormalities in your pet's well-being: mucus discharge from the external genitalia, excessive licking, you should not miss the moment and promptly contact a veterinary clinic. This will allow you to diagnose your pet and prescribe a course of treatment, preventing the development of the disease and possible complications.

When examining an animal, the veterinarian should obtain information about the nature and duration of discharge, periods of estrus and the number of pregnancies and births.

During the examination, the pet’s body temperature is measured, the abdominal cavity is palpated, and the condition of the mucous membranes and vagina is examined.

Next, an ultrasound examination is prescribed, which allows you to check the condition of the uterus and its walls, and identify neoplasms: cysts or tumors.

Blood and urine tests are required. These tests will clarify the general condition of the animal, help identify the inflammatory process and evaluate the functioning of the urinary system. According to the doctor’s decision and for laboratory testing, a vaginal smear is analyzed.

If a pet has heart rhythm disturbances, the doctor will refer the patient for an ECG; if necessary, an ultrasound and chest x-ray may be prescribed.

Based on the examination, the doctor makes a diagnosis and develops a treatment plan for the animal.

As a rule, along with antibacterial, antipyretic drugs and antibiotics, the doctor prescribes solutions to maintain water-salt balance and immunomodulating drugs. To speed up the regeneration of the mucous membrane and depending on the condition of the pet, the doctor recommends vitamin complexes.

In some cases, due to the lack of effect of the prescribed treatment, the need for bacteriological culture arises. This analysis will allow you to select a drug with a targeted spectrum of action, depending on the characteristics of the animal’s microflora.

If neoplasms are detected in the pelvic organs, the doctor will discuss surgical intervention and its possible consequences with the owner.

Prevention measures

To prevent the appearance of purulent and any other types of discharge from the urethra, it is necessary to adhere to the following preventive measures:

timely sterilization;
proper and balanced nutrition;
periodic visits to the veterinarian;
cleanliness in the house or dog kennel;
completion of all vaccinations that the animal must have;
dog activity. You need to spend a lot of time outdoors with your pet;
maintaining pet hygiene: bathing, combing, trimming claws, etc.

If you follow all the preventive measures listed above, the risk of such a pathology will be reduced to zero.

Many diseases of the genital organs in any type of dog always begin with purulent discharge. Therefore, if even minor smears are detected, you must take your pet to a veterinarian for examination. Often this is a clear symptom of the onset of an illness, treatment of which should be started as soon as possible.

Related article: Main causes and treatments for urinary incontinence in dogs

Risk group

Pyometra is a very common disease in dogs, especially in countries where mass castration of animals is not accepted. The average incidence of the disease is about 20% of females in the population. Occurs, as a rule, in adult dogs (from 4 to 10 years), the average age at which pyometra is detected is 7 years, but can be recorded in animals of any age - from puppies to the very elderly. A genetic predisposition to the disease also exists, since representatives of certain breeds and lines have a much higher risk of developing pyometra (up to 50%).

Another predisposing factor is the use of hormonal drugs (progestogens, estrogens, their compounds and analogues, primarily drugs for suppressing sexual estrus in animals). Pregnancy prevents the development of pyometra, but only while it continues after the puppies are born does the dog face the same risks of developing the disease. Also, the presence of cystic endometrial hyperplasia in a dog is associated with a greater susceptibility of the uterus to bacterial infection and, as a result, with a greater likelihood of developing pyometra.