TL;DR: Discharge or pus from a dog's vulva is a life-threatening emergency, often signaling a severe infection like pyometra. Seek immediate veterinary attention to prevent fatal complications like sepsis or organ failure.
What causes abnormal vulvar discharge in female dogs?
- Thick white, yellow, or bloody discharge is typically pus, signaling a significant bacterial infection.
- In unspayed dogs, this is often caused by Pyometra, a dangerous uterine infection.
- In spayed dogs, discharge may indicate a severe urinary tract infection, vaginitis, or a stump pyometra.
How urgent is it if I see pus coming from my dog's vulva?
- Pus-like discharge is a high-priority medical emergency that is life-threatening for unspayed dogs.
- Conditions like Pyometra can cause toxins to leak into the blood, leading to sepsis, organ failure, or a ruptured uterus.
- Immediate veterinary intervention is necessary even if your dog is currently eating or acting normally.
How does taking a photo of the discharge assist with veterinary triage?
- A clear photograph helps the veterinary team assess the color, consistency, and amount of fluid.
- Photos provide a visual record before your dog grooms the area, ensuring symptoms aren't missed.
- Visual evidence allows doctors to make faster decisions regarding diagnostic tests like blood work, X-rays, or ultrasounds.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
A purulent or mucopurulent vulvar discharge, often containing blood, is a key sign of pyometra when the cervix is open. Pyometra can also present without discharge if the cervix is closed, leading to abdominal distention due to uterine enlargement. Animals with pyometra may exhibit lethargy, dehydration, anorexia, polyuria, polydipsia, and vomiting, and can rapidly progress to shock and death. Physical examination may reveal uterine enlargement, and a leukocytosis with neutrophilia and a left shift is common, though leukopenia may be present in cases of sepsis. Vaginal cytology can help determine the nature of the vulvar discharge, and uterine exudate should be cultured with sensitivity testing performed. Differential diagnoses for vulvar discharge include metritis, vaginitis, and cystitis.
Chapter: Reproductive, Urology
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1398)