Suggestions please

[bria]

I'm asking the experts so here's my story.

Bria my 6 1/2 year old spayed female has been licking her vulva on and off for months now. She has seen a vet 3 times and has been treated everytime with antibiotics and a spray for hotspots. The last visit (3 weeks ago) I brought in a urine sample which was tested and nothing found, as well her anal glands were checked and found to be okay. I have even shaved her because she had a few matts and I thought perhaps they were irritating her. Well she has started licking herself again and she is raw. I have her wearing men's underwear, yes men's underwear worn back to front so that you can pull the tail through the hole to stop the licking. I was under the impression that ordinarily with hotspots they usually stop once we have our first frost which we've had. She seems to stop when on the antibiotics and for maybe a week or two after. I have noticed she starts to lick right after peeing.

Bria had an emergency spay last March 08 because of Pyometra and I told my vet a number of times that since then she hasn't seemed the same. He said it was a hormone thing. Now I'm wondering if the Pyometra could have affected her in another way.

Please if anyone knows of a problem like this and what I should be asking my vet to test I would really appreciate some input here. My vet doesn't seem to know why she's licking and I don't think this has become an OCD thing as she stops and starts.

Susan

 

[bria]

Also I will mention that she's peeing fine and not straining and no blood in her urine.

Susan

 

[Erika]

no advice but hope shes OK soon

 

[Newfs Forever]

Are you sure it has nothing to do with the anal glands? My late Annie had big time probs with them. Every 6 months she had to go on antibiotics. Finally, we removed the anal glands, 1 at a time, probably a month or six weeks apart (can't quite remember now) but she was fine after that.

Just a thought.

 

[bria]

That was my first thought Sue but she poos fine and her anal glands were checked by the vet and nothing. She doesn't try to lick with the underwear on so could this be an OCD thing that once they start they continue to do so? I know you have to break this habit and the spray will stop her as she doesn't like the taste. My other thought was crystals in her urine which is also logical and from what I read there is a condition that can occur in females about her age. She's not leaking urine though and why doesn't my vet have an idea as to what it could be?

Susan

 

[bria]

One more question. Could it be a food allergy? She's been on Orijen 6 Fish for about a year now. Is it possible there's too much protein in the fish formula? She does get ear infections a lot and I read that too much protein in food can often come out in ear infections especially in giant breed (I know this from my Saint). I am right now in the process of changing her food but to another salmon formula (Harvest Blend is the new food and actually not availble in stores it's delivered) as she doesn't do well on chicken but now I'm wondering if the fish is too high in protein.

Susan

 

[MMtnmom]

what about a hormone related thing...like women after menopause who get vaginal dryness. If she had vulvar dryness, mayb e it's itching. You said this happened after her spay...worth asking about.

 

[victoria1140]

try washing the affected area, smothering in something like witch hazel to cool down any irritation and then spray on the nasty tasting stuff.
Also wash all bedding and use cotton items in case she has an allergy reaction to something, perhaps give her some Benadryl to see if this helps

 

[bria]

Benadryl is a good idea. Her bedding is my bedding, my bed, the couch and I use Arm and Hammer Essentials laundry soap. Maybe you're right and she just needs to be cleaned down there. I will do that.

MMTNMom it didn't happen right after her spay. After her spay I noticed she just didn't seem the same in her energy level. Maybe because of her age. The spay was last March (2008) and this licking started this past summer. I did go through a hotspot with her last summer above her tail but we were able to clear that up rather quickly.

It's making me crazy not knowing what to do for her. So far today I haven't seen her lick and right now her underwear is off. It's pretty darn cold here and maybe she just needed a few cold days if it is a hotspot. I have a client who's Bichon has chewed his tail raw and was here boarding last week and kept chewing his tail. He seems to have just recently stopped I'm guessing because of the cold.

Susan

 

[Pipelineozzy]

I would suspect she has a tiny bit of post spay incontinence, and that her attempts to keep herself clean are setting up sores. Ask your vet about trying something like PPA for a while.

 

[bria]

Actually that's what I read about female dogs this age having leakage and trying to keep themselves clean. The first thing the vet asked me is if she's leaking urine but I haven't seen this though it could be hard to detect here with sheets covering everything and other animals as well. I never know if it's drool, vomit or what in my place. What is PPA?

Susan

 

[Pipelineozzy]

If it's very minor incontinence, you might actually not SEE wet spots, especially if she is keeping herself very clean like that. PPA is a drug that helps tighten them up to prevent dribbling...or another one, cheaper and easier to give, is Stilbesterol...which is often given to spay incontinence bitches. I'd really consider trying one or the other, probably stillbesterol in her case, and see if that helps. She may have just SLIGHT incontinence, not floods, and if she is determined to keep the area clean she will lick at herself.

 

[bria]

I think you hit the nail on the head Cindy. That's exactly what I read where they're bladders get weaker with age. I shall ask my vet about your suggestions.

Thanks,

Susan

 

[Pipelineozzy]

It's not so much a case of the bladder getting weaker with age...when you spay a dog, you essentially put her into an instant menopause. Along with the withdrawal of hormones...other issues occur...and one of those is a weaker sphincter on the bladder itself. Everyone has heard the jokes about women in menopause being afraid to sneeze...and that's WHY lol. If this is what she has happening, she could be trying very hard to compensate by keeping herself super clean, but the licking on top of a mild degree of urine scald is setting up irritation on the skin. Stillbesterol is easy to give, and may give her a lot of relief.

 

[bria]

Hey I know all about the sneezing or coughing thank you.

I shall ask my vet for these meds. She did say there was something that she could give her that would stop it overnight does this sound like what you're talking about?

Susan

 

[Pipelineozzy]

Well, stillbesterol would probably be the drug of choice, and it can work fast in some dogs and not as fast in others....but would be worth a try for sure!!

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

You could try washing the area with a good antibacterial shampoo especially one with tea tree oil to soothe the skin. Earth Bath makes a great one. Clipping the hair around her tummy and on the back of her legs and around the tail area, will give her more ventilation and help to keep her dry. Switching foods may help too, I hope you can find out what is bothering her.

 

[bria]

Thanks Sound Bay and yes I did clip the fur everywhere you mentioned as well I was using Tea Tree Oil as it has a natural antiseptic in it and it definitely stops them from licking but will get an anti-bacterial shampoo as well. I think I shall go back to cleaning it with the Tea Tree Oil and will bath her but is it too cold to bath them now? What's the view on that. She stays indoors but goes out quite a bit and since their coats take so long to dry is it bad if she goes out not fully dry? It's pretty darn cold here.

Susan

 

[migrandl]

You could also try Sudafed. My late BC/Newf mix, Smudge had post-spay incontinence and it helped her to stay dry. Here's the link to the thread about incontinence and Sudafed. I always buy the real deal, show your ID to the pharmacist stuff. It's MUCH cheaper than getting proin or something else from the vet and fewer side effects.

http://www.newf.net/Forums/showthread.php?t=53583&highlight=Sudafed

 

[Pipelineozzy]

You could also try Sudafed. My late BC/Newf mix, Smudge had post-spay incontinence and it helped her to stay dry. Here's the link to the thread about incontinence and Sudafed. I always buy the real deal, show your ID to the pharmacist stuff. It's MUCH cheaper than getting proin or something else from the vet and fewer side effects.

http://www.newf.net/Forums/showthread.php?t=53583&highlight=Sudafed

I'd have to disagree with this. Stilbesterol is extremely cheap, and the dog can often take it only once a week after the intitial dosing is done. The cost for maintenance is only about 1.00 per week in our clinic - Sudafed is much more expensive.