Inverted Vulva

[Angie, Hudson and Lily]

I know this has been a discussion, but when I looked the posts seemed older. Today the vet said Lily's vulva was inverted, and he wanted to wait until after her first heat to spay her, as it may self correct itself if we wait. He said if he spays her before her heat, she may be prone to a life of vaginitis, which of course I wouldn't want for her.  I was hoping to get her spayed asap, because I don't want to deal with a heat cycle and there are many cancer prevention benefits of spaying before the first spay. (Vet said still great cancer prevention benefits if we have it done soon after first heat, but that the impact of the benefits are much higher if it is done before first heat). I just sent an email to Lily's breeder to get her opinion, but my question is, for any of you that have had this with your dog- How did it work out? Did you spay before the first heat or wait? Also, I've read that some people give cran capsules to prevent UTI's (which dogs with inverted vulvas are prone to). Do these work, and are they safe/healthy for puppies?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hi Angie, I'm sorry to hear that Lily has this problem. I have no experience with the condition, but I have had two female dogs who were not spayed until after their first heat cycles, and both were absolutely fine. Both were exceptionally healthy dogs who lived long lives (one lived to be 16) and had no health problems whatsoever. So I wouldn't let spaying her after her first heat VS before it be a concern.

I hope everything works out well for Lily.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I thought that Calla may have had this as a puppy. It was never formally diagnosed AFAIK. At any rate she had 1or 2 bladder infections early on. She has been fine since and her vulva looks normal to me : ) She was spayed when she  was a few months old.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

Gracie (not a doodle) was in heat when I got her and I had to wait for her to finish her cycle prior to spaying her. My plans never included heat cycles, and I thought it was going to be a huge mess -but it was a minimal inconvenience at best, and not nearly the problem I anticipated. If you are concerned about you're vet's approach maybe a second opinion would help you make your decision.

[Angie, Hudson and Lily]

Thanks for the info everybody! Hopefully all goes well.

[Connie]

Hi, I'm new to this site, wanted to add my experience.  My goldendoodle is almost 2 years old and we got her at a breeder.  When we took her for the puppy check she had a vaginitis that the vet said happens with puppies sometimes.  We had her spayed early at 4 months for reasons that are too long and involved to go into.  A month later she had another vaginitis and was diagnosed with a recessed vulva (pretty sure it is the same thing)  We took her to veterinary specialty hospital and they agreed with dx and said it might have been helped if she had been allowed to have one heat cycle.  We were sick about that because it was too late to do anything and have always wished we would have gotten good information before we had her spayed. 

She has occasional incontenence (really small amts maybe 5-10cc) 3 or 4 episodes since we have had her.  The surgery is $1500 and they can't run or do prolonged sitting for 2 weeks afterwards. She has never had a UTI.  Hope this helps, but I will tell you I really wish we had known we would have let her have one heat cycle. We are staying open to surgery if the problem gets worse, but right now it is minimal.