So my baby girl has Vaginitis and possibly a UTI. I went to the vet yesterday, and she gave me some antibiotics, but she wasn't sure what the cause might be. I was wondering if it might be food related. I'm feeding her Orijen LB Puppy. But is Vaginitis a sign that she might be allergic to it? How about shampoos? I ask because she also had an irritated anus, constantly loose stool, and dry skin.
Also, are there any symptom relief meds or remedies that I could use until the antibiotics start working? The poor thing is constantly biting and trying to scratch it....
I doubt that the vaginitis is related to the Orijen. My vet said that vaginitis is very common in female pups and I gather not often treated. But I wouldn't bathe too often because this can cause irritation and dry skin. I'd try some pumpkin for the loose stool and some hydrocortisone cream--human 0.5% should do--for the irritated anus.
I agree with F Parker's comment - my vet told me not to bathe Peri much at all the first few months. She has only had one bath and no dry skin or other iritation. If she gets dirty, we use baby wipes or a wet rag, then dry her off. I bet it is not the food - that is such a high quality one.
Food allergies never cause vaginitis or UTI's, or any kind of infection, although ear infections can be related because of itching and subsequent scratching; the symptoms of food allergies (and all allergies in dogs) is itching, biting, and licking of feet, legs, base of tail, face, ears, and/or the groin/axilla areas. In addition, of all the foods available, Orijen is pretty close to the finest you can buy. I am absolutely positive it isn't the food.
I agree with the others that too frequent bathing could aggravate it, especially in a young puppy. But I doubt it's the shampoo itself, unless it is something inappropriate for use on dogs. It's having those body parts submerged in water which also contains bacteria from the body that can cause these problems in humans, so that might also be the case with dogs. You also need to keep the hair on her female parts trimmed, although I'm sure your vet would have seen it if that was the problem in this case. Also, do not shave, or allow anyone else to shave her privates. Trim the hair there with scissors only. Some dogs are sensitive in that area and an irritation or even an infection can occur from having the area shaved. I had a poodle like that.
Antihistamines are used to treat allergy itching, along with EFA's, but I'm not sure this is the same kind of thing and I hesitate to recommend them for a puppy on antibiotics. Controlling the loose stools with pumpkin is a good idea, as fecal matter getting on her genital area will make it worse. Cleaning her anus with wipes is a good idea after she defecates. If you do use the cortisone cream, make sure she doesn't lick it off, it should not be ingested. That's usually the problem with trying to put creams on dogs, lol. Encourage her to drink lots of water, that will help speed things up with eliminating the UTI. I hope your baby feels better soon!
Interesting subject about keeping hair trimmed around female parts...what about male part(s)? Our puppy has a lot of hair at the tip of his "part". We assumed it was natural and to help with directing the flow of urine. Should this be trimmed?
Jack had a problem with that last year. This is gross, but the dried urine crystals had "built up" on the hair there, and the hair was kind of stuck together and impeding the urine flow. His specialist noticed it when she was examining him. He was very irritated at the tip of his penis, not yet infected, but close to it. They trimmed the hair and advised me to keep it trimmed...not shaved, just short enough so the urine doesn't cling to it and stay there.
Yvonne,
On my male pups I do trim the hair there a little bit because it gets too long and a little stinky... Leave a bit there. You are right, it does help direct the flow.
Sherill
Thank you all. I've done further research, and what your vet said to you, F, was correct. It's hardly ever treated. Except by a practice greedy for income. I need to find a new vet. This is the 2nd time I felt like I was ripped off. (The first time being conned into buying all kinds of anti-diarrheal medicines for a case of pumpkin -- not blood like I thought -- in the stool.)
Hey!!! I know it's not super close for you, but I take Timbow to Paces Ferry Vet in Vinings and love it!!! They are always very honest with us and really treat him like he is one of their own. It might be worth a try for you! Good vets can be a hard find. :)
I have Abby on Orijen AB puppy. But you should know my breeder said she had all her dogs on it and stop using it because they had yucky ears from it. Now take that with whatever you think it deserves. I also had a friend that went from Orijen to Medi-cal because she thought her dog was too gassy from it. I guess your dog can react poorly to a food that others are ok with.