Dog itching and licking

[Taz70]

I've got a 14 month old springer bitch and for the past few days she has been biting her backside. Today I noticed that she is licking her privates quite a bit and whilst watching, I noticed quite a bit of liquid dripping out. When she gets up after lying down there is a small puddle. She has been wormed and is housetrained. Do you think this could be an infection? I'm going to take her to the vets in the morning, but any ideas for now? Many thanks.

[RATTER15]

Hi, it does sound like an infection, you are doing the right thing by getting her to the vets.

[Taz70]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I'll take her in the morning

[lankeela]

How long since she was in season? Probably just an infection, but could be start of pyometra, if she hasn't been spayed, but if she is ok in herself, then doubt if it is.

[Taz70]

We had her spayed when she was 6 months old. She seems ok in herself - still eating and playing etc. We're hoping that it is something minor obviously. Thanks for reply

[lankeela]

Some bitches when spayed suffer from incontinence problems, but never known it in one so young. There are tablets for it though.

[drgnrdr]

some bitches suffer incont. prob when not spayed also. Sign of bad breeder. Some one threw it in the gene pool.
Have a Urinalysis done to check her, she may be forming crystals...(also bad breeding), or have a UTI. Have 3 springers in a class, all related, they are adorable dogs. Please let us know how it goes....

[fatmanlevi04]

Hopefully I would not worry too much if she is biting one bit and licking the other it may not be linked, I have two dogs who seem to be paying a lot of attention to their "own" nether regions, and I admit I fuss and worry about the slightest thing with them, I guess the vet will put your mind to rest tomorrow, let me know, it could just be a doggy thing, Becca `x

[Taz70]

Hi all! Many thanks for all your support. I took her to the vets this morning and it looks like a UTI. Luckily, she got a bit excited and peed on the floor so they did a quick test and there's blood and protein and ph levels are high. Unluckily, I've got to try and get a proper sample off her to send to the lab. Any suggestions on trying to catch some pee? As soon as I get near her she stops and starts playing. She's on antibiotics now and they're also going to get me some food to help with the ph levels. Crystals were mentioned? Anyway, thanks for all your help

[lankeela]

Despite my thoughts on vets recommending Hills, this is one situation where it is helpful. If the crystals form stones, (which hopefully they will not in this case) then
dietary dissolution of the stone is possible. A special food called S/D diet� is made by Hills for the specific purpose of dissolving struvite stones. The food is of a gel-like consistency and may not be palatable to the animal but if dietary dissolution is attempted, S/D must be the only food fed to the dog during the period of dissolution. Antibiotics are needed as long as stones are present in the bladder (bacteria are encrusted within the stone and as the stone dissolves, they are released). On the average, 3 and a half months are needed to dissolve the stone but the diet should be continued for a full month after the stones are no longer visible on radiographs because small stones may be present but not large enough to see. Radiographs are taken monthly to monitor progress. S/D diet is not meant to be continued as a regular diet after the stone has been dissolved; Hills recommends not feeding S/D diet any longer than 6 months. Aside from the long treatment time, an important disadvantage of this approach is the possibility of urinary tract obstruction as the stone gets smaller and an unsuccessful attempt to pass the stone occurs. This is potentially a life-threatening hazard for male dogs as they possess the narrow urethra.

S/D diet is very high in fat and high in salt. It should not be fed to patients at risk for pancreatitis, patients with heart disease, kidney insufficiency, or high blood pressure.

[Taz70]

Thanks for the reply Ian. You certainly sound as if you know your stuff. Obviously I'm hoping that it doesn't turn into stones and will clear up with the antibiotics. We had a labrador collie x before and she died last year aged 14 without any problems whatsoever except for having a couple of teeth out. I never dreamt we would have problems with a dog so young. I guess its just unlucky, as we do try to do the best for her regarding healthcare.

Anyway, thanks once again. Don't suppose you have any suggestions on catching the pee? lol.

[lankeela]

Try a frying pan (or omelette pan) - you can slide it under using the handle, and you don't have to get so close. Or try to make something similar with a longer handle, maybe bending a kid's toy spade. Or try taping a plastic plate (like you get for barbecues) onto a broom handle. Also keep her on the lead until she has peed, so she can't get away from you. Failing all this, put down a big plastic sheet, and encourage her to pee on it by putting it where she usually pees, so you can let it roll into a container.

If you do use the frying pan, don't mention it to whoever you cook breakfast for the next day!

[Taz70]

lmao - if hubby annoys me tonight he'll be getting the frying pan in the morning.

Great suggestion - I'll persevere

[drgnrdr]

My GSD girl has a tendency to form crystals and develop UTI's that why I suggested it. She is not on Perscription food, she tried to be on the hills stuff for a short time, since she was a pup (13 weeks), but they kept showing crystals when they sent it out, then they decided to look quick in their lab and it was gone, so I do alot of different things to keep her clear. The Amino-acid Methionine, changes the Ph in the urine to help keep alot from forming, but so does cranberry juice (not cocktail juice) or just get Cranmax pills, plus she gets some ester-c vitamin pills, and filtered water not from the tap. She is on Innova EVO food. Not sure what you guys get across the pond. Good luck and thanks for the update, I wish I was not right but at least you caught it I hope, before the stones formed, I had to get a Ultrasound done to make sure there was no stones.

[Taz70]

Thanks for that drgnrdr. Did you mean normal cartons of cranberry juice that you get in the supermarket? Is it ok to give dogs this? I know it's helpful for humans for cystitis. I never thought of that - cheers.

[drgnrdr]

I used white cranberry juice at first, not the cranberry cocktail. Then I got cranmax pills much easier and when she dripped all over the floor after drinking her water with the cran mixed in it, it got everything sticky. So cranmax pills much better way to go, some dogs may not like the sweet or the tart taste, depending on which one you get, I don't like adding alot of sugar, hence the pills, you may be able to find them at a health food store or find it on line
http://www.cranmax.com/
the other thing is the filtered water like a britta water pitcher or something liike it to get alot of junk out of the water.
Give a little bit at a time and see how they handle it, it may upset tummy if given too much or on empty stomach, but mine is okay with 500 mg a day, she's about 80 lbs. Someone once told me that they can't really overdose on it, it's just like drinking a bunch of cranberry juice, you pee it out. Same for ester-c vitamin she gets a pill a day, 500 mg. She has been clear for over a year. I try and make sure she drinks more water, so she flushes her system regularly.

[Taz70]

Thanks for that info drgnrdr. I'm definitely going to give the things you said a try.