What is normal discharge from a dog's noose?

Owners of female dogs carefully monitor their health, especially related to reproductive activity. Reproductive health is of great importance for animal breeders, because the good quality of the offspring and their health in the future depends on it.

The “loop” is the name given to the external genitalia of a female dog. Any discharge from the reproductive organ, if not during estrus, causes concern for owners.

Which secretions are normal, and which serve as a signal of disturbances in the body, we will consider further.

Physiological discharge from the loop

Estrus, or estrus, is an indicator of a dog's sexual maturity. According to duration, it is divided into four stages: pre-estrus, ovulation, termination and sexual rest.

Each period is accompanied by characteristic discharge from the loop.

Precursor or proestrus is a swelling of the loop and brown, bloody discharge for a week. These days you can use special panties for estrus.

Estrus (heat) is the culminating moment when ovulation occurs and the dog is allowed to mate. The secretion at this stage may be absent or light pink in color. Veterinary clinics can determine a bitch’s readiness for mating using a smear test.

Metaestrus (end of estrus) - discharge stops, the loop decreases in size.

Anestrus (sexual rest) is a period of absence of estrus, which lasts on average 100-150 days.

As a rule, the estrus cycle occurs twice a year for 10-20 days, depending on the breed of the dog.

The same natural discharge in an animal appears in the period before childbirth and in the postpartum period.

During the period associated with labor, the secreted secretion must satisfy the following characteristics:

• a maximum of two days before giving birth, the bitch notices thick discharge;
• the color of the secretion is whitish or grayish.

The listed requirements for discharge indicate the beginning of the birth process.

In the postpartum period, for two weeks (until the uterus returns to its prenatal state), brownish discharge (with a permissible blood content) may be observed for three to five days and, every day, acquiring a lighter color, until it stops completely.

Natural secretions should be transparent mucous with an acceptable content of blood impurities and not contain foreign odors or signs of inflammation.

Norm and stages

She may be:

• initial (initial) - when blood is released at the beginning of urination;
• complete (total) - the release of blood throughout the entire act of urination;
• final (terminal) - the release of blood in the last portion of urine.

It is necessary to pay attention to the exact moment it appears and its quantity - this will help in making a diagnosis.

Normally, urine is straw-yellow in color, without impurities, and transparent.

With hematuria, the urine is not necessarily red-scarlet. It takes on the following shade:

• red
• pink
• red-brown (resembling tomato juice)
• red-orange
• orange

Discharge from the loop related to pathologies

If the functioning of any organ in a dog’s body is disrupted, then discharge from its loop can serve as a signal of a pathological process.

Pathological discharges that you need to pay attention to and immediately visit a veterinary clinic include:

• any departments during pregnancy;
• secretion secreted before childbirth is dark in color (green, yellow, brown) with a strong putrefactive odor;
• postpartum prolonged (more than a month) sticky discharge mixed with blood;
• purulent (opaque) discharge of white color, as well as a darkish shade of yellow, green, brown or red;
• the secreted secretion has a sharp, unpleasant odor;
• the appearance of drops of blood from the external genitalia.

All these discharges indicate the development of a disease, a tumor or malignant neoplasm in the genital tract or organs of the dog.

Preventive actions

It is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of developing diseases of the reproductive system. Fortunately, veterinarians have developed a system of measures that, if followed, will help reduce this likelihood:

• a thorough medical examination before and always after mating;
• regular examinations by a veterinarian;
• if necessary, taking hormonal medications to normalize the background;
• timely vaccination;
• regular examination of the genital organs: anus and vagina in females;
• strict adherence to hygiene measures.

It has been scientifically proven that sterilization reduces the likelihood of developing a large number of diseases and prolongs the life of pets. If the owners do not plan to breed puppies, this procedure can solve many problems, including discharge from the females’ loops. The procedure is common and completely safe.

Ultimately, whether to sterilize a female or not is up to the owners to decide. But you definitely need to monitor her health so as not to miss discharge of green or other colors and begin treatment for emerging diseases in a timely manner.

Diseases of the reproductive organs in bitches

Pathological secretions are a signal of the presence of a disease in the animal’s body that poses a danger to its health.

Diseases can be divided into the following main groups:

• inflammatory processes in the vagina (for example, vaginitis);
• inflammatory processes in the uterus (endometritis, pyometra);
• malignant neoplasms and tumors of the genital organs.

Let's look at common types of diseases:

Vaginitis occurs in the vagina and causes inflammation of its mucous membrane. The danger of the initial disease is that the owner may mistake scanty discharge for estrus and not rush to visit the clinic. The lack of timely medical care leads to the spread of infection and deterioration of the animal’s condition with aggravating diagnoses - cystitis, endometritis, pyometra.

Endometritis develops as inflammation of the endometrium or lining of the uterus. The disease can occur in acute and chronic form.

In the acute form, the animal experiences rapid development of the disease, accompanied by elevated temperature, purulent discharge from the reproductive organ, lethargy, and loss of appetite. In the absence of timely assistance from a specialist, the animal may die.

The chronic form is dangerous due to its asymptomatic nature and is manifested by the absence of pregnancy: the bitch cannot bear offspring or bears weakened ones, incapable of life; it is also possible that the duration of estrus is impaired, and a decrease in body weight is possible.

Pyometra is a dangerous inflammatory process in the uterus. This inflammation is accompanied by the accumulation of pus in the uterine cavity. If in the open form of inflammation pus is released through the cervix, then in the closed form the pus accumulates in its cavity, leading to intoxication of the body. With a closed form, there is a threat of uterine rupture, peritonitis and death of the animal.

Neoplasms in the genital organs are ovarian tumors and transmissible sarcoma (or venereal).

A pet can become infected with sarcoma during mating. A dangerous disease affects the mucous membrane of the genital organs.

How to properly collect urine?

The most informative way to analyze urine is cystocentesis (puncture). The procedure is routine, does not require anesthesia, and, as a rule, pets react calmly to it. The doctor, under the control of an ultrasound probe, will insert a thin needle into the bladder through the abdominal wall and take a test. Of course, before taking the test, he will make sure there are no contraindications. The bladder should be full and the wall should not be uneven.

If it is not possible to donate urine by cystocentesis, you can use improvised means. In my practice, there were owners who collected urine with a ladle or ladle while walking, since pets absolutely do not want to urinate in a jar. If your pet does his business on the diaper at home, then you can simply turn it over with the oilcloth side up; it is better to first wipe the surface with an alcohol wipe. To prevent dripping, place some objects around the edges, as if forming a recess from a diaper. Then transfer the urine sample into a test container or sterile syringe. However, keep in mind an important point: the presence of bacteria in such an analysis is not informative. Bacteria can get there from the environment, from the pet's paws, from its fur or from the urethra.

Symptoms of various inflammatory processes

Despite the various foci of damage to the reproductive organs, inflammatory processes have common symptoms of the disease.

Characteristic symptoms of inflammatory processes in the genital organs, in addition to existing discharge, include:

• excessive attention of the animal to the genitals: the pet licks the loop more often than usual due to itching from the secretion;
• lethargy is noted in behavior;
• temperature increase;
• increase in abdominal volume;
• thirst - the animal consumes a lot of water, vomiting is possible;
• depressed state;
• hard breath;
• weakness;
• refusal to go for a walk;
• Frequent urination, including at home.

If the symptoms described above appear, you should not self-medicate. It is important to understand that the disease in its advanced form is much more difficult to cure, and if assistance is delayed, the result may be the death of the pet.

Treatment

Just seeing traces of blood in the urine cannot begin to treat the animal. Hematuria is not a disease, but a symptom of many diseases.

Excretion of blood in the urine is always a serious pathology that requires the intervention of a veterinarian; you can’t just wait for it to go away on its own. This way the disease will only progress to a more serious stage and lead to disability or even death.

First of all, it is necessary to find out the cause, and not to treat it.

It is highly NOT recommended to use any medications before visiting a doctor. Such measures will only blur the clinical picture and prevent a quick diagnosis.

Your task is to provide the veterinarian with as complete anamnesis as possible, in other words, monitor your pet; for diagnosis you need to know:

• when did hematuria appear;
• at what stage of the act of urination blood comes out (at the beginning, at the end or in the middle);
• urine color;
• what position does the dog take during urination;
• what do you feed your dog, how much does he drink;
• how often the animal urinates, whether it controls this process.

The clinic should order a complete urine test, blood test, x-ray and ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder to identify the cause.

Causes of diseases

Diseases of the reproductive system, accompanied by discharge from the genitals, cause physical inconvenience and suffering to pets in the absence of proper medical care.

The causes of diseases are:

1. Hormonal disbalance. During puberty or during estrus, the body's defenses weaken and cannot resist the attacks of infection.
2. Uncontrolled matings.
3. Missing matings.
4. Traumatic injuries to the external genitalia.
5. Unsanitary conditions, failure to comply with hygiene rules, especially during childbirth.
6. Damage to the internal reproductive organs (uterus) during the birth of large puppies.
7. Infection of a bitch with a sexually transmitted infection during mating.
8. Poorly selected medications or hormonal drugs that have dangerous side effects.

Prevention

To reduce the likelihood of your pet’s genitourinary system disease, you should follow several rules:

• monitor animal hygiene;
• proper feeding. Do not mix natural feeding with prepared foods. The food must be balanced. A low protein diet is recommended;
• sufficient amount of water;
• active lifestyle;
• Periodic visits to the veterinarian and testing.

Take a responsible approach to your pet's health.

Diagnostics in a veterinary clinic

If you notice any abnormalities in your pet's well-being: mucus discharge from the external genitalia, excessive licking, you should not miss the moment and promptly contact a veterinary clinic. This will allow you to diagnose your pet and prescribe a course of treatment, preventing the development of the disease and possible complications.

When examining an animal, the veterinarian should obtain information about the nature and duration of discharge, periods of estrus and the number of pregnancies and births.

During the examination, the pet’s body temperature is measured, the abdominal cavity is palpated, and the condition of the mucous membranes and vagina is examined.

Next, an ultrasound examination is prescribed, which allows you to check the condition of the uterus and its walls, and identify neoplasms: cysts or tumors.

Blood and urine tests are required. These tests will clarify the general condition of the animal, help identify the inflammatory process and evaluate the functioning of the urinary system. According to the doctor’s decision and for laboratory testing, a vaginal smear is analyzed.

If a pet has heart rhythm disturbances, the doctor will refer the patient for an ECG; if necessary, an ultrasound and chest x-ray may be prescribed.

Based on the examination, the doctor makes a diagnosis and develops a treatment plan for the animal.

As a rule, along with antibacterial, antipyretic drugs and antibiotics, the doctor prescribes solutions to maintain water-salt balance and immunomodulating drugs. To speed up the regeneration of the mucous membrane and depending on the condition of the pet, the doctor recommends vitamin complexes.

In some cases, due to the lack of effect of the prescribed treatment, the need for bacteriological culture arises. This analysis will allow you to select a drug with a targeted spectrum of action, depending on the characteristics of the animal’s microflora.

If neoplasms are detected in the pelvic organs, the doctor will discuss surgical intervention and its possible consequences with the owner.

If a prompt visit to the veterinarian is not possible

You can help your pet at home yourself before going to the clinic. The main thing is not to make things worse.

What to do if your dog is peeing blood?

1. You need to provide your pet with peace. Set up a bed for him in a quiet, warm place, surround him with care.
2. Drinking regime. Place several bowls of fresh water near your pet. If your pet refuses to drink, you can add a little broth, canned meat sauce, a pinch of vanilla, etc. to the water.

Under no circumstances should you give medications from a human first aid kit without a doctor’s recommendation. First, many drugs cannot be used in animals. Secondly, dosages are completely different for dogs and humans. Thirdly, many drugs have contraindications for use.

To properly provide first aid to your pet while you are unable to take it to the clinic, you can consult with a veterinarian online in the Petstory mobile application. The doctor will collect a detailed medical history, recommend how to help the pet at the moment, and tell you what diagnostics should be carried out. You can download the application from the link.

Final conclusions

In a pregnant dog, mucous discharge during normal course is slightly present. They change throughout pregnancy and this is also considered normal. It is necessary to note the nature of the dog’s discharge from the loop - color, thickness, transparency, smell, presence of blood, clots, fibers and report them to the veterinarian. A complete medical history will allow the veterinarian to prescribe the necessary diagnostic measures and make an accurate diagnosis.

It would be nice to know how the pregnancies of the dog’s mother and grandmother proceeded. This information will allow you to navigate and prepare for possible options for the development of the situation. Finding a mother and grandmother is not so difficult if the pet has a pedigree that lists all known relatives. In general, only a bitch that, in addition to pedigree, has received an assessment for participation in breeding should be bred. Non-breeding dogs are recommended to be neutered.

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