This is probably another stupid question of mine, but for once google wasn't very helpful. I honestly do not recommended googling that question unless you want to wade through from yucky stuff... anyway...

Now that I've posted about my child eating doggie, I figured I could ask some questions about my neurotic dog, Sadie. She is a year old, spayed, border collie and "something" mix, likely husky and maybe shepherd. She also has an "infantile vulva" according to the vet. Sadie is a high energy dog, and I know a big piece of resolving her neurosis is making sure she gets enough exercise. I can tell when she's had a day where she is tired and when she has had a day where she isn't!

However, one behavior of hers is totally baffling to us. She likes to lick her lady parts, which is pretty normal dog behavior. However after she licks them, she will stick one of her front paws between her back legs and like, hop up and down on her leg. Honestly it looks like she is masturbating. I've never seen a dog do this before.

Initially she did it once in a while. Then she started doing it a LOT. We took her to the vet, who took a sterile urine sample and told us she did not have a UTI but figured we should put her on antibiotics anyway and diagnosed her with "vaginitis". She also gave us some cream to apply to the area. After that she started doing it less, but never totally stopped. Now she is back to doing it regularly, and I'm reluctant to take her back to the vet if this is just behavioral.

If this is definitely an abnormal thing that needs medical attention obviously we will take her back to the vet, but if she is just being neurotic, or if doggie self pleasure is normal then I don't see the point. Anyone else encounter this?

If she did it less with the med, I'd have to conclude logically that it was related to something the med started to relieve.

I would ask that the vaginal secretions be cultured, since it sounds like this wasn't done before.


BTW, yes, both sexes can and do masturbate.

But IME, I bet that you are seeing a dog with irritation and/or itch.

Connie,

Yeah she did do it less with the med, but we also were really diligent about distracting her and interrupting her because of the cream. You're right though, having them take a culture makes a lot of sense and would rule some things out.

I actually was really displeased that the vet told us, "This is a mystery but have some ABCs anyway" - we are currently looking for a new vet.

http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/eiltslotus/theriogenology-5361/cannine%20infection%20infert_1.htm

http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/Medicine/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/557956

Thank you.

 Quote: kelsey perkins

I actually was really displeased that the vet told us, "This is a mystery but have some ABCs anyway" - we are currently looking for a new vet.

Well, now, on second thought, (but I'm not a health professional) maybe inflammation of the labia might well have responded to the cream (probably a steroid cream?) and maybe that was a totally appropriate initial response.

Yeah, the issue isn't really whether or not it was an appropriate treatment, though. For me, personally, the issue was lack of communication from the vet. I tried to ask questions and engage her to find out why this course of action is appropriate and what to look for etc. and was largely stonewalled.

Now, maybe I went about it wrong... but I figure I am very proactive in my own health care and ask a lot of questions etc. I expect to have enough information to make informed decisions about my body, and I want to do the same with my dog. Being told to give the antibiotics without having any real information makes me uncomfortable.

She is likely a perfectly good vet, I imagine it is more of a personality issue.

The antibiotics with no diagnosis bothered me too.





Again, I'm not a health professional ---- but I need a vet I trust, who answers my questions.

eta
http://www.ehow.com/way_5135831_home-remedy-canine-vaginitis.html
explains puppy and adult vaginitis.


Edited by Connie Sutherland (05/27/2011 11:49 AM)
Edit reason: eta

Incidentally, tea tree oil (as mentioned in the home remedy article) is the next thing we were planning to try. We use it on all the humans in our home, too. If she is itchy I imagine it should be just as effective as the cream we used.

Who is it that has a GSD with vaginal fold irritation? Melissa? Are they still around (active?) here? I can't remember for the life of me her name. Has Grace, Vigo and .... blanking on the 3s GSD's name. I'd like to hear her input on this- I know she's gone through all sorts of stuff with Grace (I think it was Grace, at least) and her girly parts.

Now I feel like a total jerk. I can remember your dogs names (mostly) but not yours. Ha. Whoops!