Case 7: Vulvar discharge in a juvenile bitch

CASE 7. Vulvar discharge from a juvenile bitch

Case Information:

You are presented with a 5-month-old intact female Weimeraner for the complaint of mucoid vulvar discharge. The owner notes strings of discharge hanging from the bitch's vulva after urination and occasionally finds dried discharge on the bitch's rear limbs. The dog has not exhibited urinary incontinence and does not appear to be bothered by the discharge.

On physical examination, the bitch appears normal. in all respects. Vaginoscopy reveals no anatomic abnormalities and the vaginal mucosa is mildly erythematous. You collect the vaginal cytology specimen shown below.

Question:

What is your diagnosis?

Answer:

The cytology specimen contains non-cornified epithelial cells and a slightly increased number of PMNs. The PMNs do not appear to be degenerative. The most likely differential is juvenile vaginitis, also called puppy vaginitis. Underlying cause of the inflammation often is undefined. The most common causes are concurrent urinary tract disease and vaginal anatomic anomalies that allow urine pooling. This bitch does not have a history of incontinence, suggesting urine pooling is not occurring, and does not have any visible anatomic anomalies. Collection of a urine sample by cystocentesis for culture and urinalysis is recommended. Treatment is dependent on severity of clinical signs. If the signs are not worsening and the bitch is not traumatizing her vulva, no treatment may be necessary. Some bitches may respond to topical or systemic antibiotic therapy, presumably controlling secondary bacterial infection. Affected bitches may benefit from being allowed to go through one heat cycle. It is not known whether the apparent response after going through heat is due to the hormone changes of heat or to increasing age and immunocompetence of the dog.