Owners who keep female dogs carefully monitor their health, especially related to reproductive activities. Reproductive health is of great importance for breeders, because the quality of offspring and their future health depends on it.
“Loop” is called the external sexual organ of a bitch. Any discharge from the reproductive organ, if it is not during estrus, is alarming to the owners.
Which secret compartments are the norm, and which serve as a signal of violations in the body, we will consider further.
Physiological discharge from the loop
Estrus is an indicator of a dog’s sexual maturity. According to its duration, it is divided into four stages: forerunner, ovulation, termination and sexual rest.
Each period is accompanied by characteristic discharge from the loop.
A forerunner or proestrus is a swelling loop and brown, blood — like discharge during the week. These days, you can use special panties for estrus.
- Estrus (estrus) — the climax when ovulation occurs, and it is allowed to conduct mating of the dog. The secret at this stage may be absent or have a light pink color. Veterinary clinics can determine whether a female is ready for mating by smear analysis.
- Metaestrus (end of estrus) — the discharge stops, the loop decreases in size.
- Anestrus (sexual rest) — the period of absence of estrus, which lasts on average-100-150 days.
As a rule, the estrus cycle takes place twice a year for 10-20 days, depending on the breed of dog.
The same natural secretions in the animal appear in the period before childbirth and in the postpartum period.
During the period associated with labor, the secreted secret must meet the following characteristics:
- a maximum of two days before the birth of a bitch recorded thickish discharge;
- the color of the secret is whitish or grayish.
The listed requirements for secretions indicate the beginning of the birth process.
During the postpartum period, for two weeks (until the uterus returns to its prenatal state), a brownish discharge (with an acceptable blood content) can be recorded for three to five days and, every day, acquire a lighter color, until complete cessation.
Natural secretions should be clear and mucous with a permissible content of blood impurities and not contain any foreign smell or signs of inflammation.
Discharge from the loop related to pathologies
If the dog’s body is disturbed by the work of any organ, then the signal about the pathological process can serve as a discharge from its loop.
Pathological secretions that you need to pay attention to and immediately visit a veterinary clinic include:
- any separation during pregnancy;
- secreted secret before childbirth dark color (green, yellow, brown) with a strong putrid smell;
- postpartum prolonged (more than a month) sticky discharge with an admixture of blood;
- purulent (opaque) discharge of white color, as well as a darkish shade of yellow, green, brown or red;
- the secret that stands out has a sharp unpleasant smell;
- the appearance of blood drops from the external genitals.
All these secretions indicate the development of a disease, tumor or malignant neoplasm in the genital tract or organs of the dog.
Diseases of reproductive organs in bitches
Pathological secretions are a signal of the presence of a disease in the animal’s body that is dangerous 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 genitals.
Consider 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 the 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 an aggravating diagnosis — cystitis, endometritis, pyometra.
Endometritis develops as an inflammation of the endometrium or the lining of the uterus. The disease can occur in acute and chronic form.
In acute form, the animal has a rapid development of the disease, accompanied by fever, purulent separation from the reproductive organ, lethargy, loss of appetite. In the absence of timely help from a specialist, the animal may die.
The chronic form is dangerous because it is asymptomatic and manifests itself in the absence of pregnancy: the female can not bear offspring or brings weakened, unable to live, it is also possible to violate the duration of estrus, weight loss.
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, pus accumulates in its cavity, leading to intoxication of the body. When the form is closed, there is a threat of uterine rupture, peritonitis and death of the animal.
Neoplasms in the genitals are ovarian tumors and transmissible sarcoma (or venereal).
A pet can get sarcoma when mating. A dangerous disease affects the mucous membrane of the genitals.
Symptoms of various inflammatory processes
Despite the various lesions of the reproductive organs, inflammatory processes have common symptoms of the disease.
The characteristic symptoms of inflammatory processes in the genitals, in addition to the available secretions, include:
- excessive attention of the animal to the genitals: the pet often licks the loop because of itching from secretions;
- the behavior is marked by lethargy;
- temperature rise;
- the increase in the volume of the stomach;
- thirst — the animal consumes a lot of water, vomiting is possible;
- depressed state;
- heavy breathing;
- refusal to walk;
- frequent urination, including at home.
If the above symptoms appear, you can not self-medicate. It is important to understand that the disease in the advanced form is much more difficult to cure, and with delayed assistance, the result may be the death of a pet.
Causes of diseases
Diseases of the reproductive system, accompanied by discharge from the genitals, cause Pets physical inconvenience and suffering in the absence of proper medical care.
The causes of diseases are:
- Hormonal failure. During puberty or during estrus, the body’s defenses weaken and cannot resist the attacks of infection.
- Uncontrolled mating.
- Missing bindings.
- Traumatic injuries of the external genitals.
- Unsanitary conditions, non-compliance with hygiene rules, especially during childbirth.
- Damage to the internal reproductive organs (uterus) during the birth of large puppies.
- Infection of a female with a sexual infection during mating.
- Poorly selected medications or hormones that have dangerous side effects.
Diagnostics in a veterinary clinic
If you detect abnormalities in the pet’s health: mucus discharge from the external genitals, excessive licking — you should not miss the moment and contact the veterinary clinic in a timely manner. 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 get information about the nature and duration of discharge, the periods of estrus, and the number of pregnancies and births.
During the examination, the pet’s body temperature is measured, the abdominal cavity is probed, and the condition of the mucous membranes and vagina is examined.
Next, an ultrasound examination is prescribed to check the condition of the uterus and its walls, to identify neoplasms: cysts or tumors.
Blood and urine tests are required. These tests will clarify the General condition of the animal, help to identify the inflammatory process and assess the work of the urinary system. According to the doctor’s decision and for laboratory research, a vaginal smear analysis is taken.
In case of heart rhythm disorders in a pet, the doctor directs the patient to an ECG, if necessary, ultrasound and chest x-rays may be prescribed.
Based on the examination, the doctor makes a diagnosis and develops a treatment regimen for the animal.
As a rule, along with antibacterial, antipyretic drugs and antibiotics, the doctor prescribes solutions to maintain the water-salt balance and immunomodulatory medications. 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 from the prescribed treatment, there is a need for bacteriological seeding. This analysis will allow you to select a drug with a directed spectrum of action, depending on the characteristics of the animal’s microflora.
When detecting neoplasms in the pelvic organs, the doctor will discuss with the owner the surgical intervention and its possible consequences.
Preventive measures include:
- thorough examination of dogs before and after mating;
- normalization of the pet’s hormonal level with the use of hormonal drugs as prescribed by a doctor;
- regular examination of the dog’s genitals and timely access to a doctor if the slightest abnormalities are detected;
- ultrasound in the early stages of pregnancy to exclude false pregnancy and the development of endometritis;
- compliance with hygiene measures — regularly comb, wash the pet, do not allow to walk around garbage cans and come into contact with stray animals;
- timely vaccination of your pet;
- regular check-up by a veterinarian.
With careful attention to the dog from the owner, the risk of infection with infectious diseases or the development of dangerous inflammatory processes of the reproductive organs in the pet is minimal.