My dog has a red spot on her vulva. Home treatment or vet visit?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like a focal infection. You can try to use chlorhexidine containing pads (such as the Douxo chlorhexidine 3% PS pads) to clean the are twice daily for 7 days. You may find these online or at your local pet store. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!


Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. Not only the vaginal area is inflamed but it seems that the ventral abdomen is involved as well. She is probably itchy but these redness areas do not seem inflamed because of the rubbing. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi and thanks for your request. This small skin lesion seems to be related to a superficial skin abrasion, which could be traumatic, infective or due to self-traumatism (licking). I would recommend to: - stop any further licking (if any) by using a buster collar. - disinfect the area with some hibiscrub diluted 1:10 with water twice daily for 5-7 days. Lack of improvement by then should be ideally checked by your local veterinarian.

This looks like a small pustule - like a pimple from an infected hair follicle. I suggest you use these medicated pads on that lesion 1-2 times per day. If after a few days it does not start to look better OR it looks worse, then he needs to see a vet. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-5393-douxo-chlorhexidine-3-ps-pads-for-dogs-and-cats-30.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo%20pad+Auto )

Those look like pustules (like pimples). I suggest you use these medicated pads on the vulva once a day for a week or so. If no improvement then have your vet take a look at her. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-5393-douxo-chlorhexidine-3-ps-pads-for-dogs-and-cats-30.aspx?SearchTerm=duoxo%20pad+Auto )

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. What you are describing sounds as if the folds of skin around the vulva are red inside. This happens commonly when urine get a trapped in the skin folds and causes irritation. It is especially common in dogs with excessive skin over the vulva and can even predispose to urinary tract infections. I would recommend using malacetic conditioning spray, mal a ket wipes or preva wipes to keep the skin around the vulva clean. If this worsens or does not resolve, I would recommend having her examined by a veterinarian. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent licking or chewing. Keep the area clean and dry. This may be enough to allow for healing, but since the skin appears broken, she should be physically examined by your veterinarian. She may need antibiotics which are by prescription only.