Why does my dog's smelly discharge keep coming back after antibiotics?

I'm glad you have been treating Izzy with antibiotics. If the color is lighter, it might mean the antibiotics are helping with the infection. It could be the antibiotics are clearing up the infection, but without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. It is concerning you are running out of antibiotics, so I would take her back into the vet now to get more to continue to treat her. Should she survive this infection, I would have her spayed once she is better. Best of luck.

She could have a recurring vaginitis because of the damp environment of the diapers. I would get her seen by your vet to be sure and see what needs to be done about it. If she can go for periods of time without the diapers to let her rear dry and let air circulate that would be ideal but I understand that may not be feasible.

I am very sorry to hear about Sahara's problem. It is possible she could have what we called a "recessed vulva". This condition can predispose to skin fold infection, vaginitis and urinary tract infections. I would ask your vet if they think this is a possible cause for your dog. If your dog is overweight, sometimes weight loss will improve this condition. If it is a severe case, then surgery can be performed to help improve the vulvar conformation.

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear your pet is having an issue. By vaginal infection, I am unsure if you mean she is having vaginitis, a urinary tract infection or even a uterine infection (also called a pyometra). If she is having repeat UTIs it is a good idea to have her urine cultured and also to do some imaging diagnostics like X-rays and even an ultrasound. If she is not spayed and the infection is coming from her uterus it is very important to have her spayed as this will resolve the issue. If your veterinarian is unsure as to where the infection is coming from then the next step is urine culture and an ultrasound. In some cases a resistant bacteria is present and the culture will help rule that out. An ultrasound will help determine if there are any complicating factors like bladder inflammation, bladder stones or even cancer. More information provided by you may help us make additional suggestions. I hope this helps clear some things up for you!

If the discharge cleared while Zion was on antibiotics, then it's likely a bacterial infection of the sheath. He may need to take a longer course of antibiotics, or your vet may suggest a bacterial culture and sensitivity test to determine the most effective antibiotic. Typically, skin infections and penile sheath infections clear faster with topical therapy as well as oral medicine - talk to your vet about using a diluted antibacterial flush to clean the area. I'm not sure I can explain why he had a black blister, but maybe a bruise or injury from licking himself? Recurrent skin infections and bladder stones and crystals can sometimes be due to an underlying medical condition- if it's not been done already, some blood tests to check for endocrine illness may be a good idea. Your vet will want to work with you to help resolve this condition permanently.

It would be best to have your vet recheck this. Pyo can be a concern at any age. Even if the dog hasn't had a heat before. They can also have very severe UTIs which can be resistant to certain types of antibiotics. It would be best to do a culture of the discharge to make sure the medication you are giving is working and that you know exactly what type of infection you are dealing with. Good luck and I hope your girl feels better soon!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach if Izzy has a pyometra or uterine infection she needs to be spayed ASAP. This can be a fatal turn right on Rio Grande St. infection leading to sepsis turn left on superior and death if left untreated. While antibiotics can decrease signs It will typically not fully clear the infection, which will cotinue to recur and worsen. If Izzy has a foul smelling bloody discharge she needs to see a veterinarian as soon as possible.