Why is my female dog's vulva scabbed, itchy, and not healing?

Poor Phoebe! This sounds quite uncomfortable. There are several possible causes of irritation to the vulva and may be due to excessive licking as a result of a skin allergy or urinary tract infection, or urine scalding. Phoebe should be examined by her vet and have a urinalysis performed to assess for the presence of a urinary tract infection. In some cases, when the skin becomes overly irritated and ulcerative, it can become infected and require antibiotics for treatment. In the meantime, closely monitor Phoebe and if she seems to be licking excessively, put an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent further irritation.

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!


From your picture, it looks like Val has what we commonly call a recessed vulva. That means that her vulva is tucked up and has a fold a skin around it. The problem with this is that the fold of skin can trap moisture and result in a yeast and/or bacterial overgrowth of that skin which is very itchy. So, I would recommend asking your vet about a topical treatment for the skin folds. We will often use medicated wipes that contain both an antibiotic and anti-fungal medication to help treat and prevent skin fold problems. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely saliva staining. Often times licking usually means itchiness which in turn could potentially be due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

I cannot give you a diagnosis over the internet just based on what you have described. She could have a yeast infection of the skin. Sometimes these things need a long course of oral antifungals to clear up along with the topical shampoo. That being said, she could have an autoimmune problem, underlying allergies, a uterine infection (if she is not spayed) or any number of other things. It is recommended you get her to a vet for an examination so you she can get a diagnosis and the proper treatment.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. From the picture you provided, it appears that Isabel may be suffering from a skin infection. I would recommend the below products, which can be found online quite easily. If the skin condition does not resolve, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. 1. Welactin omega 3 fish oil capsules for canines 2. Douxo PS Chlorhexidine combination shampoo and bathe twice weekly 3. Malacetic conditioning spray and apply to affected area 2-3 times per day 4. Essential 6 spot on by Dermoscent

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.