My 2-month-old female puppy has vaginal discharge. What should I do?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. A 5 month old female dog with SMALL amounts of puss from the vagina can be something called 'puppy vaginitis' which is a common condition that is resolved by having the puppy spayed. If there is a LARGE amount of puss present then a life-threatening condition called pyometra could be the cause, in which case she needs to go to a vet right away. Pyometra is very uncommon in a 5 month old puppy and most often always requires a dog to have had a heat first, so puppy vaginitis is most likely. This could also be a urinary tract infection resulting in puss from the vulva. I would have Baliey seen by your vet to be assessed, and have her spayed sometime in the next month or two. Best of luck with her!

The two most likely possibilities here are that Vada has a primary infection relating to her urogenital region, or that Vada has a puppy vaginitis. If it is the former, systemic antibiotics will likely be required to clear things up. If the latter is the case, puppy vaginitis can unfortunately be a very frustrating situation to deal with. It is usually unresponsive to antibiotics, and the best thing you can do is try to keep the area clean with some antibacterial wipes and probiotic wipes. The green discharge will likely continue to come back but hopefully in lesser quantity, thickness, and odor. Some of the research into this area is suggesting that the best way to help with this condition is to spay Vada AFTER her first heat cycle instead of beforehand. This would be a matter to discuss with your veterinarian after you and he have determined whether or not this is the condition that Vada currently has.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! What you are seeing is likely mucous. It could be a urinary tract infection of puppy vaginitis. They tend to grow out of puppy vaginitis. Sometimes they need antibiotics if they are urinating small amounts frequently. I would set up an appointment with your Vet for an exam. I would try to collect a urine sample for the appointment. First wipe the vulva with a baby wipe or a slightly soapy towel (rinse) before collecting. I hope this helps!

This could be due to a form of recurrent vaginitis, usually juvenile form of vaginitis can cause that without having serious consequences. Should you notice any systemic signs (inappetence, lethargy for example) or more intense discharge, I would suggest a check up otherwise no further action has to be taken as these forms of inflammation can be self limiting. 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.

It's not uncommon to see a little cloudy vaginal discharge from growing puppies. It's likely the hormonal influences in her body. It usually doesn't require medication, and typically resolves on its own with no treatment, however I have seen some prolonged cases that did need antibiotics. If she just saw the vet today I would recommend calling her back and discussing this change - she may want to recheck Moose, especially if the discharge persists for more than a day or two.

Unfortunately without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain if the white discharge and smell is a major concern. It could be a sign of a pyometra, and that is fatal without treatment. To be safe, I think it's best you take her into a vet now to get checked out. Best of luck.

The discharge pictured is a greenish-yellow, so I'm concerned that Athena may have [pyometra](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/pyometra/), which is a potentially deadly infection of the uterus that can happen in dogs. A tiny bit of white vulvar discharge can be within normal variations for puppies (called a "puppy vaginitis"), but a greenish-yellow discharge is never normal. I recommend having Athena evaluated by her vet or an emergency vet right away. Your vet will likely [recommend spaying](https://www.petcoach.co/article/spay-and-neuter-basics-for-dogs-and-cats/) Athena right away if they [diagnose a pyometra](https://www.petcoach.co/article/pyometra-infections-of-the-uterus-in-dogs/), as this removes the pus-filled uterus and ovaries. Spaying stops the heat cycle, eliminates the risk and cost of unwanted breeding, reduces the risk of breast cancer, and prevents the a pyometra from developing.