Why does my puppy have vulva discharge if her UTI test was negative?

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 definitely be a sign of a UTI or a vaginitis (infection in the vagina). I would take a picture for your vet to see just in case they request it, but this isn't a requirement. I would have your vet take a look at her. They will likely run a urinalysis and start her on some meds if needed. I hope this helps!

I would let your vet know if this is a new or sudden symptom. In some cases, some vaginal discharge can be normal (and may be concentrated if Brandy is wearing a diaper), however since she has a history of UTIs it is best to rule anything out such as continuing bladder or vaginal issues if this symptom is new. Signs of something more serious (such as a new infection) may cause the discharge to turn yellow, cloudy, or green.

Mucous could be a sign of a urinary tract infection if accompanied by frequent urination or blood in the urine. It can also be seen with vaginitis. A small amount of mucous can be normal for some dogs. If you're only seeing mucous and Zelda is not excessively licking her vulva you can probably monitor for a few days but if the mucous continues I'd recommend having your vet examine her.

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.

Delilah is too young to be going into heat, so this discharge could be caused by juvenile vaginitis. This is inflammation of the vagina in puppies who have not yet reach puberty. I would have Delilah seen by a vet first thing tomorrow for this. The vet can examine her, determine if she does have juvenile vaginitis, and can prescribe a treatment for it. Typically, it involves daily cleaning of the vulva if it is a mild case with no complicating infection.

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.