My senior dog's vulva is black and licked by male dog. Is it serious?

Unfortunately, without images or a physical exam, it is difficult to determine exactly what is going on with your dog. There are [multiple potential causes](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/skin-ulcers-and-draining-lesions/) for the symptoms. That said, black or bluish discoloration of the skin may indicate necrosis (dying off of normal tissue) or a severe inflammatory reaction (if mainly black and also coarse to the touch). I would suspect a potential spider/centipede bite or severe yeast infection (if mainly black and coarse to the touch) or severe [vaginitis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/vaginitis/) are potential causes which should also be looked at by your vet ASAP. If this is a spider/centipede bite, it should be treated quickly with steroid therapy to stop the reaction from spreading and causing systemic (whole body) illness. Place an e-collar (cone) on her to prevent licking until she sees the vet.

This looks like pigment around her vulva. If it is new then it could be from skin irritation or licking. If you haven’t seen her licking and there is no redness it may not require any specific treatment. If there are other skin lesions or she seems itchy or you see licking I’d recommend having your vet examine her.

It may be as the moisture from the diaper can create a skin infection and that pigment can be from a yeast infection. It may also be unrelated and due to changes due to the hormones. I would leave the diaper off and keep the area clean and dry. If you notice an odor or it seems to itch and bother her then I would get it checked

Hi and thanks for posting. The pictures came out very blurry so I cannot see what you are referring to. Spots around the vulva could be any number of things- from a bacterial infection, comedones (blackheads), yeast infection, or other causes. Good that you have an appointment with your veterinarian tomorrow so Silva can get checked out.

Poor Lulu! If she has been checked for underlying problems that could cause incontinence (such as diabetes, Cushing's disease, or chronic kidney disease), then I agree that it's likely her incontinence is due to being an older spayed female. I would recommend asking your veterinarian about medication to control this condition, such as Proin or DES (diethylstilbestrol) - these are quite effective at managing incontinence in most cases :)

If your elderly dog has vaginal bleeding you should have her seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible because that is not normal. If she has not been spayed it could be a sign of a uterus infection called pyometra which can be fatal if not treated immediately. Also it could be possible that she has blood in her urine which could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or possibly stones. If she worsens in any way, becomes lethargic, starts vomiting, or starts bleeding more, you should have her seen by a veterinarian immediately.

The black coloring is a pigment that the skin produces when it is chronically inflamed. Most often the skin gets like this when there is an untreated bacterial or yeast infection of the skin. I suggest you try wiping the area 2-3 times per day with these medicated pads. If no improvement after a week or so, then get her back to the vet as they may have to do some testing of the skin. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-8167-vetraseb-ck-antiseptic-wipes-ps-for-dogs-and-cats-60-wipes.aspx ) If she is licking the area you will need to get her a cone collar to stop that. No matter what you do to treat the area it will not get better if she continues to lick it. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-ecollars?ddkey=https%3ASearchDisplay ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.