My spayed dog won't stop licking her private area. What should I do?

Licking and biting excessively at the vulva is often a sign of a urinary tract infection, vaginitis, or certain types of allergies. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do at home to treat any of these problems effectively, so I would recommend taking her to the vet tomorrow for an exam if possible - she will probably need prescription antibiotics or other medication to treat the problem.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to know without an exam. However, this is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. 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!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Humping and licking can also be related to Booba's heat cycle if she is not spayed. However, if she is spayed, a bladder or vaginal infection is also possible. Signs of a bladder infection include frequent urination, blood in urine, or urinating where she shouldn't. Vaginal infections can involve redness of the vagina along with discharge. Both of these conditions can be easily ruled out by your vet with an exam, bloodwork, and a urinalysis if necessary. I hope all is well!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may not be urgent though he should be evaluated by a veterinarian in the near future to check on this if he is not improving. He may be licking secondary to allergies for example. In the meantime, you can use an e-collar to prevent further licking and self-trauma. Your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics. Good luck and have a great day!

Hello, Licking the vaginal area excessively could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or vaginitis. A dog urinating in their sleep could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or urinary incontinence. An infection, kidney disease, or an endocrine abnormality could change the appearance or smell of her urine. Many dogs urinate when they are excited and that part is totally normal. I would recommend taking her into her veterinarian. They will likely recommend a urinalysis to start. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Her vagina will probably return to normal size in a few months, this typically happens after a dog is spayed. the redness and itching are probably allergy related, this will need to be checked and treated with allergy meds by a vet. Kennel cough in most cases does not require treatment but she is on antibiotics already so no reason to worry, it will resolve soon. regarding the licking of the spay wound, you need to put an e-collar around her neck for 2 weeks post surgery to prevent this from happening.

Some dogs do have allergies that can make them focus on the vulva and sometimes they can even end up with an infection around the vulva. You could use a warm washcloth to wipe daily to see if it will help. If she’s not improving in a few days or if you start to notice urinary issues I’d recommend having your vet examine her.