Spayed Whippet - Lump Occasionally Protruding From Vagina

[Mum to Emma]

I have a 6 year old whippet who was spayed at 8 months of age. Occasionally (once, twice a day) she'll start furiously licking her vulva. She'll be in her bed at the time or on the couch, so I don't think the licking is anything other than a form of self grooming.

However when checking to see that she wasn't attempting to clean up some sort of discharge, I noticed that a pink shiny lump was protruding from the vagina. It's about 5mm in diameter and will retract back into the vagina a few minutes after she's stopped licking.

I should say that I first noticed this about 12 months ago but have been wondering whether I should raise the issue with the vet. Could she have some sort of vaginal prolapse after the spay operation?

Or perhaps this is this a normal part of her anatomy? Sorry - I've only had males before!

P.S. Attached is a picture of my sweet Emma (who has numerous health problems - pineal thrombosis, PRA and a mouth full of broken teeth after trying to break out of her cage at the vet), but is otherwise a happy joyous companion who isn't happy unless she has a toy in her mouth!)

[pawsnclaws]

Im not an expert on the female anatomy of dogs but i would maybe contact your vet and have it checked but it may be something like a blocked gland. I know some women get it and its the secretion gland that gets blocked but it generally goes away and is nothing to worry about. Depends on how long the lump has been there and if it has changed in size at all. Also if it comes and goes. I am not sure if the same thing happens with dogs so i suggest maybe contacting your vet and asking.. Never any harm done in just asking .. good luck

[Kirislin]

I think you should get a vets advice on this, I dont know what it is. I've had mainly bitches, some speyed, some not, but I've not seen anything like you describe on any of mine.

Linda

[cavNrott]

I have a 6 year old whippet who was spayed at 8 months of age. Occasionally (once, twice a day) she'll start furiously licking her vulva. She'll be in her bed at the time or on the couch, so I don't think the licking is anything other than a form of self grooming.

However when checking to see that she wasn't attempting to clean up some sort of discharge, I noticed that a pink shiny lump was protruding from the vagina. It's about 5mm in diameter and will retract back into the vagina a few minutes after she's stopped licking.

I should say that I first noticed this about 12 months ago but have been wondering whether I should raise the issue with the vet. Could she have some sort of vaginal prolapse after the spay operation?

I would certainly take her to the vet. I have always had spayed females and have never seen anything like this. Since she was spayed more than 5 years ago and this has been happening for 12 months it would indicate to me that something isn't right. Has this dog not seen the vet since you first noticed this?

[sidoney]

It could be some kind of growth inside your dog. I would get her checked out.

I had a girl that had a benign cyst ON her vulva - started small, vet said don't worry about it, but it did get larger and sometimes get bumped or something and bleed - I should have had it taken off when she was younger.

Edited November 12, 2007 by sidoney

[Greytmate]

It's probably the clitoris. Some bitches are much larger than others. See a vet if you want to know for sure.

[cavNrott]

This is something that can't be diagnosed over the internet. We can't see the dog and chances are we wouldn't know what it was even if we could.

I would certainly take her to the vet.