My puppy has yellow discharge

[dani12]

My 11 week old golden lab, Daisy, has had a little yellow mucousy discharge. I took her to the vet (not mine;they are on vacation!) and he said it was probably puppy vaginitis and was going to put her on an antibiotic. But I told him she just got off of one the day before b/c she had an infection after being spayed and they had put her on Clavamox(?). He then decided to not give her anything and said if it gets worse he will call something in for her. It hasn't gotten worse but she still has a little discharge. Is this normal? I don't want to keep putting her on unnecassary medications if I don't have to and on the other hand, if she needs it, I want her to have it. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Julie]

If I were to make a guess... yeast infection.
Antibiotics can mess up the natural yeast in animals, and people too.
Some women get a yeast infection everytime they take antibiotics.
When she was on them from her spay, her natural yeast probably went haywire.
The vet probably just thinks it will clear on its own. If it doesn't just give him a call, he will probably give you something similar to what people use for yeast infections.

Julie.

[Renee750il]

Reading this from a link on Mordy's site should be helpful: http://www.usprobiotics.org/basics/#Vaginosis.

Then go to www.greatdanelady.com and read her articles on yeast. I think Julie's probably right about it being a yeast infection, and too many vets don't even acknowledge that dogs can get systemic yeast problems.

[Manchesters]

Give her 250 mgs of C twice a day for 10 days.

I am incredulous that they spayed an 11 week old puppy. I guess vets don't give a **** about pups developing completely anymore. Geez......it is the same as putting a human child on shots to prevent them from achieving puberty!!!!! Oh well. What people don't know can't bother them! But I would be prepared for more infections and such over the years as a result of immature sexual organs.........bladder infections, vaginal and cervical infections, etc.

Are there any here who have had pups spayed so young, and lived thru it for several years? Am most curious.

[dani12]

We didn't want to have our puppies spayed and neutered so young but we adopted them from our Humane Society and they wouldn't release them until they had it done. I asked if I could bring them back a few months to have it done but they refused. I've read that it is okay to do that early though. I read that some people even do it at 4 weeks if you can believe that. The only negative thing I read is with males; they sometimes don't gain all of their muscle mass. But I've also read that they do so I guess we will know in about 15 months!

[Adrienne]

Spaying and neutering shelter dogs at an early age has been in practice for many years. If they had issues with it they wouldn't continue to put the dogs health in jeporday. I am sure that they have done follow ups to find out how early spayings and neuterings effect the outcome of the dogs life, growth, and well being. We already have a huge pet overpolulation, anything they can do to help curb this problem I am all for and if that includes neutering and spaying early to ensure no more pups I think that is great.

As for the discharge, I am 100% in agreement with Juilie, which would explain the vets reluctance to put the dog on more antibiotics.

[wildwings811]

I work for a vet and we often spay and neuter dogs at an eary age around 16 weeks we have never had a single problem with these animals and not only that they often live into late age of life with no problems the problem comes with not spay/neutering early enough such as cancer and uterine/testicular problems

[Manchesters]

I work for a vet and we often spay and neuter dogs at an eary age around 16 weeks we have never had a single problem with these animals and not only that they often live into late age of life with no problems the problem comes with not spay/neutering early enough such as cancer and uterine/testicular problems

I hate to be the one to bust the myth, but as far as males that are not neutered developing testicular cancer, I have heard of more cases of humans with it than any whole male dog. Over the years I have never had a male dog develop any type of cancer for that matter.

Now don't get me wrong---I am all in favor of neutering males (2 legged as well as 4 legged, rofl) but not because of the cancer myth. It is a much kinder gentler life for neutered males. Especially if there are females around that will be going into heat. But I always waited till at least 8-9 months to neuter to allow the male to get the full developmental use of the hormones. Males that are neutered too early stay perpetual emotional infants. As far as the females, I prefer to wait until they are at least 10-12 months old, for the same developmental reasons. Most of the females I have don't get their first heat until about 14-16 month old anyway.

It seems to me to just be too traumatic to do to a baby puppy. And you sure couldn't do it on a Toy Manchester at that young an age. They only weigh about 1 1/2 pounds! The females that is.

[showpug]

I hate to be the one to bust the myth, but as far as males that are not neutered developing testicular cancer, I have heard of more cases of humans with it than any whole male dog. Over the years I have never had a male dog develop any type of cancer for that matter.

Now don't get me wrong---I am all in favor of neutering males (2 legged as well as 4 legged, rofl) but not because of the cancer myth. It is a much kinder gentler life for neutered males. Especially if there are females around that will be going into heat. But I always waited till at least 8-9 months to neuter to allow the male to get the full developmental use of the hormones. Males that are neutered too early stay perpetual emotional infants. As far as the females, I prefer to wait until they are at least 10-12 months old, for the same developmental reasons. Most of the females I have don't get their first heat until about 14-16 month old anyway.

It seems to me to just be too traumatic to do to a baby puppy. And you sure couldn't do it on a Toy Manchester at that young an age. They only weigh about 1 1/2 pounds! The females that is.

I worked in a vet clinic for many years and I can remember at least 5 cases of testicular cancer in old males that were never neutered.

[Richie12345]

hmm interesting, Manchesters. You make a good arguement, in my opinion. But I am not a vet...

[Adrienne]

Maybe they will never reach their destined size if they are neutered sooner but I have never heard of a male dog being an emotional infant it's whole life due to early neutering. If anything neutering before reaching physical maturity will cut out some of the undesired traits that males pick up as they mature, like lifting the leg to mark, some forms of aggression, and all those horrible urges to find a female in heat.

[wildwings811]

I understand that some breeds are either to small or inmature to spay/ neuter at 16 weeks of age (ecspecially a toy Manchester) but I too have seen many cases of older male dogs who were not neutered at an early age and have developed testicualr cancer ecspecially in breeds that are prone to cancer (Dobermans, Boxers, etc...) but not only have I seen many cases of cancer I have also seen many intact males, hit by car (due to trying to find a female in heat), injured in dog fights (due to male aggresion), and being dropped at rescues or shelters due to the fact that "he pees on my tires" or "he is peeing all over my house (marking his teritory)" if he was neutered at an early age he never would have devoloped this habit not only that if the dog is going to be a pet who cares if he is a little feminine he is just a pet after all early neutering only changes the dogs looks (no testicles dangling) and prevents habits that intact males develop not it's behavior