A Hooded Vulva

**Kratty** · 08-22-2007, 03:57 PM

I got into a lengthy discussion with my vet about incontinence, today. In our discussions, they were saying that in female dobermans, they see that a hooded vulva is one of the most common cause that leads to incontinence. I always read that incontinence was due to a hormonal defiency, not a hooded vulva. They also indicated that they are seeing hooded vulva in dobermans these days. I don’t totally buy this right now. Have any of your veteran owners ran into your doberman with a hooded vulvas these days being so significant and causing problems. I can understand that an excessive hood could lead to a urinary tract infection, which then can contribute to excessive urination, but I have not seen this discussed out there as a problem. So is this common in females that they have an excessive hood around the vulva. What do you think?

**PeeWeesMama** · 08-22-2007, 04:07 PM

Gracie has an extreme hooded vulva, the only problem it presents (in her case) is irritation around her vulva. So when this happens I clean it with baby wipes and keep an eye on it. She has never had an IUT or any other infection. I had her in one day to see the Vet, not my regular but his associate and asked her about it and she said it could be tacked up. I never had anything done about it and my regular Vet never said anything. Grace leaks when she sleeps. My Vet has never made the correlation between the two...

Edit to add: Grace is 5 she started leaking 6 mos ago, she is spayed

MaryAndDobes · 08-22-2007, 04:28 PM

There are all kinds of reasons for incontinence. Hormonal, as you said. I've known bitches that responded very well to chiropractic adjustments. Some respond to removing grains/corn from the diet. Lately, I've been finding out that thyroid might be linked to incontinence. In any event, it doesn't appear to be just one problem affecting all dogs. Sometimes it takes some testing and trying different things to pinpoint the cause in various dogs.

Murreydobe · 08-22-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kratty

I got into a lengthy discussion with my vet about incontinence, today. In our discussions, they were saying that in female dobermans, they see that a hooded vulva is one of the most common cause that leads to incontinence. I always read that incontinence was due to a hormonal defiency, not a hooded vulva. They also indicated that they are seeing hooded vulva in dobermans these days. I don’t totally buy this right now. Have any of your veteran owners ran into your doberman with a hooded vulvas these days being so significant and causing problems. I can understand that an excessive hood could lead to a urinary tract infection, which then can contribute to excessive urination, but I have not seen this discussed out there as a problem. So is this common in females that they have an excessive hood around the vulva. What do you think?

Inverted vulvas aren't uncommon in doberman bitches. Generally it's recommended that people wait to spay bitches affected with this until after their first season-many times this will rectify the situation. If not, there's reconstructive surgery that can be done.

I agree with Mary-I think there are many reasons why bitches can become incontinent...hormonal, dietary, etc.

**TracyJo** · 08-22-2007, 07:28 PM

My Pit, Storm had a hooded vulva. She leaked when she slept but I never put the two together and neither did any vet. Like Gracie, the biggest issue was irritation around the area. She was spayed around 5 months and started leaking immediately after.

Dobemom2b · 08-22-2007, 09:20 PM

When I had foster shar-peis one of them had a hooded vulva but never had leaking problems. Irritation around the area was a problem but was usually avoidable by using baby wipes a couple of times a day to clean the area.

**Kratty** · 08-23-2007, 12:03 PM

Thanks everyone. I just find it hard to believe that a hooded vulva is becoming so prominent in the breed these days, according my vets. I am presuming that most of you do not see this in your females. And ofcourse my vets suggestion is to have a "little hood tuck" to resolve the problem.

**velmadobe** · 08-23-2007, 12:19 PM

Louise has a little bit of a hood, but it has never caused any problem. I do think that letting a bitch go through a heat can really help prevent future problems often enough to make it worth the wait.

Velma has no hood at all, and the only reason I even realize that Louise does have a slight one is in comparing the two.

JavasMom · 08-23-2007, 12:26 PM

Have never heard of this issue until now. Our breeder asked that we wait until after Java's first heat before we had her spayed and we did just that. No incontinence issues to date (knock wood).

Sounds like something you'd hear about on 'Dr. 90210'...

GWHayduke · 08-23-2007, 04:59 PM

Can you explain a hooded vulva to me? My vet mentioned that my dog's vulva was a bit tucked under, but the way she described it was that it didn't protrude outward as much as it should.

Additionally, she recommended that we spay Ari BEFORE her first heat, in order to decrease her risk of cancer later in life.