A Hooded Vulva - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

Kratty · 08-22-2007, 02:57 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, 03:07 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, 03:28 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, 03:35 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, 06:28 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, 08:20 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, 11:03 AM

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.

**Fitzmar Dobermans** · 08-23-2007, 11:19 AM

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, 11:26 AM

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, 03:59 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.

PeeWeesMama · 08-23-2007, 04:43 PM

Here is Gracies, you can't even see hers!!!!

**Jenny** · 08-23-2007, 05:18 PM

Does Gracie know you put this picture up???

hbwright · 08-23-2007, 05:20 PM

LMBO!!! That is too funny. I'm so glad Jordan is laying down behind me with his eyes closed. He is WAY too young for this type of pornography.

Cleo had what I think you may be talking about but I don't remember it being called a hooded vulva. The vets told me as a baby that it may correct itself but it stayed that way through her life. She never had incontinence problems with it, even at an advanced age.

dobebug · 08-23-2007, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeeWeesMama

Here is Gracies, you can't even see hers!!!!

Hi PeeWeesMama,

One that extreme, particularly if the bitch has recurrent UTI's or repeated cases of vaginitis as a puppy our vets generally recommend waiting through the first season before spaying..that first heat often changes things a lot.

I don't think there is a bigger incidence of hooded vulvas now than there has ever been. There are some breeds in which it seems to be common but in most cases waiting for one season to spay takes care of the problem without surgery.

And yes, all things being equal--it's probably just as well to spay before the first heat since it does radically reduce the incidence of several cancers and completely eliminate the possibility of pyometra and several other uterine and/or ovarian problems.

I don't think I've ever seen anything but speculation that hooded vulva's may contribute to incontinence. That is, no well designed studies.

hbwright · 08-23-2007, 05:54 PM

Ariel loved your picture PeeWee's mom.

Kratty · 08-24-2007, 06:56 AM

PWMama, I was speakless when I saw you pics, but that does explain it. LMAO.

JavasMom · 08-24-2007, 08:17 AM

Maybe the reason some breeders suggest waiting after the frist season is for all the hormones to kick in and allow for the sex organs to develop to maturity? As time has passed since Java's spay surgery, have noticed that her vulva has decreased in size as well.

I've also read that the spaying before the first season is recommended to prevent mammary cancer down the road, but also that if done before the second does not add significantly to the risk. Also some differences of opinion on how early spaying influences bone growth in the legs? (I know this topic has been discussed in the past.)

RedstarDog · 08-25-2007, 07:39 PM

well then, Stella leaks every now and then when she sleeps, especially if she has had a few bowls of water and not been outside. she refuses to go outside do her business when its raining or its been raining or when there are any signs that it might rain. ive found small wet spots on her couch at times, maybe a total of 4 or 5 in the last year. i never paid it too much mind, i just thought it was from holding it and not wanting to leave the house. now im not entirely sure what a hooded vulva is, but i know stella's behind does not look like Gracies, you can see a distinct bulge below her anus. Stella is spayed also so is there reason to worry? is this progressive? can it be fixed?
- Thanks all

**Jenny** · 08-25-2007, 07:52 PM

Isabelle leaks - she is on meds & they have worked well for her - she doen't leak on the meds.

Murreydobe · 08-25-2007, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedstarDog

well then, Stella leaks every now and then when she sleeps, especially if she has had a few bowls of water and not been outside. she refuses to go outside do her business when its raining or its been raining or when there are any signs that it might rain. ive found small wet spots on her couch at times, maybe a total of 4 or 5 in the last year. i never paid it too much mind, i just thought it was from holding it and not wanting to leave the house. now im not entirely sure what a hooded vulva is, but i know stella's behind does not look like Gracies, you can see a distinct bulge below her anus. Stella is spayed also so is there reason to worry? is this progressive? can it be fixed?
- Thanks all

Could be it's just spayed bitch incontinence, which is pretty common.

Wbleyla · 08-22-2012, 02:26 PM

our dog kiki has been having trouble with ut infections and the such and out vet said it can be because she has a hooded vulva. i had never heard of it before. We got back this friday to talk about what we should do to help the dog out. i have been reading that some times the first heat cycle can help correct a hooded vulva and i know there is surgery for it too. Ill see what the vet says this Friday but i would rather just let kiki go through her first heat over getting surgery. She is only 5 months old now. Ill let you guys know what the vet says

Wylde · 08-22-2012, 03:13 PM

Yup, seeing it more often it seems like . I know a couple people who have had to have surgery on their females to correct the problem

Beaumont67 · 08-22-2012, 03:39 PM

Kratty - hooded vulva in dobermans these days...sorry, I don't KNOW what this means.
- please explain, to educate me

NOW - at recent time, our old girl Amy (11.5 y/o)...could no longer climb the staircase, to the second floor master bedroom...Dad & her, made our pernanent bed (untill she dies) in the livingroom...a junk leather couch came out and a $1,000 Futon came in.

Getting in senior years, she started to leak on her blanket (covering the new leather love seat) and when she layed down on the livingroom, oak plank floor.
- luckly for me, Sherryh posted a "life saver" tip
Now our AMY gets a "corn silk" capsul 1x/day...and her leaking is 98% gone.
(bottle of pills [she recommended] are $15 including $7 Canadian ship charges...& about a 5 month dober supply)
THANKS TO SHERRYH and DT MEMBERS...Amy's leaking is under control and so is her limping...now on Dasuquin also (which I learned about here).

alan j. · 08-22-2012, 03:47 PM

Since this is the general area of discussion... we have always been perplexed by this and have never run across anyone who could explains this. Our female dobe has always humped, not like a male would or the dominate type humping... we call it riding foot.. if you are sitting down she will back herself up over your knee or foot (if the legs are crossed) and start humping she has done this since she was pup still continues.
She is fixed and has never had a litter. In her younger days she would do it briefly or as much as you could tolerate run to the bed make a nest lay in it for abit and return like nothing just happened. strange, huh.
Has anyone witness or experienced this.