@elbrant That's good to know! We are in Kansas where pollen and allergies are rampant lol, I am wondering more if that's what it is since the build-up isn't increasing very quickly at all. Seems to be worse after we spend a while outside.
Anybody Have Experience with an Inverted / Recessed Vulva in a Puppy?
-
I'm sorry. I don't have any experience with this, but if i'm reading right, there's a 50% chance having her come into season would correct it? I think i'd try that, you can always have the surgery done when she's being spayed.
-
Thanks for the responses! I had never heard of it, either, and it doesn't seem to run in Ava's line. The vulva can swell and "pop out" during her first heat… or not. There's no way to tell. Apparently, Ava's case is fairly serious and self-correction seems unlikely. The vet also said that letting them come in season doesn't help that many pups... and most pups don't have recurring UTIs before or after. Those that have UTIs before are likely to be plagued with them for life. Ava's case is unfortunate. I'm just devastated by this. I really am.
-
I spent quite a bit of time researching it, because it's not something anyone seems to know much about. Going through a heat cycle seems to help about half the pups, and some take two heat cycles to make a difference. For most, it doesn't become "normal"– it just corrects enough to lessen or alleviate the chronic UTI problem. Sometimes, the vulva swells and pops out, then goes back to the way it was. Seems like a big crap shoot, and some are luckier than others.
-
IMO (and this is just my opinion), unless your Vet has had lots of experience with this and with this in the Basenji breed, I would still let her go into season and see what happens. Some breeds do not swell that much and maybe that is why your Vet is thinking it might not work, Basenjis on the other hand, in my experience, swell LOTS… therefore I would think that it could resolve itself.
-
My vet hasn't had a lot of experience with this, Pat, and Ava is only one of two Basenjis in the practice. Ava has been examined numerous times, and nobody ever mentioned anything about this– and of course, I had never heard of it! I Googled it after a woman mentioned it at the puppy park (what did we ever do without the Internet!) and saw that was Ava's problem. The vet agreed. I think she believes that Ava won't swell enough to overcome the deep recess, but it's encouraging to know that Bs swell a lot! It's a miracle that I haven't already had her spayed, since the appointment was originally scheduled right after Memorial Day and was postponed. I hope it resolves itself. It will be so awful for Ava if it doesn't.
So far, I haven't heard of a single Basenji that has had this.
-
I agree with Pat, basenjis swell a lot, so do whippets, they both look like they have a cauliflower sticking out for a week or so.
-
So sorry to hear of the issue Ava is having. Sometimes, when it rains..it pours. You haven't had the easiest time with her and this is just not the news you needed. I would agree, that the chance of this fixing itself (however small) is worth letting her go into heat once..even if it does increase the risks by not spaying her before her first heat. I know it'll be a terrible time in between with her getting the UTI's and the stress you are having with it..but perhaps it's worth a shot?? Tough call to make
-
Thanks, everyone! Yes, I had pretty much decided to let her come into season and see what happens. Not much choice, really, if there's even a chance it will help her. I feel more optimistic now that I've heard how much Bs swell. LOL, Lisa– you just don't learn these things as a boy mom! It will be a challenge, since there are two large male dogs on both sides of us. The pair on one side are untrained, unruly and left outside all the time (not well treated at all, poor things). They dig out under their fence and roam, so I anticipate having to be extra cautious or they could tunnel under mine. Ava doesn't go out alone, but still. They'll drive us crazy!
I wonder if some of Ava's behaviorial issues have been because she doesn't feel well. She appears to feel okay, eats well and has energy to spare, but all these infections have to be causing discomfort. Maybe this is why she is so restless at night. Neither one of us ever gets a good night's sleep, because Ava just won't lie still.
Chealsie, you've had a time of it, too, with Oakley. It's been one downpour after another... Good thing we love them so much!
-
I was just going to say that I too wonder if some her behavior issues are because she has never really felt well….. time will tell, fingers/toes crossed that this helps...
What a pain it sounds like with your neighbors... I am guessing that they are not fixed either? And if that is the case, for sure you will need to be extra cautious... My friend Jeff, had a neighbor with a German Short Hair Pointer, not fixed... he finally had to hot wire the fence top, middle and bottom, because when his bitch came in season, he would "eat" through the fence...
We say that they look like little white tail deer when the bitches are in season!
-
I wonder if some of Ava's behaviorial issues have been because she doesn't feel well.
I would be willing to bet that is a part of the puzzle. What does your breeder think about this most recent turn of events? Poor Ava, poor you! What a tough time you both have had. But you know, sometimes the ones that are the most trouble turn out in the long run to be the most worthwhile. (certainly the most memorable!) Fingers crossed your problems are resolved and you have many happy, trouble free years together.
-
It's one of those unfortunate things that happen, and nobody seems to know why. It has certainly made housetraining difficult, and I'm sure it must make Ava feel insecure and needy. But she's a very active, playful girl and she hasn't had an accident in her crate for more than a month, though she does still wet the bed sometimes. I would get up and take her out, if she'd just give me a nudge!
And you're right, Pat, the dogs next door aren't fixed. They're only two years old and have irresponsible owners. I can see this being a problem, because they already bark like crazy whenever Ava goes down on that side of the yard.
I wonder if it's too late to consider showing her, since I won't be spaying her right away? She has basic obedience training, but nothing else. And I guess she would be considered to have a deformity, so not show quality?
-
Would her temperament and behavior allow you to show her? I know my breeder said Oakley could have been shown..but he wouldn't have enjoyed it..and I wouldn't have been able to bc of who he is
-
Not sure, Chealsie; probably not. She would need to work with someone a lot more skilled than me! She is easily distracted and a handful, but she has calmed down some, and admittedly, I'm not a great handler. Both her parents were GCh., so I just wondered how she would do.
-
Why not try her in Companion Dog Shows? Butu really enjoys them, and they exhaust him…a tired Basenji is a Good Basenji...
-
Both her parents were Grand Ch., and her breeder was planning on showing her, so I just wondered how she would do.
Would the breeder show her for you? The easiest shows I went to with my one and only winning Basenji were the ones where her breeder handled her. I have little experience handling, and my girl would either chase or go around the ring looking behind her! But puppies get a lot of leeway from some judges. She took Best of Opposite at a sighthound specialty over several finished bitches despite my lack of skill, and I was so proud of her! You should try it. I bet Ava is a winner!
-
It has certainly made housetraining difficult, and I'm sure it must make Ava feel insecure and needy. But she's a very active, playful girl and she hasn't had an accident in her crate for more than a month, though she does still wet the bed sometimes. I would get up and take her out, if she'd just give me a nudge!
I wonder if it's too late to consider showing her, since I won't be spaying her right away? She has basic obedience training, but nothing else. And I guess she would be considered to have a deformity, so not show quality?
I will say that when Zest! was in season she tended to pee in her crate. Not in the house, just when she was in her crate. (easy enough to clean!) And she did become a bit more needy when in season.
It is certainly not too late to consider showing her. As long as she doesn't mind being handled by total strangers and doesn't mind being in crowds and other dogs (not that she will have to interact, just be around other dogs), I'd say try it. If you're in a nice area, you'll probably enjoy getting to know other basenji owners. Most of the basenji show people are nice and helpful. If you decide you or Ava don't enjoy it, you certainly don't have to go back.
-
Why not try her in Companion Dog Shows? Butu really enjoys them, and they exhaust him…a tired Basenji is a Good Basenji...
I'm not sure we have those on this side of the pond.
-
I wonder if some of Ava's behaviorial issues have been because she doesn't feel well. She appears to feel okay, eats well and has energy to spare, but all these infections have to be causing discomfort. Maybe this is why she is so restless at night. Neither one of us ever gets a good night's sleep, because Ava just won't lie still.
Goodness yes. That's why I think allergies are a HUGE consideration for breeders. Being itchy and uncomfortable all the time has got to be a miserable existence and that in turn has to cause temperament problems. And training/concentration issues. And lack of sleep, I can attest that that makes concentration very difficult the next day.
(I should clarify, that when I said "breeders" I was not talking about Ava's or even any basenji breeders. I know of some non-basenji breeders who treat allergies as a minor consideration in their breeding program. sad. )
-
I won my first BOW when I was 17 and knew very little.
I finished Cody myself and really would love to do the same for Elliot. It's fun to show your own dog but yes it is much easier to get points when a pro or the breeder handles. Tad will handle any of his dogs so I'd ask him.
(if you lived closer I'd LOVE to do it.. I'm no pro but I love it and I REALLY wanted Ava's brother! haha)We are currently treating a Greyhound (retired racer) with a recessed vulva who is already spayed so waiting for a heat cycle is not an option for her. She's had many UTIs and her owners are planning on having the surgery done. We also have a huge hound mix with the same condition but her's is most likely due to her extreme obesity. I think I'd wait for her first cycle if she were my dog.
-
If you think you would like to show her, send her home to her breeder when she comes in season and he will train her for you, that would solve your problem of having the boy dogs next door going nuts too. We scheduled our vacation last yr for when our two girls would be in season and dropped them off at Tads for the 3 weeks while we went to Europe. Came back and Tempest was already done her season and Gambit on her last couple days. They had a nice vacation with their Daddy and we did not have to worry about anything happening at home with potential roaming dogs outside our fence. I would recommend walking her in your yard on a leash for extra safety when she is in season.
