discharge from female boxer

Question
QUESTION: My boxer is 4 years old.  She has been having some discharge from her vagina.  It has not been a lot but has increased the last few days.  I took her to the vet and after $500 I still do not know what is wrong.  She has a good appetite, is as playful and loony as usual.  She is on antibiotics now, but I would like to know what the problem could be.

ANSWER: $500 and no answers??????????

Did he do a culture swab?

There has to be a reason, and testing will find the reason.

Female dogs just don't get bacterial infections, nor do they get uterous infections like women.

You need to get a new vet.

I've said it before a million times, if a vet can not find a cause for an illness-- get another vet. One that will test her and find out the problem to treat it.

I will say, if she is not spayed, it could easily be uterine cancer.

Boxers are more prone to uterine cancer unspayed than other breeds.

It is possible the discharge is symptomatic of cancer.

This is life threatening, and of course, if it should be cancer, she will need a hysterectomy and chemo therapy treatments if caught early enough.

Has she had normal heat cycles? Twice a year, usually 5-6 months apart?

Has she ever had a litter?

These are factors.

Please call around and talk to vets (or their assistants) and find one you are comfortable with-- preferably a Boxer-savvy vet. Get her in, ask for a "pap smear" and go from there.

I know you might not want to hear the advise of "another vet" but I highly recommend it. The vet that took your $500 and had no answers should have his license yanked.

I know that sounds harsh, but it boils my blood to hear about vets bleeding people dry and no resolution!

Please take her to another vet. Ask your family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, church congregation members, what vets they use, and the quality of service. Call around.

Please explain that you have shelled out $500 and no diagnose as yet and want answers but not at the expense of another $500 for nothing.

Good luck in your selection and let me know what the NEW vet did and what it is that is causing her discharge.

I might add, that if it is near her heat, she can have hormonal secretions that discharge before bleeding, and if pregnant (if there's a possibility) there is a discharge. These are possibilities depending on her heat or exposure to pregnancy.





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The vet hasn't gotten the results back yet.  The money was for extensive testing and antibiotics.  Please forgive me for being vague.  Sammy has been spayed.  Does that rule out cancer?

Answer
No, being spayed doesn't rule it out, however, lessens the chances of it being cancer.

Boxers are prone to all types of cancer, so it always raises a red flag.

I am interest to know what it is, not only for my knowledge, but to help others should this issue be asked again.

I hope it is something simple like a bacterial infection of her bladder or something that can be treated with antibiotics and cleared up without issue.

I will pray for her wellness, as I always do our sick Boxer babies.