Hooded (Recessed) Vulva

What is it?

With a recessed vulva (also called a hooded, juvenile, or hypoplastic vulva), skin folds partly cover a female dog's vulva. Genetics are thought to play a role, and it is more common in medium to large breeds, especially overweight dogs. Moisture and warmth trapped in the folds allow bacteria to grow, causing skin-fold inflammation (perivulvar dermatitis), vaginitis, or bladder infections.

What signs should I watch for?

Some dogs have no signs. Others scoot, lick the vulva a lot, or have a foul odor from the area. Some leak urine while sleeping. Signs of a urinary tract infection include accidents in a house-trained dog, straining to urinate, blood in the urine, or foul-smelling urine.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

Your veterinarian can see the problem on a physical exam and may find moisture and debris in the folds. Blood work, urinalysis, urine culture, X-rays or ultrasound, and skin swabs check for infection and other bladder problems. Infections are treated with topical or oral antibiotics. Mild cases can be managed with medicated wipes or shampoos and, for overweight dogs, weight loss to shrink the folds. For severe or recurring cases, a surgery called vulvoplasty (episioplasty) restores a more normal shape.

Can it be prevented, and what's the outlook?

• Keeping your dog at a healthy weight and the area clean and dry helps.
• If the underlying fold is not addressed, infections tend to come back.
• Dogs that have a vulvoplasty usually improve significantly; with medical management alone, the outlook depends on severity and response.