Dog and Cat Reproductive Diseases: Signs and Routine Medication

1 Orchitis, Epididymitis, and Tunica Vaginalitis

These often occur together, on one or both sides, acute or chronic. Acute: the testicle swells, with edema, local heat, and pain; brucellar orchitis fills the scrotum with exudate; purulent or tuberculous orchitis forms abscesses that burst and can cause funiculitis or peritonitis. Suppurative orchitis in dogs brings dullness, fever, and dead sperm or pus in semen.

Treatment: early acute orchitis/epididymitis uses antibiotics (e.g., Wipuda anti-inflammatory, mixed in wet food or dissolved and syringe-fed) to prevent infection. During antibiotic therapy also give vitamins A, C, D, E, or a multivitamin tablet — though that tablet lacks C, so add C separately.

2 Prostatic Hypertrophy, Cysts, and Prostatitis

Hypertrophy mostly hits older toms, causing straining, tenesmus, or constipation, sometimes with scanty blood and a full bladder; castration is the most effective fix.

A congenital prostatic malformation with adenomatous hypertrophy is a prostatic cyst; if large enough to press the rectum and urethra and get infected, it becomes prostatitis, usually secondary to UTI, catarrhal or purulent. Early prostatitis raises ejaculate volume but lowers sperm vigor and concentration, with microbes in semen; bilateral inflammation pulls both testicles up, with dullness and fever above 40°C. Purulent prostatitis turns semen yellow, brown, or gray-green with white flocculent mucus and a foul smell.

Cysts need surgery; early prostatitis uses antibiotics (cefadroxil) to prevent secondary infection. Since UTIs easily seed prostatitis, prevent them with hydrochlorothiazide for urinary issues.

3 Vulvitis and Vaginitis

Vulvitis is on the outer vulva, common in bitches and easy to miss; signs are restlessness, local redness, pain, itch, and licking, with discharge that can cause dermatitis or eczema.

Vaginitis is inflammation of the vaginal mucosa and vestibule, common in multiparous bitches; restlessness, frequent vulvar licking, red swollen mucosa, and inflammatory discharge with a dog-attracting scent that allows mating out of season — often mistaken for heat.

Treatment is mainly to prevent secondary infection: clean locally with antibiotics and apply a preventive ointment; rinse with saline first to slow inflammation.

4 Endometritis and Pyometra Syndrome

Endometritis is inflammation of the uterine lining, easily from bacterial infection at birth or postpartum. Acute: fever, dullness, anorexia, more drinking, vomiting, diarrhea, and much discharge (worse when lying down). Chronic: abnormal or no heat, hard to conceive, easy miscarriage; few general signs.

Pyometra syndrome includes endometritis and pyometra; signs are dullness, anorexia, vomiting, polyuria/polydipsia, and smelly vulvar discharge.

Treatment centers on clearing inflammation; for mild cases oral enrofloxacin (broad-spectrum, targets uterine and postpartum infection, inhibits Corynebacterium pyogenes), dogs/cats 2.5–5 mg/kg twice daily for 3–5 days. After birth or uterine treatment, a uterine-recovery tablet helps restore blood and energy, immunity, and appetite, and aids anti-inflammatory drainage and recovery. Severe cases may need ovariohysterectomy. Through treatment, support resistance and uterine function.

5 Mastitis and Omphalitis

Mastitis comes from mammary infection by pathogens; older pets get chronic mastitis from hormone imbalance — fibrous hard lumps, atrophy, lost lactation. Acute early: red, swollen, taut udder, and the mother may refuse nursing with lowered yield.

As it advances, lumps form with fever and anorexia; squeezing may yield blood-tinged milk. Treatment is antibacterial; chronic mastitis may need the affected gland removed.

Most reproductive diseases hurt fertility, especially uterine disease in females. They are overlooked because signs hide, but the quieter the disease the more harm it can do — take them seriously. For other questions, consult an online vet.