What Is Vaginal Hyperplasia?
Vaginal hyperplasia is an exaggerated swelling of the vaginal lining caused by the hormone estrogen during a dog’s heat cycle. The swollen tissue can bulge out of the vulva as a smooth, pink, donut- or tongue-shaped mass. It is sometimes called vaginal prolapse, although the tissue is overgrown rather than turned inside out.
Which Dogs Are at Risk?
- Young, intact female dogs, usually during their first few heat cycles
- Large and brachycephalic breeds such as Boxers, Mastiffs, Bulldogs, Labradors and German Shepherds
- Occasionally dogs near the end of pregnancy, when hormone levels change
Signs
- A pink or red mass protruding from the vulva during or just after heat
- Licking the area
- Trouble urinating or straining
- Refusing to mate
Not the same as a tumor
Vaginal hyperplasia appears with heat and usually shrinks once the cycle ends. A mass that stays between heats, or appears in an older or spayed dog, needs a vet to rule out a tumor.
Treatment
- Keeping the tissue clean and moist and preventing licking with a cone
- Waiting for it to shrink as the heat cycle ends, often within a few weeks
- Spaying, which prevents it coming back in nearly all dogs; see the dog spay guide
- Surgical removal of the tissue if it is badly damaged or blocks urination
Learn more about the cycle that triggers it in our dog in heat guide. Other reproductive conditions in female dogs include pyometra and mastitis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will vaginal hyperplasia go away on its own?
It often shrinks after the heat cycle ends, but it tends to return with the next heat. Spaying is the usual long-term fix.
Can a dog with vaginal hyperplasia be bred?
Natural mating is often difficult, and the tendency may be inherited. Many vets advise against breeding affected dogs.
Is it painful?
The tissue itself is not usually very painful, but it can dry out, crack and get infected if it is exposed for a long time.
If you see tissue protruding from your dog’s vulva, have it checked to confirm the cause. Find a veterinary clinic near you for an exam.