[Vaginitis in the bitch (author's transl)].

During a period of two and a half years (2 1/2), sixty-two patients wre submitted to the Department of Veterinary Obstetrics and Gynaecology, where a diagnosis of vaginitis was established. These patients often were young large dogs. Most of the females showed a vaginal discharge, although some bitches were only very attrative to males. There were no complaints concerning the general physical condition of the patients. On clinical examination, the vulva was found to be swollen. Exudation was also frequently observed, externally (vaginoscopy). Ninety per cent of the patients showed normal haemograms. On bacteriological examination, streptococci, E. coli and pasteurellae were often isolated. As a rule the bitches were treated locally (deeply intravaginal), the choice of the drug depending on the results of bacteriological examination. Another bacteriological examination was made after treatment. An inquiry was made into the results of treatment in these sixty-two dogs, wherever possible. On the other hand, the prognosis in those bitches in which bacteriological examination is negative at the time of discharge from the department is likely to be better than it is in those in which bacteriological examination is still positive at that time. The extent to which vaginitis may influence fertility is not known at the time of writing. The differential diagnosis of vaginitis and endometritis may present difficulties.