Canine vaginal and uterine bacterial flora.

Vaginal swab specimens were obtained from 41 prepuberal and 81 postpuberal bitches. Uterine swab specimens were obtained from 22 bitches at ovariohysterectomy and from 4 bitches during cesarean section. The specimens were cultured for aerobic bacteria. Most bitches harbored some type of bacteria in the vagina, but coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated more frequently from prepuberal bitches than from postpuberal bitches. Postpuberal bitches were placed in various groups, based on the stage of the estrous cycle at the time specimens were obtained. Differences in bacterial types isolated from the postpuberal groups were not statistically significant. Uterine culture results suggested that bitches do not normally harbor aerobic bacteria in the uterus.