Why Does Your Dog Keep Getting UTIs and Infections?

If your female dog has been scooting, licking at herself constantly, or dealing with repeat UTIs, a hooded vulva might be the reason. It’s a common anatomical issue where folds of skin partially cover the vulva, creating a warm, moist pocket where bacteria thrive. That sets the stage for skin fold infections, vaginitis, and recurring UTIs. The good news is that it’s manageable, and in persistent cases, corrective surgery works well.

How would I know my dog may have a hooded vulva?

Most owners don’t notice the anatomy itself at first. What they notice is that something keeps going wrong, and the usual treatments only fix it temporarily. Here’s what to watch for:

• Scooting or dragging her rear on the floor: A classic sign of irritation or discomfort in the area.
• Excessive licking at the genital area: Your dog is trying to soothe something that’s bothering her.
• Foul odor: A persistent smell coming from the vulvar area, even after bathing.
• Redness, swelling, or discharge around the vulva: Signs that the skin is irritated or infected.
• Frequent urination or straining to go: This can point to a UTI developing alongside the skin issue.
• Leaking urine: Some dogs with a hooded vulva develop urinary incontinence, meaning urine escapes without them trying to go.
• UTIs that keep coming back: The infection clears up with antibiotics, but returns within weeks or months.
• Skin irritation in the folds around the vulva: The trapped moisture creates the perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to overgrow, leading to a persistent skin infection your vet might call perivulvar dermatitis.

If any of these sound familiar, especially the recurring infections, it’s worth asking your vet to take a closer look at your dog’s vulvar anatomy. The symptoms alone won’t tell you the cause, but they’re a strong enough signal to investigate.

What causes a hooded vulva, and which dogs are most at risk?

A hooded or recessed vulva is a conformational issue, meaning it comes down to how a dog is physically built. Some dogs are born with more prominent skin folds in this area, and others develop the problem as they gain weight. Here’s what tends to increase the risk:

• Being overweight or obese: Extra body fat increases the skin folds around the vulva, making the problem worse. Weight loss alone can sometimes resolve mild cases entirely.
• Spay status: Dogs spayed before their first heat cycle sometimes develop a juvenile vulva because the hormonal changes that help mature vulvar tissue never fully happen.
• Breed: Medium-to-large breeds and dogs with naturally heavy or wrinkled skin (like Bulldogs, Pugs, Labrador Retrievers, and similar builds) tend to see this more often.
• Genetics: Some dogs are simply built this way regardless of weight or spay history.

How do vets diagnosis and treat a hooded vulva?

Diagnosis is straightforward. Your vet will examine the vulvar anatomy directly during a physical exam and assess how much the skin folds are overlapping. If there’s an active infection, they’ll likely take a urine sample to check for a UTI or a skin swab to figure out what’s causing the irritation.

Medical management

If the anatomy isn’t severely recessed and infections are manageable, your vet will usually try a conservative approach first. That typically means cleaning the skin folds regularly with medicated wipes or flushes to reduce bacterial buildup, treating any active infections with topical or oral antibiotics, and addressing yeast if that’s part of the picture. Weight loss is often part of the plan too. In mild to moderate cases, reducing excess body fat can actually shrink the depth of the skin fold enough to make a real difference on its own.

The goal with medical management is to keep the area clean and dry, treat infections early, and reduce the conditions that allow bacteria to thrive. It won’t change the underlying anatomy, but it can keep symptoms under control for a long time.

Vulvoplasty (episioplasty): the surgical option

When medical management stops working, or when the anatomy is causing repeated infections and discomfort despite everyone’s best efforts, surgery becomes the better path. A vulvoplasty, also called an episioplasty, removes the excess skin fold surrounding the vulva so it’s no longer recessed or covered. Once that pocket of trapped moisture is gone, the cycle of recurring infections usually stops with it. Your vet will refer you to a surgeon if this is the right next step for your dog.

Vulvoplasty cost and what recovery actually looks like

What does vulvoplasty cost?

Vulvoplasty typically runs between $500 and $2,000 or more, depending on where you live, whether it’s performed by a general vet or a board-certified surgeon, the complexity of the anatomy, and what pre-surgical workup is needed. Specialty referral centers and high-cost-of-living cities tend to sit at the higher end. Add in repeat UTI workups and ongoing medical management over your dog’s lifetime, and the total can climb significantly.

Is a hooded vulva painful for dogs?

The condition itself can cause real discomfort, especially when there’s an active skin fold infection or UTI. The surgery involves general anesthesia and sutures, so there’s some post-operative soreness, but most dogs recover without major complications. Pain medication is typically sent home for the first few days.

Recovery timeline

Timeframe	What to expect
Days 1–3	Your dog will be groggy and sore. Rest is essential. She’ll need a cone to stop her from licking the incision site.
Days 4–10	Activity stays restricted. Short, leashed walks only. No running, jumping, or rough play. Keep the incision clean and dry.
Days 10–14	Sutures are typically removed at a follow-up appointment. Your vet will assess how healing is progressing.
Weeks 2–3	Most dogs return to normal activity once the vet gives the all-clear. Full healing of deeper tissue takes a little longer.

Success rates for vulvoplasty are high, particularly when dogs go into surgery at a healthy weight. It’s one more reason weight management matters so much with this condition.

Does pet insurance cover a hooded vulva?

Yes, a hooded vulva is eligible for coverage under a Lemonade Pet accident and illness policy, as long as the condition isn’t pre-existing. That means your dog shouldn’t be showing any signs or symptoms before your policy starts or during your waiting period.

Between recurring UTI workups, medicated treatments, and potentially a vulvoplasty, the costs of managing a hooded vulva add up fast. Getting coverage in place while your dog is healthy is what makes it actually useful when you need it.

Before we go

A hooded or recessed vulva is uncomfortable for your dog and frustrating to manage, but it’s treatable. Start with your vet: they’ll confirm the diagnosis, rule out active infections, and help you decide whether conservative management or surgery is the right path. If your dog is carrying extra weight, that’s the first place to focus.

And if you’ve been putting off getting pet insurance, this is a good reminder of why enrolling before problems show up is the move that actually protects you.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of the policies issued, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states. Please note that statements about coverages, policy management, claims processes, Giveback, and customer support apply to policies underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Company or Metromile Insurance Company, a Lemonade company, sold by Lemonade Insurance Agency, LLC.  The statements do not apply to policies underwritten by other carriers.