Can Daisy have cystitis?

[daisysmom]

Poor Daisy - she is really suffering. She is licking herself in obvious agony and I think it is mainly after she pees - but she does it other times. We are traveling at the moment so I can't call a vet to ask. I didn't pay too much attention at first because I didn't know where she was licking but now she will jump awake on occasion and violently lick herself. She doesn't have any fleas or ticks. I have tried to inspect her but don't really see anything so it must be inside. Is this a common thing? I was tempted to put a little cortisone cream on her but don't want to do that until I know it would be OK. Any suggestions?

[BabyElephant]

It could be cystitis but with that they will also urinate frequently - is she doing this as well? If not it could be something else.

Dogs with cystitis need to drink a lot of water (easier said than done I know) and have the cause of the cystitis treated. There are several causes of cystitis so if it doesn't clear up in a few days she will need to see a vet.

[daisysmom]

Thanks Baby Elephant. Actually she isn't urinating that frequently so it doesn't sound like cystitis I know. As I said we are traveling now and sometimes she has to pee on long grass etc - could something like that just irritate her? We won't be home for another week and there aren't any vets around here unfortunately. Do you think a little cortisone cream would help if it is just an irritation?

[BabyElephant]

What breed is daisy? Is there any chance she could have got a grass seed stuck in her fur around there which is irritating her or something?

Personally if there is nothing visibily red on the outside of her vulva then I wouldn't put anything on it but that's just me.

[mara]

Could it be the "rear-end" glands? Does she have any anal swelling?

[daisysmom]

Daisy if a mini doxie so any grass is tall to her!! Her anal glands don't seem to be swollen at all and she isn't really licking her rear end. Her bowel movements are fine - she just gets kibble so they are firm and hasn't had a problem to date with her anal glands. She is 3 yrs so far so good in that area. I will try to inspect to see if she has something stuck and there doesn't seem to be any redness outside of the vulva. We were on the beach and there were sand fleas - perhaps she was bitten by one of those but she is up to date with her protection for fleas.