Advice needed please

[Loony Lola]

Lola is 18 weeks today but she doesn't seem to keep herself very clean.... constantly has dried wee down the inside of her legs .....and her bits aren't very clean .... is this something she will grow out of and am I not helping by cleaning her myself therefore she doesn't learn to do it herself. ....just worried it will get really matted if I leave it.

Have seen her cleaning herself but just a very quick lick.

Sorry if being ignorant but new to the cocker breed ( always had labs up till now )

[lescef]

Hi. I don't have a specific answer, but I think some dogs lick themselves more than others. Maddie over licks herself and ends up sore but Bramble doesn't lick much at all.
It is necessary to keep the area free of hair, but I wouldn't imagine at 18 weeks there is much.
Could it be the way she crouches I wonder. Hope fully someone else will have more advice.

[Holly Berry]

She will eventually keep herself clean, most of the puppies I've had haven't cleaned themselves at first.

Just watch out for little spots that may appear, it happens if the delicate skin gets irritated, a bit like nappy rash. Keep the area clean and dry then.

[daw]

Most dogs and puppies DO keep themselves clean so I think it is unusual.  I've never had a puppy nor dog that didn't. Two possibilities: first she could have an infection and I'd definitely get her to the vet with a sample and get that ruled out. Second do you crate her and does she have soiled bedding in the morning? A dog who can't keep itself clean overnight can develop tolerance of it. I know because a friend had a rescued beagle (18months) that had come from a laboratory where she was caged 20 hours a day. She reeked of urine and at first didn't bother- and would wet her own clean bed every night. But once she got the idea she had freedom and could 'go' outside she cleaned herself up and stayed that way.   

[Loony Lola]

Thanks for your prompt replies.

Lola is crated at night and dry. She wees and drinks regularly so fairly sure not an infection ... could be the way she crouches but the point raised about hair is interesting she has a very long patch of  hair directly where she wees from ... when looking at her from behind looks like a " boy" where it's matted to a point shape if that makes sense.... is that the hair that should be trimmed??

[daw]

I'd still be watchful - because drinking and weeing a lot can be a sign of infection!   

[Mudmagnets]

I have found puppies can also drink and wee a lot if they are on dry food. Only going by personal experience here as all mine have drunk excessively on dry food, but when I added some wet, such as Naturediet the need for water seems to subside and the weeing also lessens.

[elaine.e]

Although being dry at night makes it sound less like an infection than I originally thought when reading your first post, if she was mine I'd still be inclined to book her in with the vet and take a pee sample along. If nothing else, it will eliminate that as a cause, and if it turns out to be an infection she'll need antibiotics to clear it.

[Loony Lola]

Thanks will book her in just to be on the safe side..... she has always managed to get the wee down her legs though... hopefully she will start to clean herself more thoroughly soon   

[lescef]

I do trim that very long hair very carefully,  also the hair growing around it and the hair down the inside of the legs.
I did wonder about infection too. I'd get her checked out and also to make sure her anatomy is correct - if you see what I mean!