My Shih Tzu puppy has combined openings. Is it serious? What to do?

Please have this puppy seen by a veterinarian. This looks like a congenital abnormality or an ulcerative lesion. You need to make sure this puppy is able to urinate and defecate normally and is not in pain.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I unfortunately cannot tell much about how the anus is functioning by looking at a photo. Testing has to be done in person by a vet to see if the sphincter is responding. I do not see a prolapse in this photo. I agree the anal opening looks flaccid but that is all I can say. I strongly recommend you take him to a vet for an exam especially if you think he is straining. At 2 months old he is ready for his first vaccinations anyway and if he has not been dewormed already that needs to be done as well.

Based on this picture it doesn't look right, it looks like it is divided in two but it could be that the picture taken is misleading, i would recommend taking a couple more pictures from different angles so i can determine for sure if there is a problem or not.

Thank you for your question. If you have access to a veterinarian, I would go there now. It is a little difficult to tell from the picture, but this looks like it could possibly be a vaginal prolapse, meaning some of the tissue from inside the vagina has come out. The sooner this gets addressed the better the chance of recovery. Once it stays out, it can swell and get harder to put back inside. I hope Midge can get help soon!

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is very difficult for me to comment without at least seeing a photo of what you are referring to. Can you please post again with some photos? Is the hole in the prepuce (sheath) that holds the penis or is the hole in the penis itself? Thank you.

It sounds like your dog is experiencing either seizure or aneurysm like activity, or may be experiencing cardiorespiratory problems. Both of these warrant immediate attention and can result in death if they go untreated. Prognosis is unknown until more is known about the cause of the symptoms. While I understand your position, please understand that without attention this may not have a good outcome.

It could be that Zabby has an infection, but I see that she is unspayed and it could be that she is suffering from mammary tumors that have ruptured. It's quite serious that she has black thick pus in this area, and she should see a vet right away. The vet can diagnose what is causing this pus and can discuss treatment options with you. In dogs, there is a 50% chance that any mammary tumor is malignant, and surgery is needed if the tumor is malignant.