An unusual outcome for fetal death in bitch: a report of a case

Abstract

In this report, an unusual condition of fetal maceration conveyed with retention of fetal debris was diagnosed 5-months after breeding in a hound bitch. A five-year-old, 13 kg weighted bitch was brought to Adnan Menderes University Animal Hospital with complaints of loss of appetite and abdominal distention, five months after breeding. Although presenting a distended abdomen and mammary glands, no signs of parturition have been reported. At surgery, a reddish free intra-abdominal fluid was suctioned, and hysterectomy was performed; ovaries were not excised to avoid any compromise of hunting performance. Fur and bone remnants floating in a brown-green, mucous and odorless fluid were detected at inspection of the uterus. In this case, the evaluation of the uterus showed that all the fetuses underwent maceration and autolysis at least 3 months after the pregnancy putative. Although it was seen that compatible with chronic uterine inflammation findings (leukocytosis and anemia), closed cervical position and odorless uterine content may be an unusual sequel to canine fetal death.

A case of fetal maceration in a dog

“…Bodh et al (2014) reported the adhesions that formed with uterine rupture and they suggested that it may be seen depending on the use of oxytocin, although adhesive areas in the uterus and omentum were detected without uterine rupture in our case as reported by Sagar et al (2017). While the body temperature was within the reference values in the presented case, the pyrexia was observed in the cases Begum et al (2019) and Erdoğan et al (2019). In the presented case, the fact that its body temperature did not increase was associated with the blood parameters were in the range of normal reference values and its general condition was not yet impaired.…”

“…While it has been stated in two different case reports that the swelling and tension in the mammaries in the abdominal region were remarkable (Begum et al 2019, Erdoğan et al 2019, no swelling and tension in the mammary glands was evident in the presented case. Although no foul-smelling vaginal discharge has been reported due to the closed cervix in other cases (Begum et al 2019, Erdoğan et al 2019, mucoussmelling whitish secretion was observed in the presented case. This suggests that the cervix was open in the presented case.…”

“…The use of ultrasonography in dogs is very important for the diagnosing early pregnancy, the determination of the viability of the fetus, the interpretation of the physiology or pathology of the genital organs, the prediction of the number, age and sex of fetus, the time of delivery and the imaging of postpartum uterus (Şendağ et al 2003, Yılmaz et al 2006, Erdoğan et al 2019. While it has been stated in two different case reports that the swelling and tension in the mammaries in the abdominal region were remarkable (Begum et al 2019, Erdoğan et al 2019, no swelling and tension in the mammary glands was evident in the presented case. Although no foul-smelling vaginal discharge has been reported due to the closed cervix in other cases (Begum et al 2019, Erdoğan et al 2019, mucoussmelling whitish secretion was observed in the presented case.…”

“…The incidence of fetal maceration is high in cattle and very low in dogs (Bozkurt et al 2018). The studies on fetal maceration are limited and some case reports have been provided (Erdoğan et al 2019).…”

Chronic Uterine Infection Caused by Fetal Retention and Treatment by Unilateral Ovariohysterectomy in a Dog

“…Fetal retention cases at parturition have been described in the dogs having average parturition history, but the actual incidence is presumed to be low (Feldman and Nelson, 2004). Clinical findings of canine fetal retention/maceration cases are obtained from the sporadic clinical reports (Erdoğan et al, 2019;Fasulkov et al, 2014;Günzel-Apel et al, 2008;Rigau et al, 2011;Serin and Parın, 2009). The condition leads progressively (within hours or days) to uterine infection with severe postpartum metritis accompanied by fetal emphysema (Orfanau et al, 2010).…”