Reproductive Disorders of the Spayed Bitch

Abstract
Ovariectomized bitches will often present to veterinarians for signs of vaginal discharge, recurrent or returning signs of estrus, or for vaginal masses. These may be due to presence of remnant ovarian tissue or other sources of estrogen exposure, vaginitis, vaginal foreign bodies, anatomic defects of the vaginal canal, or from other metabolic conditions. This paper reviews causes of vulvar discharge, ovarian remnant syndrome, stump pyometra or granuloma, and the different types of vaginal masses that may be seen in the ovariectomized bitch. It provides insight into the clinical signs, diagnostic workup and therapies that can be utilized to diagnose and treat these disorders.

Introduction
Veterinarians are frequently presented spayed bitches with reproductive disease. The most common complaints are vulvar discharge, recurrent or returning signs of estrus, or vaginal masses. Diagnosis of these disorders may be straightforward in some cases, but they are often complicated and confusing. A step-wise approach to their diagnosis begins with a good history paying careful attention paid to nutrition (type of food being fed) along with any supplements or medications the bitch may be administered purposefully or that she may be exposed to via the owner’s personal use. A complete physical examination, followed by a minimum database of bloodwork and a urinalysis should follow. Ancillary diagnostics may include endocrinology, diagnostic imaging consisting of ultrasonography, radiography with or without contrast medium, magnetic resonance imaging, endoscopy and possibly laparoscopy or laparotomy depending on the situation. Each complaint will be reviewed separately although there is some overlap amongst them. A list of potentially estrogenic foods has been included in Table 1.  […]