Retrospective study of ultrasound findings in uterus and ovaries of unpregnant bitches to determine the frequency of appearance of the most common pathologies

Abstract

In the present retrospective study, we sought to establish the frequency of occurrence in non-pregnant bitches of echographic findings compatible with pathologies of the uterus and ovaries between 2011 and 2017 in the Imaging Service of the Small Animal Hospital of the Facultad de Veterinaria – Universidad de la República, Uruguay. In turn, these data were related to clinical signs, review information and anamnesis of the patients to be able to issue a diagnostic approach. In this way, the casuistry of the different pathologies in this period of time and their relationship was determined with age, weight, and reproductive status. It was determined that out of 6010 bitches taken to the hospital, 2288 had an ultrasound study and 299 had findings compatible with: pyometra, other uterine collections (mucometer, hydrometer, hemometer), cystic endometrial hyperplasia, uterus tumor, pathologies of uterine stump, ovarian cyst / ovarian remnant syndrome or ovarian tumor.  The pathology that was most recorded was pyometra with 52.8%, followed by ovarian cysts / ovarian remnant with 26.4% and cystic endometrial hyperplasia with 22.4%, followed in lesser proportion by uterine collection with a 16.7% and uterine mass, pathologies of uterine stump and ovarian mass represented with 2.7% each one. Likewise, a strong relationship between these pathologies was established with reproductive status, finding most of them in not neutered bitches, it was observed that they occurred more frequently in bitches over 5 years old, and an association with weight could not be determined.