Physical and Reproductive Examination of Bitches

Physical and reproductive examination of bitches involves a thorough and systematic evaluation to assess overall health and reproductive soundness.

The examination begins with a general physical check, ensuring the problem area is assessed last.

Vulva

Examination of the reproductive tract usually begins with an external inspection of the vulva, checking the size and conformation and for presence of any discharge.

• The small immature vulva or one that is recessed under a fold of tissue owing to body type or obesity may present impediments to normal breeding.
• The obese bitch is prone to perivulvar dermatitis.
• A swollen, turgid vulva is suggestive of proestrus
• A swollen and flaccid vulva can be consistent with estrus or approaching parturition.

Vaginal Discharges

The bitch in anestrus or diestrus usually has no vaginal discharge.

A bloody discharge is most suggestive of proestrus, estrus, separation of the placental sites, or severe vaginitis.

Greenish black or dark bloody vaginal discharges are associated with placental separation as well as postpartum “lochia”.

Reddish brown yellowish, or grayish, thick, creamy, malodorous vaginal discharges are often seen in open-cervix pyometra, metritis, or severe vaginitis.

Straw-colored vaginal discharges are sometimes seen when bitches are in estrus. Clear mucus can precede parturition and is rarely worrisome.

A vaginal cytology specimen should be an integral part of any reproductive evaluation because it is easy to obtain the sample, inexpensive, and can be extremely informative. Vaginal cytology should be performed in any bitch with a vaginal discharge.

Digital Examination of the Vestibule and Vagina

A digital examination of the vaginal vault should be performed routinely on any bitch examined for breeding soundness.

If a culture or cytology is needed, it should be obtained prior to the digital examination.Most bitches are easy to examine.

The gloved and lubricated index finger should pass easily into the vaginal vault, allowing assessment of the lumen, the urethral opening, and clitoral size and shape. Masses, foreign bodies, strictures, painful vaginitis, or abnormal tissue bands all prevent easy and painless examination.

If the digital examination is abnormal but inconclusive, vaginoscopy provides a more thorough evaluation.

The use of an otoscope or a vaginal speculum provides an extremely limited view of the vaginal vault and is of little value in most clinical situations.

Pediatric proctoscopes are easy to use for vaginoscopy and are relatively inexpensive, and can be used in all but the smallest of miniature breeds. A more expensive but smaller diameter alternative is use of an endoscope which provides far better visualization of the area than an otoscope.

Mammary Glands

The mammary gland should be palpated in the bitch examined for breeding soundness.The primary concern is the presence of mammary tumors.

The glands can also be checked for evidence of lactation, mastitis, inverted teats, or benign nodules.

The ventral midline can also be checked for evidence of a previous surgical incision, which might be a clue suggesting that the bitch has undergone ovariohysterectomy.

Rectal Examination

A rectal examination ensures that the pelvic canal has been assessed for previous fractures or other unsuspected abnormalities.

Compression of the pelvic canal is a potential cause of dystocia.

One can also attempt to palpate the vagina ventrally, although the vagina would have to be extremely abnormal to reveal anything suspicious on palpation.

Abdominal Palpation

The abdomen should be palpated in an effort to identify and characterize the uterus. However, except in pregnancy and pyometra, the uterus almost never can be evaluated with confidence on abdominal palpation.

General Health of the Bitch

In the clinical evaluation of the infertile bitch, one underlying question is her overall health status.

Complete blood counts, chemistry panels, urinalysis, thyroid function, and adrenocortical function studies can be carried out as an initial step in evaluating the potentially infertile bitch.

However, such extensive diagnostic evaluations are not required unless the history and/or physical examination dictates that aggressive diagnostic testing is warranted.

The bitch that appears healthy to an owner, appears healthy on physical examination, and has normal ovarian cycles does not have thyroid failure or adrenocortical disease and rarely has other significant organ disease.

Therefore, obtaining a complete blood count, urinalysis, and blood urea nitrogen provides a sufficient data base. However, this approach depends on completing a thorough history and a competent physical examination.

If abnormalities are identified on history or physical examination, appropriate testing can then be completed which may clarify the nature of the problem or specifically demonstrate the cause of infertility.