Introduction

• Cause: most common with estral vaginal hypertrophy (first estrus and recurrence thereafter).
• May occur post partum.
• Signs: swollen vulva or fleshy mass protruding around vulva.
• Diagnosis: signs.
• Treatment: vaginal changes regress spontaneously provided no damage to prolapsed tissue.
• May require submucosal resection before reduction/annular resection/OHE.
• Prevention of recurrence: purse string suture/resection of dorsal wall of vulva.
• Prognosis: OHE indicated at next anestrus in non-breeding bitch.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• High estrogens during estrus cause hypertrophy of vaginal tissues.
• Good evidence for inherited incidence.

Pathophysiology

• During estrus vaginal tissue hypertrophies (especially tissue of vaginal floor immediately cranial to urethra) - a normal response to high estrogens.
• In severe cases tissue prolapses beyond vulva.
• Vaginal cases regress spontaneously in diestrus providing no tissue damage.
• Severe cases may compromise urethral patency.
• Most occur at first estrus and recur at subsequent cycles.
• Prevents natural mating, AI possible.

Timecourse

• Should resolve with diestrus.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Outcomes