Uterine prolapse observed during and immediately after parturition in three dogs: case report and literature review

Uterine prolapse (UPR) in bitches is a rare obstetric emergency. Generally, it occurs within 48 hours postpartum in bitches. Opposite this datum, in this case report three instances of UPR presented as two during parturition and one at 40 days postpartum. Besides one of them, which occurred during labor, was complicated by uterine rupture. Although no definitive etiology has been determined, it seems that the leading cause is weakness in pelvic connective tissues. Factors contributing to UPR include excessive relaxation of pelvic ligaments, difficult labor, and excessive straining. The extracellular matrix (ECM), composed mainly of collagen and elastin, is crucial in maintaining tissue integrity. Hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and relaxin significantly affect the ECM’s structure during pregnancy and parturition, influencing pelvic elasticity and uterine strength. Besides, our cases showed that poor body condition, parity, age, and breed predisposition are also suspected as contributing factors. All the animals were treated by surgery. Three cases show mothers and/or puppies may survive with timely and appropriate surgery. Besides, we believe that ovariohysterectomy is the best treatment choice with both survivor and prevention effects. However, to clearly define both the primary factors and co-factors speculated by this report, further research is required to investigate.