An inguinal herniation of pregnant uterus in a Standard Wirehaired Dachshund – a case report

A 4-year-old intact female Standard Wirehaired Dachshund dog was referred with chief complaint of inguinal mass to the Small Animal Clinic at the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Slovakia. On physical examination, the bitch was healthy with no abnormalities other than having a non-painful and non-reducible soft tissue mass in the left inguinal region also involving the mammary gland. Ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen revealed a pregnant uterus and ultrasonography of the inguinal mass showed an organ with a lumen filled with anaechoic fluid. The diagnosis of a herniation was made and the owners decided for complete ovariohysterectomy. The left uterine horn had an incarcerated part of the inguinal hernia together with the ovary. Inside there was one macerated conceptus. The remaining part of the left uterine horn was located in the abdomen and had 2 macerated conceptuses. The bitch made an uneventful recovery from the surgery and anaesthesia with no postoperative complications and was sent home after the surgical procedure.