CLINCIAL SKILLS - Clinical Examination of the Female Reproductive Tract and Ovariohysterectomy

Question 1

List some of the reasons for carrying out a clinical examination of the female reproductive tract

Answer 1

• Pre-breeding examination
• To determine the optimal time for artificial insemiation
• Infertility investigation
• Identification of endometritis/pyometra

Question 2

List some of the methods for clinical examination of the caudal components of the tubular tract

Answer 2

Transrectal palpation
Vaginascope
Swabs

Question 3

List some of the methods for clinical examination of the cranial components of the tubular tract

Answer 3

Transrectal ultrasound
Transrectal palpation
Transabdominal ultrasound

Question 4

Which structure acts as an ‘acoustic window’ (makes the structures easier to see) when imaging the female reproductive tract on transabdominal ultrasound?

Answer 4

Bladder

Question 5

What is the most common cause of inter-uterine fluid in the bitch?

Answer 5

Pyometra

Question 6

When is it safest to perform an ovariohysterectomy?

Answer 6

When the animals is in anoestrus

Question 7

Describe how to carry out a midline ovariohysterectomy

Answer 7

1. Place the animal in dorsal recumbency
2. Make a small incision along the midline of the abdomen between the umbilicus and pubis
3. Resect the subcutaneous tissue and fat to expose the underlying linear alba
4. Make a stab incision into the linea alba with a scalpel and use scissors to carefully lengthen the incision
5. Locate the first ovary and break the suspensory ligament allowing you to exteriorise the ovary
6. Ligate the ovarian artery
7. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the second ovary
8. Cut the mesovarium to remove the ovaries from the abdomen
9. Ligate the uterine arteries
10. Ligate the cervix anf remove the tubular tract

Question 8

Describe how to carry out a flank ovariohysterectomy

Answer 8

1. Place the animal in lateral recumbency
2. Make a small incision midway between the last rib and the iliac crest
3. Resect the subcutaneous tissue and fat to expose the underlying muscular layer
4. Open each muscular layer individually (transverse abdominis, external abdominal oblique, internal abdominal oblique)
5. Locate the first ovary and break the suspensory ligament allowing you to exteriorise the ovary
6. Ligate the ovarian artery
7. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the second ovary
8. Cut the mesovarium to remove the ovaries from the abdomen
9. Ligate the uterine arteries
10. Ligate the cervix anf remove the tubular tract