Reproductive emergencies in bitches / Emergências reprodutivas em cadelas

The cases of reproductive emergencies are frequent in female dogs, and the most frequent reproductive disorders are dystocia and pyometra, both considered as emergencies. A prospective study was conducted during one year between the dogs treated in a Teaching Veterinary Hospital (TVH). Were followed 36 cases, and no deaths occurred. The most frequent disease was pyometra representing 58.33% of the cases (21/36). Among the 21 cases reported, 85.71% were open pyometras (18/21). In all cases of pyometra the treatment was surgical, and was performed ovariohysterectomy (OH). After pyometra, the dystocia was the most common reproductive emergency in female dogs, and were recorded 13 cases of this condition (36.11%; 13/36). In most cases it was not registered the cause of dystocia (69.24%; 9/13), but in four cases (30.76%; 4/13) was considered as an etiologic factor, primary uterine inertia. In most cases (10/13; 76.92%) was performed caesarean section as treatment. A case of mastitis treated with antibiotics with full recovery was registered. Although vaginal hyperplasia is not considered an emergency, a case of this disease was included study. The prolapsed vaginal mucosa was very swollen, with risk of infection, myiasis and self-trauma and urethral obstruction, requiring immediate patient care. The treatment adopted was OH with complete recovery of the animal. It was concluded that the most frequent reproductive emergencies were pyometra and dystocia.