Abstract:
Uterine torsion is a rare condition in dogs, typically associated with pregnancy or
uterine pathology. A 5-year-old, female intact, Siberian-Husky presented with a
history of lethargy and constipation for 3 days. Physical examination revealed pale
mucous membranes and a firm, painful abdomen. Abdominal imaging revealed
a thickened uterine body wall with an increased volume of mixed anechoic and
heterogeneous echoic intrauterine content. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed
the 360-degree torsion of the left uterine horn, and due to the extensive lesions
ovariohysterectomy was deemed necessary. Postoperative clinical evaluation
indicated ongoing signs of impaired oxygen delivery warranting hemotransfusion,
following which progressive stabilization and complete clinical recovery was achieved.
Histopathological examination showed diffuse uterine necrosis due to hypoxia
from venous stasis, with inflammatory infiltrate of neutrophils, macrophages, and
lymphocytes. This report contributes to the limited veterinary literature on uterine
torsion in non-pregnant bitches and underscores the importance of including it
in the differential diagnosis, even in young patients or when other reproductive
pathology is not evident, where a lack of predisposing factors may reduce clinical
suspicion. It clearly illustrates how an acute reproductive emergency can abruptly
and permanently preclude any future reproductive potential from an otherwise
healthy animal.
