Clinical Management of Infertility in a Doberman Bitch Associated with Vaginal Hyperplasia and Hypothyroidism

Abstract

A four-year-old Doberman bitch was presented with a history of repeated breeding failure despite mating with a proven fertile male, accompanied by difficulty in copulation and absence of copulatory tie. Clinical examination revealed lethargy, weight gain, cold intolerance, and bradycardia, suggestive of an underlying endocrine disorder. A protruding edematous vaginal mass consistent with vaginal hyperplasia was observed, while per vaginal examination indicated resistance to speculum passage and a septum-like structure suggestive of a congenital vaginal anomaly. Ultrasonography revealed normal uterine and ovarian morphology, excluding primary uterine pathology. Hematological examination revealed mild anemia, while thyroid profiling confirmed the presence of hypothyroidism. Exfoliative vaginal cytology demonstrated a predominance of superficial cornified cells, indicative of an estrogen-dominant environment. Therapeutic management included levothyroxine supplementation and supportive care, along with conservative management of vaginal hyperplasia. The findings suggest a multifactorial etiology of infertility involving endocrine dysfunction and possible anatomical obstruction, resulting in a guarded reproductive prognosis.