3o8 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



accouchement it was found impossible to withdraw the puppies through 

 the pelvis owing to the rigidity of that organ. In consultation with 

 Mr. George Parr, F.R.C.V.S., ovaro-hysterectomy was performed, four 

 abnormally large puppies were removed, and the bitch made an excellent 

 recovery. The puppies were dead at the time of removal. 



Malformation of the pelvis may be due to some disease, 

 sucii as rickets, or to some injur}', sucii as is inflicted wiien 

 an animal has been run over. If the side of the pelvic girdle 

 has been badly crushed, even although union of the bones 

 may take place, the callus which results may project into 

 the passage, and so narrow its lumen and cause a serious 

 obstruction. 



The most common varieties of g-rowth in the vag'ina 

 are granuloma, which is contagious and malignant, and 

 fibroma, which is benign, but may be multiple and of 

 enormous size. The former may be suspected by continued 

 hsemorrhage after the passage of each puppy, and it ma}' 

 sometimes be sufficiently large to necessitate removal of a 

 portion before the pup can be taken away. Either variety 

 can be readily detected b}- digital examination, and any 

 doubt as to the pathology can be set at rest, if necessary, by 

 the microscopical examination of an expert. 



Each has been alluded to more fully in a previous chapter 

 (p. 291). 



Polypus may attain sufficient size to interfere with parturi- 

 tion, but its removal is easily effected on account of its thin 

 pedicle (see p. 65). On first sight it is excusable to confound 

 this with a prolapse of the vagrinal mucous membrane, but 

 a careful examination will soon differentiate between them, 

 and this is especially necessary, as in the former case imme- 

 diate surgical interference may be the better plan ; in the 

 latter, except under very exceptional circumstances, it is 

 wise to wait until some weeks after parturition before 

 operating (see p. 298). 



A bitch known to ha\-e a stricture of the vag'ina is always 

 a cause of anxiety at these times, and this defect may 



