Ovarian teratoma in a bitch

Abstract

An ovarian teratoma in a 5-year-old bitch with a history of vaginal discharge was removed successfully by ovariohysterectomy. The mass was discovered on abdominal palpation and contained multiple mineralized densities that were visualized radiographically. Histologic examination of the mass confirmed the presence of tissues originating from multiple germ-cell layers, characteristic of a teratoma. Clinical findings in dogs with teratomas include abdominal distention, a palpable abdominal mass, and rarely, evidence of reproductive hormonal activity. These neoplasms are uncommon in the dog, and they may exhibit malignant tendencies, with metastasis developing in approximately 33% of the reported cases. Ovariohysterectomy is the preferred treatment for ovarian teratomas, and this procedure was curative in the dog of this report.