THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENDOMETRITIS IN THE DOG AND THE EFFECT OF OESTRADIOL AND PROGESTERONE ON THE UTERUS

Abstract

Before 1937 little attention is paid in the literature to the etiology of endometritis in the bitch, bacteriological infection being considered as the principle cause. Of great importance in this condition is the endometritis, which occurs after oestrus. For a long time the remarkably high percentage of cases of endometritis, which develop in older dogs has been observed; the graph shows a marked rise at the age of seven years. Moreover these bitches were either virgin or had had no litter for some years prior to the disorder. This causes a functional deterioration which predisposes to a lowered resistance to bacteria, and is responsible for the inadequate propulsion of the mucosal secretion through the long narrow cornus uteri.