Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Prenatal hydrocephalus and cleft lip found in Chihuahua puppy
By Sananmuang, Thanida et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2020·Faculty of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prenatal diagnosis of foetal hydrocephalus and suspected X-linked recessive inheritance of cleft lip in a Chihuahua.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3.5-year-old Chihuahua was found to be pregnant and showed signs of abdominal swelling. Just days before giving birth, ultrasound scans revealed that one of the puppies had fluid buildup in the brain, a condition known as hydrocephalus. After a Caesarean section, the puppy was born with a large head and a cleft lip but sadly passed away six days later. This case highlights the importance of early detection of brain issues in unborn puppies, especially in breeds like Chihuahuas, to help prepare for their care at birth.
People also search for: Chihuahua pregnancy ultrasound · puppy hydrocephalus symptoms · cleft lip in newborn puppies
Abstract
A 3.5-year-old, 2.9 kg, multiparous Chihuahua presented with abdominal distension; pregnancy was diagnosed. On Day 7 before parturition, prenatal sonograms showed anechoic bilateral dilated cerebral lateral ventricles, suggesting fluid-filled regions (ventriculomegaly) in one foetus. A Caesarean section was performed and the male newborn had an abnormally enlarged dome-shaped head and a cleft lip, and died 6 days after birth. According to the family pedigree, the X-linked recessive inheritance of an orofacial cleft from the unaffected mother was suggested. This report clearly demonstrates that canine foetal ventriculomegaly (hydrocephalus) can be diagnosed in utero. For dog breeds predisposed to congenital ventriculomegaly, early detection is important for the prediction of perinatal survival and adequate supportive care can be applied at delivery.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31902834/