Pregnancy-associated immune-mediated polyarthritisin a dog

摘要

A two-year and seven-month-old female entire goldenretriever was referred for investigation of sudden-onset,suspected immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA). Thedog was fiveweeks into gestation. On presentation, thedog was unable to stand or walk without assistance.The initial clinical suspicion of IMPA was confirmed oncytology of the synovial fluid from eight joints whichshowed marked neutrophilic inflammation. Pregnancywas confirmed by abdominal ultrasound examination,with no other abnormalities seen on thoracic radiographsor abdominal ultrasound. Based on the knownassociation between pregnancy and immune-mediateddiseases in human beings and the potential risksassociated with administration of immunosuppressivemedications to the fetuses and pregnant bitch,ovariohysterectomy was performed. Following surgery,the dog was treated with meloxicam and paracetamol.Within 48 hours of surgery and starting analgesicmedications, the clinical signs had completely resolved,and follow-up examinations one, two and sixmonthspostdiagnosis showed no evidence of relapsing disease.