Case Report: Endoscopic-guided electrocautery ablation of a vaginal hemorrhagic lesion in a dog

A 7-year-old female spayed Labrador retriever was presented for a 3-year history of progressive hemorrhage from the vulva. The dog previously underwent cystourethroscopy and vaginoscopy 1 year prior, and a small, raised hemorrhagic lesion was identified in the caudal vaginal wall. Following pinch biopsies of the lesion, bleeding ceased during the remainder of the procedure but recommenced within a week following discharge from the hospital. Histopathology of the vaginal biopsy revealed chronic neutrophilic and lymphoplasmacytic vaginitis. One year later, the dog was reevaluated for persistent and progressive bleeding from the vulva. At that time, dual phase abdominal computed tomography identified a focal, 0.5 cm x 1.0 cm region of asymmetric contrast enhancement within the vaginal wall. Cystourethroscopy and vaginoscopy identified a progressively enlarged bleeding polypoid mass lesion in the caudodorsal vaginal wall. Biopsy of the lesion followed by monopolar electrocautery ablation of the proliferative tissue was performed. Histopathology revealed hemorrhage lined by a layer of stratified squamous epithelium and neutrophilic exocytosis with no neoplastic cells identified. The underlying etiology of the lesion was not definitively determined. Vulvovaginal bleeding resolved following the procedure and remains resolved at the time of writing 7 months later. This case report describes successful endoscopic-guided electrocautery ablation of a vaginal hemorrhagic lesion in a dog.