Due to the fact that there are no obvious symptoms of the condition, your veterinarian should examine your dog several weeks after postpartum. It’s also important to take your dog to your vet if you notice the pinkish discharge from the vulva, as this could be a sign of other reproductive problems.
In order to diagnose subinvolution of placental sites, your veterinarian will first examine your dog to assess your dog’s general health. The veterinary caregiver will then proceed to rule out other illnesses and confirm the condition. Your veterinarian will, therefore, conduct a number of tests to exclude diseases such as brucellosis, uterus infections and inflammation.
Once other illnesses have been eliminated from consideration, the veterinary team will perform several diagnostic tests to evaluate the size of your dog’s uterus and make sure that retained fetuses or placental material are not causing the problem. These include x-rays, abdominal ultrasound and abdominal palpation. Your veterinarian will also order a complete blood count biochemistry profile and urinalysis, but these tests are usually normal in dogs with subinvolution of placental sites. However, a blood count may reveal that your dog is anemic or has an infection.