Retrospective evaluation of pet animals brought to private veterinary clinics in Şanliurfa region in terms of gynecological cases

This study aimed to evaluate gynecological cases in pet animals retrospectively brought to private veterinary clinics in the Şanlıurfa region between 2018 and 2022. For this purpose, the data in the patient registration and follow-up program and the gynecological cases recorded in the patient registry of pet animals brought to 4 different private veterinary clinics for 5 (five) years between 2018 and 2022 were examined. The reasons for bringing pet animals to the clinics were evaluated based on species, year, and month, and the distribution of gynecological cases by age was determined. As a result of the study, it was determined that 1403 (39,2%) of the 3579 cases brought to the clinics were brought for gynecological examination or treatment. When evaluated according to species, it was determined that 1084 of the gynecological cases were cats (77,26%), 246 were dogs (17,53%), 66 were poultry (4,70%), and 7 were rabbits (0.50%). It was observed that the number of cats increased over the years, while there was no significant change in the number of other animal species. When the reasons for pets being brought to clinics for gynecological purposes were examined, it was determined that the most common reason for referral was ovariohysterectomy in cats, dogs, and rabbits (73,62%, 38,21%, and 100%, respectively) and egg retention in poultry species (100%). The second and third cases were determined to be pyometra and pregnancy examinations in both cats and dogs. It was determined that cats and dogs were mainly brought to clinics for ovariohysterectomy operations between the ages of 0 – 2 and 2 – 4 and with complaints of pyometra between the ages of 4 – 6. As a result, it was concluded that the most common pet species brought to clinics in the Şanlıurfa region is cats, and the most common gynecological complaint/request is neutering operations in cats and dogs and egg retention in poultry species. It is thought that the data obtained from this study will provide information about the gynecological problems that both students who will graduate from Veterinary Faculties and clinician veterinarians may encounter in the field of pet animals and will also help future scientific studies.