Introduction

Congenital malformations can interfere in viability or physical well-being of puppies, often leading to perinatal mortality. In dogs, the cleft palate and the cleft lip can be caused by genetic traits or by teratogenic agents, being more common in brachiocephalic. Unilateral renal agenesis has an unknown cause, and rib hypoplasia has not been described yet in neonatal dogs. In medicine, rib hypoplasia is also commonly associated with other malformations, and is related to consanguinity.

Objectives

The objective of this report is to describe the hypoplasia of ribs in canine neonate, concomitantly with other congenital malformations.

Methods

It was attended by the Reproduction Service of Small Animals from São Paulo State University-Botucatu/Brazil, a female dog, mongrel, not domiciled and without information in clinical history. The animal was in fetal dystocia, and was submitted to caesarean section.

Results

At birth, a male neonate presented with respiratory distress syndrome, where the palpation of the thorax was presumed absence of ribs, which prevented the chest expansion and lung compliance of the puppy. There was also a presence of cleft palate and cleft lip. Thus, we opted for euthanasia of the neonate. Post-mortem examination revealed hypoplasia of ribs and unilateral renal agenesis.

Conclusions

Congenital defects in dogs can lead to fetal or neonatal death, so the knowledge of malformations that affect this species and its probable causes has high relevance. Possibly the cause of rib hypoplasia is related to the same causes of cleft palate and cleft lip in neonates.