[Perinatal mortality of puppies after caesarean section caused by intrauterine infection].

Perinatal mortality in dogs and cats is relatively high. Whereas the death of puppies within the first 3 weeks of life is commonly assumed to be due to infectious causes, peracute death of neonates immediate- ly after parturition or caesarean section results in a high potential for conflict between owner and veterinarian. In this respect, the owner often postulates a wrong anaesthetic regime or a too prolonged duration of surgery. This case report, however, clearly shows that also in the case of immediate perinatal death, infectious causes - e.g. due to intrauterine infection - have to be taken into consideration and that pathological, virological and bacteriological post-mortem examinations of puppies is an important procedure to identify the reason for perinatal death.