Traumatic dorsolateral diaphragmatic hernia in a juvenile raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus viverrinus)

Abstract

Diaphragmatic hernia, the protrusion of abdominal organs through a congenital defect or traumatic rupture of the diaphragm, has rarely been documented in wildlife. We report a severe traumatic diaphragmatic hernia in a juvenile female raccoon dog. Postmortem examination revealed a herniation at the Bochdalek site in the right dorsolateral part of the diaphragm, with extensive intestinal and hepatic displacement into the right thoracic cavity. Rib osseous callus indicated healed fractures of the 7th and 8th right ribs. These findings provide an understanding of traumatic diaphragmatic hernias and contribute to the pathological assessment of wildlife health.