What does a dog’s placenta look like?

The dog’s placenta is an important organ for the growth and development of the dog’s baby in the mother dog’s uterus. Its shape and structure are very important for the healthy growth of the dog’s baby. The following is a detailed explanation of what a dog’s placenta looks like from several aspects such as cell organization, structural form, size, shape, and color.

1. Cell tissue

The dog’s placenta is composed of germ layers, which are mainly divided into three layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Among them, the ectoderm is mainly responsible for the connection between the placenta and the mother's body; the mesoderm is the supporting tissue of the placenta, which allows the placenta to expand and develop in the uterus of the dog mother; the endoderm is related to the fetus and allows the fetus to maintain healthy growth.

Structurally, the placenta contains many capillaries and villi, which contain placental cells and placental membranes. The placental cells are mainly responsible for the absorption and concentration of fetal nutrients, while the placental membranes mainly play a protective role.

2. Structural form

There are two types of placental shapes in dogs, one is a round, thick and deposited placenta; the other is distributed on the entire fetal surface. , thinner ones scattered in the placenta. Placenta deposits are generally found on the front or back of the fetus close to the uterine wall. The scattered placenta gradually forms as the fetus grows, taking on an irregular shape, and finally completely covers the surface of the fetus.

3. Size and shape

The size and shape of a dog’s placenta vary depending on the breed and body type of the dog. Under normal circumstances, the diameter of the placenta is generally between 2 and 8cm, while the size of scattered placentas is less fixed. The thickness of the placenta also varies depending on the breed, generally between 0.5 and 1.5cm. The size and shape of the placenta are also related to the number of puppies. If there is only one baby in the pregnancy, the size and shape of the placenta will be larger.

4. Color

The color of dog placenta is generally dark red or dark brown, but this color is only the surface color. In fact, the inside of the placenta is transparent and does not appear red. or brown color. There may be some white or yellow spots on the surface and tissue of the placenta, which are normal.