Anatomy of the ductus venosus in neonatal dogs (Canis familiaris).

Anatomical features of the ductus venosus in 84 neonatal dogs are described. The ductus venosus was a straight conduit 1-3 mm wide and 4-12 mm long in pups with a crown-rump length of 80-200 mm. It arose from the left main portal vein branch opposite the umbilical vein, passed between the left lateral liver lobe and the papillary process of the caudate lobe, and terminated in the dorsal aspect of the proximal part of the left hepatic vein. The left hepatic vein was dilated at this point. There was no variation in the location of the ductus venosus in the animals studied.