Gill SS, Barstad RD. A review of the surgical management of perineal hernias in dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2018;54(4):179–187.
Bellenger CR. Perineal hernias in dogs. Aust Vet J. 1980;56(9):434–438.
Burrows CF, Harvey CE. Perineal hernia in the dog. J Small Anim Pract. 1973;14(6):315–332.
Brissot HN, Dupré GP, Bouvy BM. Use of laparotomy in a staged approach for resolution of bilateral or complicated perineal hernia in 41 dogs. Vet Surg. 2004;33(4):412–421.
Weaver AD, Omamegbe JO. Surgical treatment of perineal hernia in the dog. J Small Anim Pract. 1981;22(12):749–758.
Grand J-G, Bureau S, Monnet E. Effects of urinary bladder retroflexion and surgical technique on postoperative complication rates and long-term outcome in dogs with perineal hernia: 41 cases (2002–2009). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2013;243(10):1442–1447.
Hayes HM, Wilson GP, Tarone RE. The epidemiologic features of perineal hernia in 771 dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1978;14:703–707.
Waters DJ, Roy RG, Stone EA. A retrospective study of inguinal hernia in 35 dogs. Vet Surg. 1993;22(1):44–49.
Advertisement
An 8-year-old 6.8-kg neutered male Dachshund was presented for evaluation of vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and swelling over the right perineal region. The dog had a history of a bilateral perineal herniorrhaphy and castration 14 months prior to presentation.
Bilateral perineal hernias were confirmed by digital rectal examination. Abdominal ultrasonography confirmed the presence of intestine within the right hernia. Three days after admission to the hospital, the region of the right perineal hernia became painful, erythematous, and edematous. Computed tomography revealed jejunal incarceration within the right hernia with dilation of 1 jejunal segment that indicated intestinal obstruction.
Abdominal exploratory surgery was performed, during which irreducible small intestinal incarceration was confirmed. Intra-abdominal jejunal resection and anastomosis was performed, and an approximately 13-cm-long section of the jejunum was resected. Bilateral perineal herniorrhaphies with internal obturator and superficial gluteal muscle transposition were performed. Six months after surgery, digital rectal examination of the dog revealed that the repair was intact. The dog had no perineal hernia–related clinical signs at the time of the recheck examination.
For the dog of the present report, surgical management of small intestinal strangulation associated with a perineal hernia was successful. Although a portion of the small intestines can frequently be found within perineal hernias in dogs, perineal hernia-related small intestinal strangulation has not been previously described, to the authors’ knowledge. Veterinarians and clients should be aware of this potential complication secondary to perineal hernia and be prepared to perform an abdominal surgical procedure to address small intestinal incarceration in affected dogs.