Perineal Hernia in a Bitch

Background: Perineal hernia is characterized by the displacement of abdominal organs to the perineal region after rupture or weakening of the pelvic diaphragm muscles. This condition is common among middle-aged and elderly unneutered male dogs. Considering the severity of the condition and its rarity among bitches, this paper reports on a case of perineal hernia caused by hydrometra in a 12-year-old pinscher bitch.Case: The patient was a 12-year-old Pinscher bitch, weighing 3 kg, suffering from anuria and constipation in the 36 h prior to treatment, without reported trauma. She was unspayed, and her last estrus had occurred approximately thirty days previously. The physical examination revealed an increase in volume in the right perineal region, increased volume in the left inguinal region, increased body temperature (39.8ºC), pale mucous membranes, tachycardia, tachypnea, abdominal pain and increased popliteal lymph nodes. The diagnosis was determined based on her medical history, clinical signs and an ultrasound scan, which revealed dilated uterine horns displaced unilaterally in the left inguinal region, with evidence of hydrometra, full urinary bladder inside the hernia sac in the right dorsolateral perineal region and right kidney pyelectasis. After evaluating the animal’s physical condition, surgery was recommended, involving ovariohysterectomy associated with inguinal and perineal herniorrhaphy.Discussion: Perineal hernia, a common condition in male dogs, is characterized by the displacement of organs towards the perineal region. However, in this case, this condition occurred in female dog. Unlike males, the main causes of perineal hernia in females are trauma, chronic coughing related to heart disease, bronchitis, and tracheal collapse. Increased intra-abdominal pressure associated with a weak pelvic diaphragm predisposes for herniation of abdominal contents, such as occurred through hydrometra. In this case, other factors that could pertain to the etiology of perineal hernia were excluded, given the absence of trauma or secondary diseases. The diagnosis was made based on a physical examination and ultrasound scan. Pre-surgical biochemical blood tests were also performed. The chosen treatment was ovariohysterectomy followed by inguinal and perineal herniorrhaphy. The traditional surgical procedure to reduce the perineal hernia was employed, using approximation sutures due to the easy apposition of wound edges. The structures and soft tissues involved showed no changes in color or texture, thus obviating the need for more elaborate techniques, which are employed in the case of relapse or muscle atrophy. The patient showed clinical evolution after surgical correction, with decreased perineal volume and recovery of urinary function (normuria). The patient was discharged after 72 h, and six months after the surgical procedure, she presented no clinical alteration, according to information provided in a telephone call by her owner. It is believed that the increase in volume caused by the presence of hydrometra was the determining factor for the development of inguinal and perineal hernias. It is suggested that alterations causing uterine enlargement be investigated in order to include perineal hernia in female dogs as a differential diagnostic tool

Estimulação elétrica neuromuscular de média freqüência (russa) em cães com atrofia muscular induzida Medium frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation (russian) in dogs with induced muscle atrophy

A estimulação elétrica neuromuscular (EENM) de média freqüência (Russa) ou de Kotz pode ser empregada para a recuperação de massa muscular em animais apresentando atrofia muscular por desuso. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi empregar a EENM de média freqüência no quadríceps femoral de cães com atrofia muscular induzida, avaliando-se a ocorrência de ganho de massa. Foram utilizados oito cães em dois grupos denominados de GI ou controle e de GII ou tratado. Para a indução da atrofia muscular, a articulação fêmoro-tíbio-patelar esquerda foi imobilizada por 30 dias. Após 48 horas da remoção, foi realizada a EENM nos cães do grupo II, três vezes por semana, com intervalo de 48 horas cada sessão, pelo período de 60 dias. Foram avaliadas a mensuração da perimetria da coxa, da goniometria do joelho, as enzimas creatina-quinase (CK) e morfometria das fibras musculares em cortes transversais do músculo vasto lateral, colhido mediante a biópsia muscular. A EENM foi empregada no músculo quadríceps femoral numa freqüência de 2.500Hz, largura de pulso de 50% e relação de tempo on/off de 1:2. Não houve diferença significativa quanto aos valores de perimetria da coxa e a atividade da enzima CK entre os grupos I e II. Na goniometria, houve diminuição significativa (P<0,05) da amplitude articular após a remoção do aparelho de fixação externa somente nos animais do grupo II, em comparação a com tempo zero. Quanto à morfometria das fibras do músculo vasto lateral, foram notados valores maiores de área das fibras no grupo Tratado, em relação ao Controle (P<0,05), no dia 90, e, no grupo Tratado, entre os dias zero e 90. A EENM de média freqüência ocasiona hipertrofia do músculo vasto lateral em cães após a atrofia muscular induzida.<br>The medium frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) (Russa) or Kotz is designed for recuperation of muscle mass in dogs with muscular atrophy in disuse. This study aims to utilize medium frequency NMES on the femoral quadriceps of dogs with induced muscular atrophy and evaluate the occurrence of gain in mass. Eight dogs in two groups denominated GI, or control, and GII, or treated were used. For the induction of muscular atrophy, the left femoral-tibial-patellar joint was immobilized for 30 days. NMES treatment began 48 hours after the removal of the immobilization device on dogs from group II and was carried out three times per week, with an interval of 48 hours between each session, during 60 days. The following parameters were measured: thigh perimeter, goniometry of the knee, creatine kinase (CK) enzymes and morphometry of the muscular fibers in transversal cuts of the vastus lateralis muscle, collected through a muscular biopsy. EENM was utilized on the femoral quadriceps at a frequency of 2500 Hz, with pulse duration of 50%, and the time on/off was at a proportion of 1:2. There was no significant difference between the thigh perimeter and the activity of enzyme CK between groups I and II. As for the goniometry a significant increase (P<0,05) was observed among 0 and 30 days after the immobilization in group II. As for the morphometry of the fibers of the vastus lateralis, a significant increase (P<0,05) was observed in the transversal area of the treated group on the 90th day when compared with that observed at the time of immobilization and among the groups, group II presented a greater transversal area (P<0.05) on the 90th day. The medium frequency NMES brings about a hypertrophy of the vastus lateralis muscle in dogs after induced muscular atrophy