Phimosis and paraphimosis in two ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Cases of paraphimosis are rarely described in ferrets. Phimosis has not been reported in the ferret. Two castrated ferrets with abnormalities of the prepuce were presented separately. Case 1 had a 4-month duration of a non-reducible paraphimosis. A shortening of the sheath prevented complete covering of the penis. Case 2 had dermatitis around the prepuce of a month's duration. The foreskin was distended by urine which could be eliminated through a barely visible opening by the application of manual pressure. The penis could not be extruded under general anesthesia. Surgery was performed in both cases. In case 1, parts of the skin of the prepuce, and mucosa of the sheath were resected to create an enlarged opening correcting the constriction of the penis. In case 2, a circular incision was made along the periphery of the skin with dermatitis, and the skin of the prepuce. The skin was resected to enlarge the preputial orifice. Surgical treatment was successful in both cases, did not present any technical difficulties, and was of a short duration. Surgical treatment of paraphimosis and phimosis have not been reported in ferrets and should be considered in cases of scalding of the prepuce not responding to medical treatments.     

The Anatomy of the Male Genital System of the Beluga Whale, Delphinapterus leucas, with Special Reference to the Penis

The genital organs of four male adult beluga whales and one newborn animal were dissected and the main characteristics are described. As in other species of cetaceans, the testes and the greatest part of the penis are located inside the abdominal cavity. The penis has a sigmoid flexure and belongs to the fibroelastic type with a thick tunica albuginea and a small amount of vascular spaces in the erectile tissue. The prostate gland, found in other cetaceans, was not seen macroscopically, but only small prostate rudiments could be identified histologically. The os penis and the other accessory glands are absent as in other whales.     

Hypospadias in rams

In an abattoir survey conducted in south-west England, 15 of 6521 rams aged three to 12 months had hypospadias; in 27 others the scrotum was completely or partly divided, but they had no other abnormalities of the urinary or genital systems. The lesions observed in 11 of the rams in the abattoir survey, and in four young rams and one mature ram found during visits to farms, are described in detail. Five of them had periscrotal openings of the urethra and in the other 11 the openings were in a perineal position, close to the anus. In all of them the penis was underdeveloped, the prepuce had failed to fuse and the galea faced in a caudal direction. They all had completely or partially divided scrotums, and signs of urine scalding of the scrotum were visible.     

Penile haemangiosarcoma in a breeding stallion

A 9‐year‐old Arab stallion was presented for haematuria and a haemorrhagic mass on the urethral process of the penis. Clinical examination and surgical excision suggested a tumour of the penis, histologically confirmed as a haemangiosarcoma. The stallion was successfully treated with surgical excision; however, successful breeding has not been achieved thus far (28 months). To the authors' knowledge, haemangiosarcoma of the equine penis has not previously been described.     

Anatomic Study of the Veins and the Arteries of the Penis of the Camel (Camelus dromedarius)

A neoprene latex and gelatin injection corrosion study of the arteries and veins of the camel penis was conducted utilizing three intact male camels and ten excised penises. The gross anatomic distribution of arteries and veins supplying the penis is described and compared with that of other ruminants and with the horse.     

The Apical Ligaments of the Penis of the Goat and Sheep

The penile apical ligaments of 13 goats and 8 sheep were dissected and described. Unlike the single apical ligament of the bull penis, both goats and sheep had one ligament on each side of the apex of the penis with no apparent connection over the dorsal surface. These lateral apical ligaments consisted of substantial connective tissue fibers that arose from the outer layers of the tunica albuginea and varied from 6.0 to 10.0 cm in length. The left apical ligament was longer and thicker than the right. The left apical ligament of the sheep penis was divided into a dorsal and a ventral branch. Both the goat and sheep possessed flattened perivenous ligaments that originated from the apical fascia and extended caudally along each side of the dorsal vein of the penis.     

RADIOGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE OS PENIS IN THE CAT

The os penis in the cat has not been described radiographically, as compared with the dog. However, a small linear bony radiopacity is sometimes detected in the perineal area of male cats. We hypothesized that the feline os penis might be visible on survey radiographs of the pelvis, and we aimed to investigate the frequency of its visualization using analog and computed radiography (CR) system. One hundred radiographs of the pelvis of 99 male cats were reviewed retrospectively (50 were obtained with a CR system and 50 with an analog system). Age, breed, neutering status, and reason for presentation were recorded, as well as the visualization of the os penis. An os penis was detected in 19/50 (38%) cats with CR and in eight of 50 (16%) cats with analog radiography; this difference was statistically significant. With CR, the median age of cats with a visible os penis was significantly higher than in cats where the os penis was not seen. In one cat with a visible os penis examined with CR and analog radiography, the os penis was only visible on CR images. The penile tissues were examined histopathologically in one cat and well‐differentiated bone was found but there were no pathologic findings detected in surrounding tissues. Thus, the os penis can be detected on radiographs of cats and this should not be mistaken for a pathologic finding such as urolithiasis or dystrophic mineralization.     

Autosomic 27 Trisomy in a Standardbred Colt

A 19-month-old Standardbred colt was donated to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine with a suspicion of intersexuality. The anal−genital distance and penis were normal, and there was no evidence of intersexuality, but the colt was bilaterally cryptorchid. Several aspects of the colt's behavior appeared unusual, including general temperament and behavior described as sympathetically dull and affable. With herd mates, the colt appeared slow to perceive or to learn the usual intraspecies social cues. An atypical gait characterized by intermittent unnatural shuffle of the hind limbs, sliding them along in short rhythmic strides for 3 to 10 seconds at a time was noted at times when a horse might normally transition from a slow walk to a fast walk or a slow trot. Occasionally the colt exhibited slight protrusion of the tongue through the teeth and lips with jaw movements and smacking of the tongue against the teeth as if struggling to retract the tongue to the normal position. Evaluation of the karyotype combined with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed an abnormal male karyotype showing trisomy of chromosome 27 (65, XY + 27). The colt was euthanized at 24 months of age, and a necropsy revealed no significant abnormalities. This case of trisomy was not associated with developmental abnormalities described in other rare reports of trisomy in horses; however, some features were strikingly similar to that of humans with trisomy 21. FISH was demonstrated to be an excellent method for correct identification of equine chromosomes.     

Cavernosography and differential diagnosis of impotence in the bull

A new indirect radiographic technique is described for the differential diagnosis of erectile impotence in the bull. Two cases of impotence have been investigated in this way. In the first, occlusion of the dorsal longitudinal canal of the corpus cavernosum penis in an 18-month-old Hereford bull was diagnosed. In the second, distal venous drainage of the corpus cavernosum penis was demonstrated in a five-year-old Hereford bull. Post mortem examination of the reproductive tract confirmed the diagnosis in each case.     

Priapism in the stallion

A review of the literature is given concerning the anatomy and pathophysiology of the equine penis with regard to priapism: a prolonged erection of the penis not associated with sexual arousal. Several treatment options, such as flushing of the corpus cavernosum penis with heparinized saline and the creation of shunt between the corpus cavernosum penis and the corpus spongiosum penis are discussed. Subsequently, a case of priapism in a stallion following the injection of acepromazine, is discussed. The priapism resolved after the corpus cavernosum penis was flushed with the stallion under general anaesthesia.     

The microvascularization of the penis of the steer (Bos taurus)]

The blood supply and the microvascularization of the bovine penis (Bos taurus) were demonstrated using the scanning electron microscope. The Corpus cavernosum penis of the bull consists of a surprisingly well-developed mesh of small to intermediate vessels. The architecture of the cavernous body is largely determined by trabeculae of connective tissue, the extent of which varies between penis segments. The Corpus cavernosum is arranged primarily as a ring around the trabeculae of connective tissue. Chambers of large bore are found in the central portions of the Corpus cavernosum penis, whereas a relatively fine vascular network predominates in the periphery. Vessels in the cavernous body of the urethra, on the other hand, show strictly parallel orientation to the urethra, which they surround like a sleeve. They also stand in close association with vessels in the outer layer of the Tunica albuginea. The vascular systems of the Corpus cavernosum penis and the Corpus spongiosum penis are not connected with one another. The vascular architecture of the Glans penis is characterized by the inclusion of well-developed vascular arcades at regular intervals. These course through a connective tissue matrix rich in glycoproteins and stretch to just under the skin of the penis, where they are intimately associated with a subpapillary network of arteries and veins. The venous legs of the vascular arcades are supplied by this network of veins. The Glans penis of the bull is considered to represent a specialization of the penile integument.     

Ocular involvement of transmissible venereal tumor in a dog

A case of metastatic transmissible venereal tumor (TVT), with lesions on the penis, conjunctiva, buccal mucosa and skin (lips and trunk), is presented in this case report. The clinical picture is described along with the cytological and histopathological features of the tumor leading to definitive diagnosis of TVT. Possible reasons for the unusual metastatic behavior of TVT and full recovery of the dog after chemotherapy are discussed.     

Priapism Associated with Lumbar Stenosis in a Dog

Priapism, a persistent long‐lasting involuntary erection of the penis, is uncommon in dogs. In this report, the case of a 13‐year‐old male Pointer, referred to our services due to persistent exposition of the penis, is described. This condition was consecutive to an intermittent priapism situation lasting for several days, which has been initially attributed to the inflammation and haematoma associated with a perianal bite. The owners became unable to retract the penis into the prepuce. At presentation, the dog was anorectic for 48 h, intolerant to manipulation, and showed poor body condition and unsteady locomotion. During physical evaluation, a marked engorgement of the local vessels in the prepuce and penis was found. An abdominal X‐ray was asked under the suspicion of a neurogenic origin for the clinical situation, which showed evidences of spondylosis. After discussion of the clinical condition, the owners asked for euthanasia. The necropsy confirmed the engorgement of the regional vessels deriving from the pudendal arteries and blood accumulation within all the cavernous spaces, accompanied by congestion and thrombosis within the erectile structures of the penis. No significant changes were observed in the pelvic organs that could be at the origin of priapism. The lumbar‐sacral spinal regions were carefully inspected and evidenced signs of L7‐S1 stenosis due to spondylosis. The case presented herein is a rare situation of priapism of neurogenic origin in a dog. Necropsy findings suggest that it was consecutive to cauda equina compression due to lumbar spinal stenosis.     

Catheter-induced urethral trauma in cats with urethral obstruction

Fifteen cats were evaluated with urethral obstruction. Penile trauma by catheterization was the major indication for perineal urethrostomy. Ten cats had developed a urethral stricture and five had rupture of the urethra following medical management. All cats had abnormalities in penis and/or prepuce and/or scrotal sacs including hyperemia or swelling. Perineal urethrostomy was performed in all cases and they were evaluated for 6 months after surgery. Few complications were noted. Urinary tract infection was the most frequent complication observed. The clients considered their cats to have a good quality of life following surgery.     

Metastasis of a transmissible venereal tumour to the pituitary

This report presents a case of metastasising transmissible venereal tumour (TVT) with lesions of the penis, lip, spleen and pituitary. The clinical picture is outlined and the associated diagnostic radiographic procedures used to reach a final diagnosis of a space–occupying lesion in the region of the pituitary are described. A definitive diagnosis of a metastasizing TVT was reached by histopathological examination and it is concluded that the pituitary and spleen metastases are examples of the systemic dissemination of the original penile tumour whilst the lip lesion probably arose by direct contact.     

An overview on congenital alopecia in domestic animals

Alopecia, that is, lack of hair in any quantity, is a frequent complaint of pet owners. Although mostly acquired, rare congenital forms of alopecia exist that are associated with abnormalities in hair follicle morphogenesis. Congenital alopecias can result in changes in quality or quantity of hair follicles and the hair fibres produced by them. They vary in terms of clinical presentation and mode of inheritance. Histopathology is usually needed in order to differentiate between a reduced number of otherwise normal hair follicles and qualitative hair follicle abnormalities. Although our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive hair follicle morphogenesis in mice and humans has significantly increased during the last decade, still very little is known about congenital alopecias in domestic animals. Because of their rarity and the general lack of knowledge about their pathophysiology, classification of congenital alopecias in domestic animals is still unsatisfactory. This article reviews hair follicle morphogenesis and its most important molecular mechanisms, and it discusses the various forms of congenital alopecia occurring in domestic animals that have been described in the literature, differentiating between hair follicle aplasia, hair follicle dysplasia (i.e. defects associated with hair follicle development and defects associated with hair shaft formation), and neuroectodermal dysplasias, the latter involving the hair follicle pigmentary system.     

Clinicopathologic abnormalities associated with snake envenomation in domestic animals

Envenomation of domestic animals by snakes occurs frequently in certain geographic areas. However, reports describing clinical signs, clinicopathologic abnormalities, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes are sparse. This review summarizes various snake families, venom types associated with harmful snakes, and the significant hematologic, hemostatic, and biochemical abnormalities associated with envenomation. Hematologic abnormalities include RBC membrane abnormalities, hemolysis, hemoconcentration, leukogram changes, and platelet abnormalities, specifically thrombocytopenia. Coagulopathies associated with snake envenomation are well described in human medicine, and many studies have demonstrated properties of venoms that lead to both procoagulation and anticoagulation. As expected, similar abnormalities have been described in domestic animals. Biochemical abnormalities are associated with the effects of venom on tissues such as liver, skeletal and cardiac muscle, vascular endothelium, and kidney as well as effects on protein components and cholesterol. This comprehensive review of clinicopathologic abnormalities associated with envenomation and their relationships to characterized venom constituents should be useful both in the diagnosis and management of envenomation and should serve as a foundation for future research in this field.     

Use of sodium nitroprusside in the anaesthetic protocol of a patent ductus arteriosus ligation in a dog

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is one of the most common congenital cardiac abnormalities in the dog. Sodium nitroprusside has been proposed as an infusion during PDA ligation as the resultant nitric oxide production causes hypotension thereby facilitating surgical dissection and decreasing the risk of haemorrhage. This case report details how the method described did not decrease blood pressure and therefore had no beneficial effects. It is speculated that the lack of response may have been due to tachyphylaxis. Other drugs may be preferred to induce deliberate hypotension in the dog.