VESTIBULOVAGINAL STENOSIS IN DOGS - 18 CASES (1987-1995)

Objective-To evaluate vestibulovaginal stenosis in dogs. Design-Retros pective study. Animals-18 dogs with vestibulovaginal stenosis diagnose d between January 1987 and June 1995. Procedure-Signalment, results of physical examination, and diagnostic testing, treatment, and outcome were analyzed. Results-Mean age at initial examination was 4.6 years. Problems reported by the owners included signs of chronic urinary trac t infection (6 dogs), urinary incontinence (4), failure to mate (4), s igns of chronic vaginitis (2), and inappropriate urination (1). One do g did not have evidence of a clinical problem. Vestibulovaginal stenos is was detected by means of digital vaginal examination (18/18 dogs), vaginoscopy (17/17 dogs), and positive-contrast vaginography (9/10 dog s). Bacteria were isolated from the urine of 11 of 15 dogs. Twelve of 18 dogs were treated. Manual dilation (4 dogs) and T-shaped vaginoplas ty (4) were less successful than vaginectomy (2) or resection of the s tenotic area (3). Four of 6 dogs with signs of recurrent urinary tract infection underwent surgical correction, and none of these dogs subse quently had urinary tract infection. Three of 4 dogs with urinary inco ntinence responded to medical or surgical treatment for sphincter inco mpetence or for ectopic ureters. Clinical Implications-Surgical correc tion of vestibulovaginal stenosis is indicated in dogs that have matin g difficulties or signs of recurrent urinary tract infection or chroni c vaginitis, but stenosis is probably an incidental finding in most do gs with urinary incontinence. Vaginectomy and vaginal resection and an astomosis are the preferred surgical options.