Omentalization as a treatment of paraprostatic cysts in dogs

This retrospective study includes fifteen dogs, that were presented to the Department of Surgery and Ophthalmology at the Veterinary University of Vie nna with enlargements either in the caudal part of the abdomen or in the pe rineal region. All patients were intact male individuums, except one Yorksh ire Terrier, which was castrated. The age of the patients was between one a nd eleven years, body weight ranged from 5.3 to 46 kg. The clinical evaluat ion including rectal palpation of the prostate showed a palpable luminar co nstriction of the pelvic cavity, painful abdominal palpation and palpable e nlargements in the region of the caudal abdomen. five dogs showed unilatera l perineal herniation and two dogs had testicular tumors. Blood cell counts showed mild leucocytosis in all animals. Either radiographic or sonographi c imaging was performed. All patients underwent surgical therapy: in twelve dogs closed castration was performed, one dog was already castrated, two d ogs remained uncastrated due to the wish of the owners. In one dog centesis of an abdominal prostatic cyst was performed, in one other dog the prostat ic cyst turned out to be a haematoma, which was resected as a whole. In the remaining thirteen animals partial or total resection and omentalization w ere performed. All patients left the veterinary hospital one day after surg ery with antibiotic (Enrofloxacin [Baytril((R))] and antiphlogistic Ketopro fen [Romefen((R))]) therapy. A routine check was performed 10 days after su rgery. At this occasion we observed mild wound healing disorders in three d ogs (mild reddening and swelling). Eight dogs showed mild defaecation disor ders and depression, one dog was slightly incontinent. At the time of the s econd routine check one month postoperatively, fourteen dogs were clinicall y normal. The one dog with mild incontinence showed the same symptom period ically, it could not be influenced medically. Based on the results of this study, prostatic cysts can only be definitely diagnosed intraoperatively. C linical and rectal evaluations as well as radiographic or ultrasonographic imaging methods are valuable diagnostic aids. Possible differential diagnos is includes haematoma, retention cysts or other enlargements. The performed paraprostatic omentalization is an effective surgical method promising a l ow rate of complications and recurrence.