Congenital Preputial Ostium Atresia and Persistent Penile Frenulum in a 3-Month-Old German shepherd Dog

Abstract

Congenital abnormalities affecting the reproductive system of male animals have been reported over the years. Due to hereditary predisposition, affected animals are culled from breeding programs. A 3-month-old male German Shepherd dog was presented to the Theriogenology Unit of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, with a complaint of a distended preputial pouch. On examination, only a pinpoint fistulous opening where urine was seen to void was observed and the penis was palpable within the preputial pouch. Before surgical intervention, blood was collected for haematology and serum chemistry while aspirate from the swelling was taken for cytological evaluation and microbial culture. Cytological evaluation of the aspirate revealed an abundance of neutrophils while the microbial culture yielded no growth. Surgical intervention to construct the preputial orifice by making a triangular incision at the dorsal aspect of the prepuce around the pinpoint opening to remove a flap of tissue and create an orifice was successful. During the surgical construction of the preputial orifice, the presence of a persistent penile frenulum which was severed from its ventral attachment to the preputial mucosa, was discovered. The puppy recovered fully following the correction of both anomalies and removal of suture was at 14 days post-surgery. The presence of concurrent congenital reproductive anomalies in an animal are indicator of embryological developmental disorder, which impacts negatively on reproduction. This case heightens the importance of consulting veterinary clinicians for a thorough physical examination before purchasing any animal, especially when such is intended for breeding.