Urethro-rectal fistulae in a male dog. A case report

It was remitted to our hospital a one year old, male English Bulldog. It had recurrent urinary infections and alterations of the micturition. A positive-contrast retrograde urethrography demonstrated the existence of a fistula between urethra and rectum. By means of surgical approach through left perineal region, the closing and cut of the fistula was done, being solved the pathology, disappearing all the symptoms of the patient. References hardly describe this congenital anomaly that have to be considered in differential diagnosis of recurrent cystitis in young patients. The only effective treatment is surgical, in which must bind up and section the fistulae between urethra and rectum. Access to the pelvic urethra, which is normally described for these cases, is a pubic osteotomy. But some authors suggest muscles dissection of pelvic diaphragm for accede to it, being a less traumatic approach than the first one. Low incidence of this anomaly, as well as the possibility of resolution with a surgical approach different from the conventional one, they seem to us reasons of clinical interest for the explanation this case.