Congenital urethrovaginal fistula with blind-ending vagina in a female pseudohermaphrodite dog with urinary incontinence.

An 8-month old male Doberman Pinscher was referred for investigation of persistent urinary incontinence. Physical examination revealed urine leakage and abnormal external genitalia. A CT scan identified a large fluid filled cavity extending from the caudo-ventral abdomen displacing the colon and urinary bladder. No retained testicles were identified. A retrograde urethrogram study found a linear communication, cranial to the pubic brim between the urethra to the fluid filled cavity (fistula). Exploratory celiotomy was performed, and an entire female reproductive tract with a blind ending vagina and a urethrovaginal fistula was found. En-block gonad hysterectomy was performed and the fistula was transected and a careful urethral reconstruction was performed. The urinary incontinence resolved immediately after surgery and no complications were reported. Mild urinary incontinence recurred 4 days following patient discharge, and a urine culture was positive. An antibiotic course was prescribed and the incontinence fully resolved. Congenital urogenital abnormalities should always be considered in young animals presenting with urinary incontinence. Here, a young female pseudohermaphrodite dog with a naturally occurring congenital urethrovaginal fistula is described. Exploratory surgery was required for definitive diagnosis and surgical intervention yielded a good medium-term outcome with resolution of clinical signs.