Complete Urogenital and Anorectal Duplication in a Dog

Abstract

A 10-week-old sexually intact female golden retriever was evaluated for two functional anal openings and a bipartite vulva. Examination revealed haired skin between two separate anatomically smaller anal openings. On rectal palpation, a soft tissue septum (5 cm) with a mucosal surface between the two anal openings was palpated. In addition, circumferential rectal musculature was not appreciated on the ventral aspect. Urogenital evaluation revealed duplication of the vestibule and vagina with a complete centrally located septum extending dorsoventrally. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis, vaginocystourethrogram, and colonogram were performed. Complete bifurcation of the urinary bladder with duplication of the urethra, cervix, and vaginal canal was noted. Approximately 2 cm from the rectum, there was a similar bifurcation that converged the colon into two rectal portions and separate anal openings. The owner was counseled on the severity of congenital malformations and a high likelihood of aging-related developmental complications in the future. The owner elected humane euthanasia and a necropsy was performed to confirm the malformations.

Colonic duplication with colovaginal fistula in a dog

“…GI tract duplications are rare malformations, both in human and veterinary medicine. They are commonly accompanied by other comorbidities such as urogenital or vertebral abnormalities 2,9–13,16 . In the reported case, there was a colovaginal fistula, which has not been reported in veterinary medicine and is considered extremely rare in humans 17 .…”

“…A classification system for GI congenital duplications was created for humans and has been previously used in veterinary medicine. Type I are cases where the duplication is limited to the GI tract, and type II are cases with complete duplication associated with other congenital anomalies 2,7,9,18 . The duplications are additionally classified as communicating or non‐communicating depending on whether the duplicated colon has communication with the lumen of the remaining colon.…”

“…Clinical signs, location and outcome vary largely. Of the 13 existing veterinary cases of GI duplication, four reported duplications were in the small intestine, 1–4 one in the rectum, 5 and the remaining eight were colonic duplications with different extents and comorbidities 6–13 . Six of the reports were in cats 1,3–6,12 .…”

Type Ib (tubular) non‐communicating colonic and rectal duplication in a cat

“…Intestinal duplication has been associated with other congenital urogenital and musculoskeletal malformations in people 1. In the veterinary literature, cases of complete urogenital and anorectal duplication, retroperitoneal sac formation, polymelia, vertebral malformation, bladder duplication, and congenital lymphangiomatosis in addition to an intestinal duplication have been reported 3 7 11 18 22 24 25. Given the frequency of accompanied malformations in the veterinary literature, further preoperative diagnostic imaging studies, including CT, ultrasound and coloscopy, have to be considered to get a precise idea about the location, extent and size of the duplication and the possible involvement of adjacent structures to ensure that the surgical intervention can be planned as accurately as possible 15 16.…”

Urinary bladder duplication in coronal plane in a dog

“…Duplication of the urinary bladder is a rare congenital malformation of the lower urinary tract in humans and animals 1–9 . This anomaly can be categorized as complete or incomplete, and the dividing urinary bladder septum can be present in the sagittal or coronal plane 6 …”