Inguinal-Scrotal Urinary Bladder Hernia in an Intact Male Domestic Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract

An 8-year-old intact male dwarf rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented with a 2-month history of unilateral scrotal swelling. The external physical examination of the rabbit patient confirmed the severe, unilateral, fluid-filled scrotal distention. Radiographic images of the effected scrotum revealed a soft tissue swelling in the area of the left testicle, and the absence of the urinary bladder in the caudal abdomen. Ultrasonography verified the presence of a fluid-filled mass in the scrotum, enveloping the left testicle. A fine-needle aspiration of the scrotal mass yielded urine, thus a diagnosis of a nonreducible herniation of the urinary bladder into the scrotum was made. An inguinal herniorrhaphy was performed, and the bladder was successfully reduced into the abdominal cavity. A bilateral routine castration and left scrotal ablation were also performed. Two months after surgery no recurrence was noted, and the patient had normal urinary function. Inguino-scrotal bladder herniation is rare in both humans and animals. Male rabbits are predisposed to inguinal and scrotal hernias because their inguinal rings remain open throughout life. Herniation of the urinary bladder should be considered as a differential diagnosis when intact male rabbits are presented with unilateral scrotal swelling.