URINOGENITAL SYSTEM INJURIES 3
Penis Injuries
a/Bites and Trauma.
Commonest in intact (rather than castrated) males, and is usually the result of fighting or injuries whilst roaming. The penis is potentially a very vascular structure; during erection, a natural tourniqet effect allows blood in but not out, and this can result in serious haemorrhage.
First Aid for this is therefore pressure and cold compresses. Firm pressure just in front of the scrotum may be successful in controlling haemorrhage by pressure on the blood vessels. An elizabethan collar is essential to prevent further self-trauma.
b/ Paraphimosis
This occurs when the penis becomes erect , and is then trapped in this state, usually by preputial hairs binding to the penis and preventing retraction. Often occurs in younger animals which have a tendency to become over-excited!
The trapped penis swells further because of the restricted blood supply, becoming oedematous and then eventually gangrenous. It is also susceptible to trauma in its enlarged state.
First Aid- Try to replace using lots of cold lubricant. Obviously, be very cautious when handling dogs in an understandably distressed state. Retracting the prepuce a little further can often allow the end to free itself from the penis. Keeping the penis moist is essential to maintain viability. Cold, strong solutions of salt or even sugar may help to draw water from an inflamed penis and so reduce its size and allow replacement. Some of these cases are surgical, and can only be kept moist until anaesthesia can be induced.
c/ Foreign bodies
Grass seeds are the commonest foreign body, and if fresh can be flushed out by using water or saline, particularly if used to "balloon" up the prepuce by gently pinching the end and using a syringe to introduce the flush.
INJURIES TO VAGINA AND VULVA
a/Trauma
Is rare, due to the protected anatomy of these structures. RTA's causing pelvic damage, and problematic parturitions can cause lacerations and hence haemorrhage, but this is difficult to control by applying first aid measures.
b/ Pyometra
"Pus in the womb". Is an infection in the uterus occurring during METOESTRUS. If the cervix is open then a vaginal discharge occurs, but the nature of this can be anything from bloody ("come back in season") to foul and purulent. Closed cervix pyometras can be a diagnostic problem, but the animals are often much more ill. Other signs may be polyuria and polydipsia, vomiting, lethargy, anorexia. This is a common time for susceptible bitches to become diabetic, and this is not reversed by treating the underlying pyometra.
First Aid- Fluids. Kidney function is impaired by bacterial toxins.
c/ Polyps and prolapses
The floor of the vagina enlarges during oestrus, and this can be so marked that a polyp like structure appears through the lips of the vulva. This can cause straining, and the polyp itself can be so large as to be traumatised by the environment. Straining can also allow the vagina to prolapse, in which the tube of the vagina everts through the vulva. The emergency arises if urination is prevented or if the protruding tissue is damaged.
First Aid- Keep moist, pressure and cold compresses. Prolapse of the vagina is rare, but vaginal polyps are relatively common, and because they are enlarged tissue, they cannot usually be replaced. The tissue can be removed surgically, or will subside after oestrus. Spaying is usually suggested as breeding is difficult in these animals.