Urachal remnant as a cause of pollakiuria and dysuria in a filly.

The study investigates a case of a young female horse (filly) experiencing frequent and painful urination due to a urachal remnant. Treatment involving surgical excision brought relief but the filly was later euthanized due to a persistent infection at the incision area.

Objective of the Research

• The main purpose of this study was to explore a unique case of pollakiuria and dysuria in a filly, which was attributed to a urachal remnant. The research aimed to provide an in-depth analysis of the situation, report findings, and inform the larger scientific community about the potential occurrence of this medical condition in horses.

Methodology

• The urachal remnant causing the symptoms was first diagnosed using rectal palpation, an examination method where a vet uses a gloved hand to feel for abnormalities inside the rectal cavity. In this case, an adhesion in the filly’s urinary bladder was identified this way.
• The scientific team also relied on endoscopic visualization, where a small camera (endoscope) is used to visually inspect the filly’s urinary bladder internal structure. The endoscopic examination revealed a urinary bladder diverticulum, a pouch-like structure that can form on a bladder wall.

Findings and Conclusion

• The surgical procedure to remove the urachal remnant was performed, leading to improvement in the filly’s urination patterns. It suggests that such surgical interventions can be an effective way to manage issues related to urachal remnants in equines.
• Despite the initial success of the procedure, the filly was euthanized nine months after the surgery due to a chronic infection at the location of the incision. This somber outcome underlines the importance of post-operative care and management for the prevention of infections.
• Typically, the association of pollakiuria and dysuria with urachal abscessation is more prevalent in calves rather than horses. This highlights this study’s significance, as it documents this syndrome’s occurrence in a horse, thus broadening the understanding of potential equine health issues.