Autogenous vaginal tunic used as reinforcement in inguinal herniorrhaphy in a dog

This case report describes the use of an autologous vaginal tunic as a reinforcement material in the repair of an inguinal hernia in a 10.5-year-old intact male mixed-breed dog, presented to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Western Bahia with a 10-month history of swelling in the right lateral region of the penis. The patient was diagnosed with prostatic hyperplasia associated with an inguinal hernia. Surgical treatment consisted of inguinal herniorrhaphy; given the muscle weakness observed intraoperatively, the inguinal wall was reinforced using a double-layered autologous vaginal tunic obtained following bilateral orchiectomy. The procedure resulted in successful recovery, with no postoperative complications, demonstrating tissue stability and excellent anatomical integration. One year and four months later, the animal was euthanized due to complications arising from multicentric lymphoma. Necropsy revealed firm integration between the vaginal tunic and adjacent tissues, with the abdominal cavity preserved in its entirety. Histopathological analysis confirmed the preservation of muscle, adipose, and connective tissues, along with the absence of inflammation, granulation tissue, hyperplasia, or fibrosis. As this is a single case report the present findings do not allow for generalizations. However, they suggest that the autologous vaginal tunic may represent a viable, safe, and cost-effective alternative as a reinforcement material in canine inguinal herniorrhaphy.