Abstract
Summary: A rare case of bilateral perineal hernia was reported
in a 24-year-old Italian Trotter mare. This condition is described as a
protrusion of retroperitoneal fat, and/or the abdominal or pelvic
viscera through the pelvic diaphragm which supports the rectal wall. It
is commonly observed in olduncastrated old male dogs, but occurs very
rarely in large ruminants; to the Authors’ knowledge, it has never been
described in horses. Chronic weight loss is the main clinical sign, even
if the main concern regards the entrapment and the strangulation of the
bowel content. Reaching a diagnosis involves clinical signs, palpation,
ultrasound evaluation and rectal examination. The approach chosen in all
the cases of perineal hernia described in large ruminants is
appositional herniorrhaphy; for this reason, it was utilised as the
first surgical choice in the present case. Due to its failure, a new
surgical approach was used The second procedure involved the
transposition of the semimembranosus muscle. The short-term outcome
after the second surgery presented no recurrence or complications. It is
therefore necessary to consider perineal hernia among the various
differential diagnosis of perineal swellings in horses. Additional cases
are required to determine its benefits.