1. INTRODUCTION
Phimosis is the inability of the penis to be extruded beyond the
preputial orifice.1,2 The condition has been
infrequently reported in juvenile cats and comprises only 0.5% of
canine penile and preputial lesions according to one
study.3,4 In both species, phimosis is described as
being either congenital or acquired. Congenital causes of phimosis
include an abnormally small or absent preputial orifice, inadequate
penile length as seen with penile hypoplasia, and persistent connective
tissue bands adhering the penis to the preputial
mucosa.2 Acquired causes of phimosis are those that
result in fibrosis and subsequent stenosis of the preputial
orifice.2 Trauma from excessive grooming of the
perineum, by either the dam or littermates, is believed to be the most
common cause, but it is also postulated to occur secondary to infection
(UTI, balanoposthitis) and neoplasia.1,5 Clinical
signs usually include excessive licking of the prepuce, dribbling urine
after urination, stranguria and preputial
swelling.1,2,3,4,5 Diagnosis has previously been
limited to physical examination with an inability to extrude the penis
and a visibly small preputial opening, with the exception of one study
that described the use of contrast abdominal radiography in a dog with
congenital stenosis of the preputial orifice.6 We
present two cases describing the use of a novel contrast radiographic
technique termed a preputiogram (contrast radiography of the preputial
cavity) and ultrasound to diagnose phimosis with or without
penile-preputial adhesions and therefore allow for proper surgical
planning to optimize patient outcomes.