Urethral haemangiosarcoma in a boxer.

Abstract

A seven-year-old, entire female boxer presented with a history of restless behaviour and inappetence. Physical examination revealed that the dog was listless and had a hunched gait. Neurological examination was normal. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a 4 cm x 4 cm mass in the cranial pelvic canal. Neurological abnormalities were detected three days after presentation, and progressed from proprioceptive deficits to loss of deep pain sensation in the pelvic limbs over a two-day period. The dog was euthanased and postmortem examination revealed that the pelvic mass was a urethral haemangiosarcoma with metastasis to the second lumbar vertebra. This case is unusual as urethral tumours are usually transitional cell carcinomas and frequently present with signs of dysuria.