Acquired non-incarcerated inguinal/scrotal herniation in working donkeys (Equus asinus)

In equine practice, inguinal hernia is a common disease and can be either acquired (direct) or congenital (indirect). This retrospective study aimed to describe the presentation and surgical management of acquired inguinal/scrotal herniation in 11 working donkeys (nine intact males, one gelding, and one female). All donkeys had a unilateral acquired inguinal/scrotal hernia, which was noticed by the owner for a period of two to 24 weeks. All the swellings were reducible, painless, not accompanied by an acute abdomen. Ultrasonography, rectal, and clinical examination are useful tools for the diagnosis of inguinal/scrotal hernias in donkeys. Eight animals underwent successful inguinal herniorrhaphy with the removal of the testicle at the affected side, and the superficial inguinal ring was closed by application double-layer polypropylene mesh. The recovery period ranged from 14 to 25 days (average, 16.8 ± 2.8 days). All donkeys released from the clinic returned to their previous levels of exercise. Our study showed that acquired inguinal or scrotal herniation in donkeys is not a clinical emergency requiring prompt intervention. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing this condition in donkeys.