Long‐term outcome of the transobturator vaginal tape inside out for the treatment of urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence in female dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long‐term efficacy of the transobturator vaginal tape inside out (TVT‐O) in female dogs with urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Incontinent spayed female dogs (n = 12). METHODS: TVT‐O tape was inserted in 12 incontinent bitches diagnosed with USMI. Follow‐up information was evaluated by a telephone questionnaire, and a continence score was attributed. RESULTS: One year after surgery, 7 of 12 (58%) dogs were completely continent. Two dogs were removed from the long‐term analysis (1 dead and 1 lost). At a median follow‐up time of 85 months (range, 28‐95), 4 of 10 dogs were completely continent without medical treatment. Incontinence recurred in 6 dogs at a median time of 2 months after surgery (range 1‐20). Among these 6 dogs, 4 regained continence, and 2 had sporadic episodes of incontinence with additional medical treatment. No postoperative complications were encountered. CONCLUSION: TVT‐O alone was successful in maintaining long‐term continence in 40% of the dogs. Additional postoperative medical treatment was effective in restoring continence in another 40% of the dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: TVT‐O provides an alternative treatment of USMI in female dogs that is safe and less invasive than standard surgical techniques.