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Objective To describe the use and outcome of percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL) for removal of urethral and bladder stones in dogs and cats. Study design Retrospective case series. Animals Sixty‐eight client‐owned dogs and cats. Methods Records were reviewed and analyzed for dogs and cats that underwent PCCL between January 2012 and December 2017. Signalment, clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging data, procedure time, use of lithotripsy, biopsy, perioperative and immediate postoperative complications, hospitalization times, stone composition, and urine culture results were recorded. Owners were contacted by phone or email 3 weeks after the procedure. Follow‐up communications with the owner and referring veterinarian were also recorded. Results Seventy percutaneous cystolithotomies were performed in 59 dogs and nine cats. The median duration of the procedure was 95 minutes (45‐420), and lithotripsy was required in 3% (2/70) of PCCL. Complications during the procedure were reported in one case. In eighty‐three percent of procedures (58/70), animals were discharged within 24 hours postoperative. Twenty‐four percent (16/68) of animals had minor complications (lower urinary tract signs), and one dog had a major complication (surgical wound dehiscence) during the 3 weeks after the operation. Long‐term follow‐up revealed stone recurrence in 21% of cases followed more than a year after the procedure (7/33). Conclusion Percutaneous cystolithotomy allowed removal of bladder and urethral stones with rapid postoperative recovery and few major perioperative or short‐term postoperative complications. Clinical significance Percutaneous cystolithotomy provides an attractive minimally invasive surgical alternative for removal of lower urinary tract stones in small animals.

Background: Benign ureteral obstructions (BUOs) present a therapeutic challenge in cats.Hypothesis/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome and complications associated with placement of subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) device in cats.Animals: Eighty-one client-owned cats (117 kidneys) with BUO treated by placement of a SUB.Methods: Retrospective study. Medical records of cats with BUO and treated by SUB device placement between 2013 and 2018 were reviewed. Outcome and complications were documented.Results: Hospital discharge rate was 94% (76/81). Serum creatinine on admission and at the time of discharge was 5.3 mg/dL (range, 1.2 to >15 mg/dL) and 2.1 mg/dL (range, 1.1-12.5 mg/dL), respectively. Luminal obstructions were documented in 17% (18/109) of the SUB devices of 16 cats discharged from the hospital. Infection was documented in 26% (20/76) of discharged cats. Kink of the device was documented in 10% (12/117) of devices. Time to luminal obstruction and kink were 204 days (range, 21-1678 days) and 58 days (range, 2-601 days), respectively. Fourteen of 81 (17%) cats required a revision surgery in order to restore patency of the device.At the time of writing, 53% (43/81) of cats were alive, with a mean survival time of 821 days (range, 1-2170 days) after surgery. Of those that died, 52% (20/38) died of urinary related causes. Conclusion and Clinical Importance:This study suggests that SUB device placement is associated with good outcomes and could be considered for the treatment of BUO in cats.

Background Cytoscopic‐guided laser ablation (CLA) is a technique that can be used to correct intramural ectopic ureters (EUs) in dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives To describe clinicopathologic, imaging, and cystoscopic findings in dogs undergoing CLA for intramural EU correction, and whether any of these findings are associated with continence outcomes. Animals Thirty‐one client‐owned dogs undergoing CLA between 2009 and 2019. Methods Retrospective cohort study. Data collected from medical records included signalment, clinical findings (including continence score at presentation), clinicopathologic findings (serum biochemistry profile, urinalysis, and urine culture results before CLA), ultrasonography, and cystoscopy findings. Follow‐up information was collected at 1 day to 1 week, 1 week to 1 month, and at >1 month time points after CLA. Final continence score was determined based on this follow‐up information. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine factors that were associated with final continence score. Results Median continence score of dogs at initial evaluation was 2 (range, 2‐4). Median continence score after CLA alone was 3 (range, 1‐5). Seventeen of 31 (54.8%) dogs received adjunctive medical management after CLA. Median continence score after CLA with or without adjunctive medical management was 5 (range, 1‐5). Overall, 67.7% of dogs were considered continent after CLA with or without adjunctive medical management. No preoperative or perioperative factors were found to be associated with final continence score. Conclusions Cystoscopic‐guided laser ablation for intramural EU in female dogs provides improvement in incontinence. Dogs remaining incontinent after CLA may improve with adjunctive medical management. Surgical management is required to manage incontinence in dogs with extramural EU.

Objectives The aim of the study was to describe renal pelvis (RP) and ureteral ultrasonographic measurements in a population of cats with confirmed benign ureteral obstruction (UO) by antegrade pyelography. The secondary objective was to further describe clinical findings associated with minimally dilated obstructed kidneys in an attempt to better understand its occurrence. Methods Retrospective case series of cats diagnosed with benign UO were confirmed by antegrade pyelography. Medical records were reviewed and signalment, diagnostic imaging results, serum creatinine (SCr) concentration and urine culture results were recorded. Each obstructed kidney was categorized into two groups: group 1 included all RP measurements ⩽4 mm and group 2 included all RP measurements >4 mm. Results A total of 82 cats with 114 obstructed ureters met the inclusion criteria. Fifty (61%) cats had a unilateral UO and 32 (39%) had a bilateral UO. Thirty (26%) kidneys were included in group 1 while 84 (74%) were included in group 2. Nine (8%) kidneys had an RP dilation ⩽2 mm. Median RP and ureteral diameters were 6.6 mm (range 1.1–37.0 mm) and 3.2 mm (range 0.0–11.0 mm), respectively. RP size correlated positively with ureteral diameter in the study population ( P <0.0001), but not in group 1 when analyzed separately ( P = 0.47). UO was secondary to stones in 80 (70%) ureters. Seventeen (21%) cats had a positive urine culture. At admission, 79 (96%) cats were azotemic with a median preoperative SCr concentration of 444 µmol/l (range 108–1326 μmol/l). The mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) preoperative SCr concentration was significantly higher in group 1 (762 µmol/l [498–1165 μmol/l]) than in group 2 (409 µmol/l [333–502 μmol/l]). RP size in the two groups correlated negatively with preoperative SCr concentration ( P = 0.0002). Conclusions and relevance Feline UO may be associated with minimal RP dilation and the severity of RP and ureteral dilation can be highly variable. Absence of significant RP dilation does not rule out UO in cats.

Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in female dogs and recurrent infections often require investigation by transurethral cystoscopy. Hypothesis/Objectives Describe the findings of transurethral cystoscopy in dogs presented for recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTI). Animals Fifty‐three client‐owned dogs with RUTI were included in the study. Methods Retrospective study. Data collected from medical records included signalment, clinical findings, bladder wall culture, cystoscopic, and histopathologic findings. UTI was defined as: presence of compatible clinical signs and at least 2 out of 3 of the following criteria: (1) pyuria, (2) positive urine culture, (3) resolution of clinical signs with antibiotic treatment. Recurrence of UTI was defined as at least 2 episodes of UTI within 6 months or at least 3 or more in 1 year. Results The mean age at presentation was 3.8 years with a majority of female dogs (48/53), 40/48 of which were spayed. Main breeds were Labrador (10/53), Australian Shepherd (4/53), and Miniature Schnauzer (3/53). A hooded vulva was noted in 33/48 of females. Transurethral cystoscopy showed anomalies in 45/53 of cases: mucosal edema (19/53), vestibulovaginal septal remnant (15/48), lymphoid follicles (8/53), short urethra (6/53), and ectopic ureter (5/53). Urine culture at the time of cystoscopy was positive in 13/49. Bladder wall edema and ulceration were the most common findings on histopathology (25/39). Conclusion and Clinical Importance RUTI occurred more frequently in spayed female dogs. Transurethral cystoscopy is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of anomalies in dogs with RUTIs.

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Objectives The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the feline population presented for urinary incontinence at a veterinary teaching hospital between 2009 and 2019, with a particular focus on cats with a non-neurologic underlying cause. Methods The medical records of cats diagnosed with urinary incontinence were retrospectively evaluated. Signalment, clinical presentation, results of diagnostic tests, diagnosis of the underlying cause and treatments were recorded. When information was available, outcome was recorded and follow-ups divided into three time frames (0–1 week, 1 week to 3 months and >3 months). Results Thirty-five cats were presented with urinary incontinence. Of these, 18 cats with complete medical records presented urinary incontinence of non-neurologic origin. The most common clinical signs at presentation were urine leakage while resting (12/18), urine-soiled perineum (8/18), urine dribbling (8/18) and no spontaneous micturition (5/18). The most common underlying cause was urethral obstruction (67%; 12/18), with a majority due to urethral strictures (58%; 7/12). Other causes were suspected inflammation (2/12), neoplasia (1/12), urolithiasis (1/12) and foreign body (1/12). In 8/10 cats in which it was performed, cystoscopy and contrast cystourethrography were the methods that led to the diagnosis. Twelve cats with urethral obstruction underwent interventional procedures, resulting in complete resolution of incontinence in 7/12 and improvement in 1/12. Urinary tract infection was a common complication after 3 months (4/18). Conclusions and relevance When incontinence of non-neurologic origin is suspected in a cat, urethral obstruction should be considered. Advanced imaging studies (cystoscopy and contrast studies) are useful for diagnosis. A good prognosis was reported in cats undergoing interventional procedures with no long-term treatment.