Urinary Incontinence in a Dog With an Ectopic Ureterocele

Abstract

A 7-month-old, female English cocker spaniel was examined because of a complaint of urinary incontinence. Excretory urography revealed a small right kidney and right-sided hydroureter, ectopic ureter, and ureterocele. Ureteronephrectomy and ovariohysterectomy were performed, but the distal ureter and ureterocele were left in situ. Recurrent urinary tract infections and intermittent urinary incontinence persisted after surgery. Vaginourethrography demonstrated the presence of a urethral diverticulum associated with the ureterocele. Ureterocelectomy was performed, and the dog remains continent 4 years after ureterocelectomy. Persistent urinary incontinence and urinary tract infection were attributed to failure to resect the ureterocele.

Imaging Diagnosis—bilateral Orthotopic Ureteroceles in a Dog

“…Clinical signs in patients with ureteroceles include dysuria, stranguria, pollakiuria, hematuria, urinary incontinence, and abdominal pain 1 . However, patients with orthotopic ureteroceles are often asymptomatic unless the ureterocele is large enough to cause outflow obstruction and hydronephrosis 1,3,5 . This is similar to what is seen in people 9 .…”

“…Ureteroceles are identified occasionally in dogs 1,3–12 and rarely in the cat 13 . Ureteroceles occur at a 3.5:1 female to male ratio, with the ectopic type being most common 4 .…”

Cystoscopic diagnosis and treatment of ectopic ureters in female dogs: 16 cases (2005–2008)

“…2,6,8,16,17 Performing abdominal ultrasonography prior to cystoscopy could help identify these abnormalities and suggest a need for further diagnostic testing, such as excretory urography. Dogs with ectopic ureters may have concurrent renal anomalies, including unilateral renal agenesis, hydronephrosis, or pyelonephritis.…”

Scintigraphy and exogenous creatinine clearance to assess renal function in a Newfoundland dog with ureteral ectopia

“…Renal scintigraphy is a useful diagnostic tool for evaluation of the relative percentage each kidney is contributing to the GFR, and a plasma creatinine clearance study can be used to obtain a more precise overall GFR estimate than plasma creatinine alone. Due to the increased risk of recurrent urinary tract infections in dogs with ureteral ectopia, surgical intervention was recommended (Agut and others 2002, Lautzenhiser and Bjorling 2002). While most ectopic ureters are corrected via surgery or laser therapy, we elected to perform a nephrectomy in this dog due to the decreased renal cortical mass that was present, as well as the limited relative contribution to overall GFR.…”