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Delayed-onset urinary incontinence in five female dogs with ectopic ureters
1Blackpool PDSA Petaid Hospital, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 4AP.
The Journal of Small Animal Practice
|March 11, 2010
Summary
Delayed-onset urinary incontinence in female dogs can stem from congenital ectopic ureter. Surgical correction offers improvement, but long-term continence varies, suggesting this condition warrants further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Canine Urology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Ectopic ureter is a congenital anomaly where ureters bypass the bladder.
- Urinary incontinence is a common presenting sign in affected female dogs.
- The incidence of delayed-onset incontinence due to congenital ectopic ureter is not well-established.
Observation:
- A case series identified five female dogs with congenital ectopic ureter presenting with delayed-onset urinary incontinence.
- These cases occurred within a larger cohort of 22 female dogs diagnosed with ectopic ureter over 102 months.
- The dogs presented with incontinence that developed after initial presentation or diagnosis.
Findings:
- All five dogs showed initial improvement in urinary incontinence following surgical treatment for ectopic ureter.
- Long-term continence was achieved in only three of the five dogs without additional interventions.
- This suggests that congenital ectopic ureter may be an underrecognized cause of delayed-onset urinary incontinence in female dogs.
Implications:
- Congenital ectopic ureter should be considered in the differential diagnosis for female dogs with delayed-onset urinary incontinence.
- Further research is needed to determine the true prevalence of this presentation.
- Veterinary clinicians should consider investigating ectopic ureter in cases of persistent or delayed-onset urinary incontinence.
