Radiographic findings in induced bacterial pyelonephritis in dogs

Unilateral bacterial pyelonephritis was induced in nine dogs. The upper urinary tracts of these and six control dogs were evaluated by excretory urography prior to and 9 to 10 days following experimental manipulations. Two of the dogs with unilateral pyelonephritis and one control dog were evaluated at intervals throughout a 58-day period. At necropsy, all nine inoculated kidneys were infected, one experimental dog had bilateral pyelonephritis, and one control dog had unilateral pyelonephritis. Most of the infected kidneys had abnormal radiographic changes 9 to 10 days after induction of infection. There was no statistically significant radiographic change in size of infected kidneys at 9 to 10 days. Seven of the 11 infected kidneys and 7 of the 9 inoculated kidneys had renal pelvic and ureteral dilatation. Of the nine dogs with unilateral pyelonephritis, six had decreased opacity of contrast medium in the collecting system and of the vascular nephrogram on the infected side. The size of infected kidneys decreased progressively during the 58-day period. In one of the two dogs evaluated throughout the period, the collecting system of the infected kidney remained dilated; in the other, it returned toward normal size.