It is the tunneling effect that makes this particular type
of ectopic ureter difficult to address with conventional surgery as described above.
A urethral pressure profile (UPP) is the diagnostic gold standard for USMI and is also helpful for evaluating urethral tone in dogs
with ectopic ureters.
Contact your vet for a complete health evaluation should your puppy exhibit signs
for ectopic ureter (s) or infection.
These include a weak urethral sphincter (for spayed or desexed female pooches), congenital causes
like ectopic ureters in younger dogs, weak bladders and short urethras that might occur in some female dogs.
In humans, CT scanning is the diagnostic method of choice for the diagnosis
of ectopic ureters.
To inquire more about therapeutic options
for ectopic ureters, feel free to contact the small animal clinic.
Depending on the type of
ectopic ureters (whether it's within or beyond the bladder wall), you can consider sending your dog for surgery or minimally invasive endoscopic laser ablation.
Ectopic Ureters in Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Newfoundlands, and Siberian Huskies
Another possible reason is
an ectopic ureter, where the ureter opens in the urethra instead of the bladder, causing a constant trickle of urine, which is particularly obvious when sleeping because the dog is stationary.
The tentative diagnosis was
ectopic ureter.
Small animal nephrology and urology Nephroliths and ureteroliths (kidney and ureter stones) Minimally invasive urology procedures including shock wave lithotripsy, laser lithotripsy, laser ablation of
ectopic ureters, and periurethral collagen injection for treatment of urinary incontinence Nutritional therapy of urinary tract disease Problem - based learning in veterinary education Client communications
Ectopic ureters: the ureters (tubes leading from the kidneys to the bladder) do not empty into the bladder in the normal location.
Ectopic ureter: even though it is not necessarily the most usual cause, a misaligned ureter or ectopic ureter which fails to correctly connect the kidneys and the bladder, can even cause a canine to experience incontinence.
Ectopic ureter (s), a birth defect, occurs when one or both ureters bypass the bladder and connect in another location, such as the urethra or vagina.
Bladder infections can be common in puppies as well, particularly those with
ectopic ureter (s).
If she really does have
an ectopic ureter or even two ectopic ureters, the only chance at resolving the incontinence is through surgery.
Cystoscopy is generally used to clear up the cases where one simply is not sure if there is
an ectopic ureter or not after the above testing.
Ectopic ureters are rare and it is important to look for more common explanations of the above.
Both of these urodynamic tests should be considered in dogs with refractory USMI,
ectopic ureters or abnormal micturition patterns.
An ectopic ureter is defined as a ureteral opening in any area other than the normal position in the trigone of the bladder.
If the ureter is distended (often the case with
ectopic ureters), this could be seen using ultrasound.
The I.V.P. is a contrast radiographic study used to identify
the ectopic ureters.
Some ectopic ureters go to the bladder as they are supposed to but instead of entering the bladder, simply course along the outside of the bladder to end elsewhere.
If you are reading this page the chances are that you have a puppy (probably female) with urinary incontinence and you have been told that she may have «
ectopic ureters.»
A LASER can be used to cut
the ectopic ureter back to the level of the bladder.
The cystoscope is a long instrument with a camera on the end that can be guided up the urethra to where the opening of
the ectopic ureter can be seen.
Puppy with
ectopic ureters (both right and left).
With an experienced imager, the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of
ectopic ureters is similar to that of the I.V.P..
LASER ablation is best used for «intramural»
ectopic ureters.
Because other conditions can cause similar signs, it is very important that you have your veterinarian rule out spinal disease, pelvic bladder (where the bladder is located in the pelvis instead of the belly),
ectopic ureters (where the ureters open below their normal location), bladder stones, hormone imbalances (urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence) and even bladder cancer.
A few of these include bleeding disorders, cancer in young Goldens, epilepsy, kidney failure in young Goldens (renal dysplasia),
ectopic ureters, vascular shunts, hypothyroidism, hypertrophic osteodystrophy, knee cap (patella) problems, osteochrondrosis dessicans, hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease), X-linked muscular dystrophy, congenital diaphragmatic hernias, cryptorchidism, overshot bites, undershot bites, skin conditions, food allergies, swallowing disorders, and temperament problems.
Some examples of these health conditions include urinary tract infections, diabetes, obesity, Addison's disease, chronic inflammatory disease, brain diseases, Cushing's syndrome, intervertebral disc disease, adrenal gland diseases, congenital problems, spinal degeneration,
ectopic ureters, kidney tumors, kidney failure, food reactions and intestinal parasites.
Cystoscopic laser ablation (CLA) of
ectopic ureters is a minimally invasive procedure resulting in a higher success rate than surgery (and a lower complication rate).
Ectopic ureters are a common cause of urinary incontinence in young dogs.