What is an ectopic ureter?
An ectopic ureter is a congenital anomaly (present at the birth of the dog) in which the duct(s) that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder are incorrectly positioned. Only one of the two ureters or both may be affected by this anomaly.
Normally, the ureters come together at the level of the trigone of the bladder, that is to say in the lower part of the bladder. In case of ectopic ureter, the connection can be done:
- in the urethra, the exit channel from the bladder to the outside of the body,
- in the vagina,
- in the womb,
- at the neck of the bladder, that is to say at the outlet of the latter.
A distinction is made between the intramural ectopic ureters which run in the bladder wall and the extramural ectopic ureters which pass beyond this wall.
It is quite common for an ectopic ureter to be accompanied by other malformations of the urinary tract.
More rarely, the ectopic ureter may have no orifice at all, resulting in hydronephrosis.
Which dogs are affected?
All dogs can potentially be affected by this malformation, although certain racial predispositions have been demonstrated. Thus, the breeds Husky, English Bulldog, Labrador, Collie, Fox Terrier, Westie, Poodle, Border Terrier, Briard, Newfoundland, Skye Terrier and Poodle are more often affected.Females are also more often affected than males.
A hereditary transmission of the malformation is suspected in the Entlebuch Bouvier.
What are the signs of an ectopic ureter in dogs?
The symptoms of an ectopic ureter in dogs are essentially urinary. They mainly result in constant or intermittent urinary incontinence in a young dog.
In a dog where the two ureters are poorly positioned, the dog may never urinate normally unless the ureters come together at the neck of the bladder.
The ectopic ureter can also promote the occurrence of urinary tract infections which can result in the presence of blood in the urine and difficulty urinating normally.
Generally, signs of malformation appear earlier in females than in males, around 10 months in the first and 24 months on average in the second.
How is an ectopic ureter diagnosed?
To diagnose an ectopic ureter, the veterinarian may use various examinations such as urine analysis, ultrasound, intravenous urography, CT scan and/or cystoscopy.
How is an ectopic ureter treated?
The treatment of ectopic ureters in dogs is surgical and consists of reimplanting the ureter(s) at the level of the trigone of the bladder. Prior to the operation, the dog may receive antibiotic treatment if it has a urinary tract infection.
If urinary incontinence persists after the procedure, treatment for sphincter incompetence may be prescribed by the veterinarian. About half of the animals retain more or less marked urinary disorders after the surgical intervention aimed at correcting the anomaly and it would seem that these disorders are often more often present when the ureter empties into the urethra or at the level of the cervix. of the bladder.