Structure and Function of the Urinary Tract in Dogs

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Structure and Function of the Urinary Tract in Dogs

By: Dr. Bari Spielman

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What Are Common Diseases of the Urinary Tract?

Like all other systems in the body, the urinary tract is subject to diseases, disorders, and injuries. The more common of these in dogs include the following:

Urinary tract infections of the bladder are very common and may be referred to as cystitis. Female dogs, which have a wider and shorter urethra than male dogs, are affected more often. Male dogs, however, do get bladder infections, especially when they are intact (non-neutered). Typical signs of bladder infections include straining to urinate, increased frequency of urination, blood in the urine, and sometimes a change in the smell of the urine.

Pyelonephritis refers to infections of the kidney. Most of these infections are due to bacteria and may be secondary to severe, chronic, or recurrent bladder infections. With time, bacteria associated with bladder infections may travel up the ureters to infect the kidneys.

Animals with pyelonephritis may become very ill and may need to be hospitalized for intensive therapy.

Stones or calculi may develop anywhere in the urinary tract; however, they are most common in the bladder. Affected dogs have different symptoms, treatment options, and prognoses depending upon the type, number and location of the stones. Pets with bladder stones may have no symptoms or may show blood in the urine, painful urination, and straining to urinate. Male dogs with bladder stones are prone to obstruction of the urethra because the urethra is usually smaller than the diameter of the stones. Stones in the kidney and ureters may cause severe damage to these organs, with rupture of the ureter and sometimes kidney failure. Stones may develop because of chronic infection, defects in the metabolism and excretion of certain salts, or dietary factors.

Renal or kidney failure results when the kidneys are not able to remove toxins from the body and can no longer regulate water and electrolyte levels in the body. Dogs can lose up to 2/3 of their functional kidney capacity without showing signs of kidney failure. It is only when 3/4 of the capacity is gone that the kidneys can no longer compensate completely, and toxins and abnormal levels of minerals and electrolytes begin to build up in the blood stream.

Kidney failure may occur in dogs of all ages and breeds. It is classified as either acute (sudden onset) or chronic (slow, gradual course). Acute kidney failure arises most often with exposure to certain drugs or poisons. One of the most common causes of acute kidney failure in young animals is the ingestion of antifreeze or ethylene glycol. The most common type of kidney failure in older dogs is chronic kidney disease secondary to years of degeneration and deterioration of certain components of the kidney.

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary passage of urine that arises with loss of bladder sphincter control. There are many possible causes of urinary incontinence, although low estrogen levels in female spayed dogs is perhaps the most common cause.

Tumors can arise anywhere in the urinary tract. One of the most common tumors arises in the bladder and is called transitional cell carcinoma. Tumors of the urinary tract are often malignant.

The urinary tract may become traumatized when a dog is hit by a car, falls from a height or is attacked by another dog. Fractures of the pelvis may cause disruption of both the urethra and bladder. Hemorrhages or rupture of the kidneys, ureters or bladder may occur with trauma to the abdomen. The urethra of the male dog is more exposed than the female and may be subjected to bite wounds or other penetrating injuries.

What Types of Diagnostic Tests Are Used to Evaluate the Urinary Tract?

There are several diagnostic tests that are particularly helpful when evaluating the urinary tract.

A urinalysis is examination of the urine for the presence of certain abnormal substances, such as blood, protein, sugar and white blood cells. It also evaluates the urine concentration, which measures the ability of the kidneys to function and retain water. Urine samples may be obtained by having the patient urinate into a container, or by retrieving a sample directly from the bladder. Urine can be removed from the bladder via catheterization or cystocentesis (drawing urine directly from the bladder with a needle). These latter methods allow the urine to be collected in a sterile fashion.

Bacterial urine culture and sensitivity testing are performed to identify the presence of bacteria, to help confirm urinary tract infection, and to select appropriate antibiotic therapy.

A biochemical profile may reveal elevations in kidney enzymes, electrolyte abnormalities, or may show changes suggestive of other metabolic or endocrine disorders that predispose the individual to recurrent cystitis or kidney failure.

A complete blood count, measurement of blood pressure, and other tests provide valuable information about the function of the kidneys.

Abdominal radiographs (x-rays) may reveal changes in kidney size and shape, the presence of urinary tract calculi, changes in bladder size and shape, and abnormalities in structures around the urinary tract organs.

Abdominal ultrasonography is very helpful in evaluating the internal structures of the kidney and bladder. An abdominal ultrasound may help differentiate upper and lower urinary tract infections. Ultrasonography is also helpful in evaluating the presence of stones, tumors, and hemorrhages throughout the abdominal urinary tract. An ultrasound is a noninvasive procedure that often necessitates the expertise of a veterinary specialist and may require referral of your dog to a hospital with ultrasound capabilities.

A contrast cystourethrogram is an x-ray dye study that evaluates the urinary bladder and urethra. It is performed by inserting a dye that shows up white on an x-ray into the urethra and the bladder. It may confirm the presence of a tumor, stone or structural abnormality of the urethra and bladder. It is used primarily to assess the lower urinary tract.

Excretory urography or IVP is an intravenous dye study that examines primarily the the upper urinary tract (kidneys and ureters). A dye that shows up white on an x-ray is injected into a vein. The dye travels to the kidneys and is excreted along the same route that urine is produced. An IVP is helpful in documenting pyelonephritis, and may help detect stones, congenital birth defects, and other abnormalities.

Cystoscopy is a procedure where a small scope is passed up the urethra into the bladder. The procedure is not often performed in dogs because their urethras are very small and the equipment to perform the procedure can be quite expensive.

In some cases, surgical exploration of the abdomen may be needed to confirm the presence of a urinary tract disorder, to obtain biopsies of urinary structures, and to institute corrective therapy.

Any stones surgically removed from the urinary tract are analyzed for their mineral content.

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1 The Importance of a Urinalysis in Dogs
A urinalysis is a laboratory test that evalutes urine. A urinalysis usually consists of three parts which includes looking at the physical sample, a dipstick analysis and looking at the sediment under...
Read More
2 Urolithiasis (stones in the urinary tract) in Dogs
Urolithiasis refers to the formation of stones in the urinary tract due to oversaturation of the urine with certain minerals. Calculi can be found anywhere in the urinary tract, but are most common in...
Read More
3 Acute Cystitis in Dogs
Acute cystitis is defined as inflammation of the urinary bladder usually caused by a bacterial infection. Most cases are caused by bacteria from the intestinal tract that migrate up into the bladder.
Read More
4 Chronic Renal (Kidney) Failure in Dogs
The digestion of food produces waste products, which are carried by blood to the kidneys to be filtered and excreted in the form of urine. When the kidneys fail, they are no longer able to remove these...
Read More
5 Urinary Incontinence in Dogs
Urinary incontinence is the loss of voluntary control of urination and may be confused with inappropriate urination, which is a behavioral problem. Diagnostic tests may be needed to distinguish between...
Read More

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1Acute Cystitis in Dogs
Acute cystitis is defined as inflammation of the urinary bladder usually caused by a bacterial infection. Most cases are caused by bacteria from the intestinal tract that migrate up into the bladder.
Read More
2Chronic Renal (Kidney) Failure in Dogs
The digestion of food produces waste products, which are carried by blood to the kidneys to be filtered and excreted in the form of urine. When the kidneys fail, they are no longer able to remove these...
Read More
3The Importance of a Urinalysis in Dogs
A urinalysis is a laboratory test that evalutes urine. A urinalysis usually consists of three parts which includes looking at the physical sample, a dipstick analysis and looking at the sediment under...
Read More
4Urinary Incontinence in Dogs
Urinary incontinence is the loss of voluntary control of urination and may be confused with inappropriate urination, which is a behavioral problem. Diagnostic tests may be needed to distinguish between...
Read More
5Urolithiasis (stones in the urinary tract) in Dogs
Urolithiasis refers to the formation of stones in the urinary tract due to oversaturation of the urine with certain minerals. Calculi can be found anywhere in the urinary tract, but are most common in...
Read More

Structure and Function of the Urinary Tract in Dogs

Structure and Function of the Urinary Tract in Dogs

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