Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in female dogs and recurrent infections often require investigation by transurethral cystoscopy.
Hypothesis/objectives: Describe the findings of transurethral cystoscopy in dogs presented for recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTI).
Animals: Fifty-three client-owned dogs with RUTI were included in the study.
Methods: Retrospective study. Data collected from medical records included signalment, clinical findings, bladder wall culture, cystoscopic, and histopathologic findings. UTI was defined as: presence of compatible clinical signs and at least 2 out of 3 of the following criteria: (1) pyuria, (2) positive urine culture, (3) resolution of clinical signs with antibiotic treatment. Recurrence of UTI was defined as at least 2 episodes of UTI within 6 months or at least 3 or more in 1 year.
Results: The mean age at presentation was 3.8 years with a majority of female dogs (48/53), 40/48 of which were spayed. Main breeds were Labrador (10/53), Australian Shepherd (4/53), and Miniature Schnauzer (3/53). A hooded vulva was noted in 33/48 of females. Transurethral cystoscopy showed anomalies in 45/53 of cases: mucosal edema (19/53), vestibulovaginal septal remnant (15/48), lymphoid follicles (8/53), short urethra (6/53), and ectopic ureter (5/53). Urine culture at the time of cystoscopy was positive in 13/49. Bladder wall edema and ulceration were the most common findings on histopathology (25/39).
Conclusion and clinical importance: RUTI occurred more frequently in spayed female dogs. Transurethral cystoscopy is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of anomalies in dogs with RUTIs.
Keywords: bacterial cystitis; cystoscopic findings; interventional urology; persistent infection; urinary incontinence.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.