Canine Hydronephrosis

Canine hydronephrosis is a swelling of one or both of the kidneys due to a backup of urine. The backup is caused by an obstruction, such as a kidney stone, a tumor, an abscess, a cyst or a mass in the kidney or bladder. Without treatment, canine hydronephrosis may result in renal failure or cancer.

  1. Signs and Symptoms

    • Canine hydronephrosis is characterized by vomiting, bloating, fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Canines also may experience back pain, excessive thirst and blood in the urine.

    Testing

    • To diagnose canine hydronephrosis, a veterinarian conducts a physical exam and requests blood work and urinalysis to rule out other causes or the confirmation of the disease. The veterinarian also may order an abdominal X-ray, an abdominal ultrasound or excretory urography to visualize the urinary tract to rule out kidney stones or masses. An excretory urography requires that a contrast dye be injected into the urinary tract to determine the location of the obstruction.

    Treatment

    • If canine hydronephrosis is confirmed, the dog will be treated at the animal hospital or clinic. The dog is started on intravenous fluid therapy and antibiotics for 4 to 7 hours. For large obstructions, surgical intervention is recommended. This involves performing a cystostomy, where a surgical opening is created through the abdomen into the bladder using a tube-like instrument to remove the obstruction. The bladder incision is sutured; the abdomen is flushed for excess urine; and the abdominal incision is closed. For small obstructions such as kidney stones, extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy is performed using noninvasive shock-waves to break up the stones into little particles that are easily passed through the urinary tract. For advanced cancer cases, the affected kidney is surgically removed.

    Prevention

    • To prevent further urinary obstructions, veterinarians make modifications to the canine's diet and encourage dog owners to frequently push fluids.