Polypoid Cystitis in Dogs

Polypoid cystitis in dogs is a rare infected urinary bladder condition that can cause ulcers in the bladder, resulting in blood in the urine, difficulty urinating and lack of appetite. Thought to be a result of repeated urinary infections, the bladder develops fleshy round protrusions that lead to the ulcers. Diagnosis and treatment must be handled by a qualified veterinarian.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms that a dog has this rare condition include bloody urine, lack of appetite, frequent urination, difficulty urinating, persistent urinary tract infections and possibly lack of urination, which results in the dog becoming very ill.

    Causes

    • The causes of polypoid cystitis are unknown. However, according to a paper produced by veterinarians at the School of Veterinarian Medicine in Japan and PetMD, this type of condition is often seen in both human and dogs who suffer from repeated urinary tract infections or urinary bladder stones.

    Diagnosis

    • A dog suffering from the symptoms listed above should be examined by a veterinarian. The veterinarian will do a full examination and if polypoid cystitis is suspected, they will perform one of several procedures to verify the condition. These procedures include using a small camera to inspect the bladder, performing actual surgery to open the bladder, a needle may be used to extract blood from the bladder, injection of a dye followed by X-ray may be used, or an ultrasound imaging process may be performed.

    Treatment

    • Once the diagnosis is made the protrusions must be removed. The veterinarian does this by surgery or entering the bladder through the urinary tract. The dog is then treated with antibiotics, which also address urinary tract infections that typically accompany this condition. The antibiotics are taken for a period of four to six weeks.

    Follow Up

    • The dog will need to have its urine checked approximately 10 days after the antibiotics have started. The veterinarian will retrieve a urine sample using a needle and will perform urinalysis and culturing tests. This is done again after the antibiotic treatment has ended and further testing is done using ultrasound at periodic intervals for up to six months.

    Other Urinary Conditions

    • In addition to polypoid cystitis, dogs can suffer from several other urinary conditions, including urinary stones, urinary tract infections and incontinence, all of which are treatable and have a good prognosis for recovery. Kidney disease is also a urinary condition dogs can contract. This condition is eventually fatal, but veterinarians can treat this condition and give the pet a comfortable life for up to several years.