Canine Health: Ectopic Ureter
An ectopic ureter is an abnormality in which the ureter (the tube that connects the kidneys and the bladder) does not enter the bladder in the correct position. Dogs are born with this condition that can affect one or both ureters. Females are 10 to 20 times more likely to be diagnosed with the condition, and Goldens are one of the breeds more predisposed to it.
Instead of going into the bladder, ectopic ureters may attach into the urethra or, in females, the vagina or uterus, none of which is designed to store urine, hence the leakage. Ectopic ureters are the most common congenital cause of urinary incontinence in dogs.
Diagnosis is made using a radiograph (with or without contrasting dye as needed), ultrasound, CAT scan, or cystoscopy. In some cases, during embryonic development, the ureter goes to the bladder in the correct location but instead of entering it at that point, it runs along the outside the bladder and penetrates the urethra below the sphincter area that enables a dog to normally control urine flow. In other cases, the ureter never touches the bladder and connects to the ureter, vagina, or uterus.
As noted in the "New Barks on the Block" article, the success rate of the surgery varies quite a bit.
