Urethral Obstruction

Urethral obstruction without rupture is often a cause for presentation of a small animal for urgent care, and results most commonly from urolithiasis, although neoplasia, trauma, and proliferative urethritis may also result in obstruction. The canine male urethra conducts urine from the bladder and seminal fluids from the prostate and testes to the distal urethral orifice. The canine female urethra is similar to the preprostatic urethra of the male, and extends from the bladder to the genital tract, opening on the urethral papilla just caudal to the vestibulovaginal junction. Tube cystostomy is indicated for temporary or permanent diversion of urine from a site of mechanical or functional obstruction, urine leakage, or surgical site of the urethra or bladder. Complication of any tube cystostomy includes the potential for uroabdomen or leakage of urine subcutaneously causing pain, induration of subcutaneous fat, and skin necrosis.