Veterinary Urology

Veterinary urology encompasses the diagnosis, management and prevention of disorders affecting the urinary tract and male accessory glands in domestic species. Common conditions include urolithiasis, urinary tract infections, renal disease, ureteral obstruction, bladder dysfunction, congenital anomalies and prostatic disorders. Clinical assessment integrates physical examination with laboratory assays of renal and urinary biomarkers, advanced imaging modalities such as ultrasonography, radiography, computed tomography and endoscopy. Therapeutic strategies span medical management—fluid therapy, antimicrobial and antispasmodic regimes—to minimally invasive interventions including ureteral stents and subcutaneous bypass devices, alongside traditional surgical techniques. Recent advances emphasise preservation of renal function, reduction of postoperative morbidity and tailored protocols for feline, canine and production animals. Insights from comparative medicine and One Health approaches underline the translational value of veterinary urology research for both animal welfare and human health.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Short-term finasteride therapy in dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia has been shown to lower intraprostatic dihydrotestosterone concentrations without impairing semen quality or inducing adverse changes in testicular blood flow. Doppler ultrasonography demonstrated reversal of BPH-associated haemodynamic alterations in the testicular artery, while hormonal profiling confirmed that finasteride selectively modulated androgen levels. These findings support the use of finasteride as a fertility-sparing alternative to orchiectomy in intact male dogs with symptomatic prostatic enlargement.

Research from all publishers

A multicentre retrospective cohort study of cats treated with subcutaneous ureteral bypass devices reported in-hospital survival exceeding 90% and a median post-discharge survival of over 500 days. Although nearly half of cats experienced major complications, most were manageable, and higher creatinine concentrations at presentation correlated with shorter survival times, emphasising the benefit of early intervention.

An epidemiological analysis of 7 866 urolith submissions from feline and canine patients in the Netherlands delineated the prevalence and risk factors for stone formation. Struvite predominated in female and obese cats and in large-breed dogs, whereas calcium oxalate stones were more common in neutered cats and small breeds. These data inform targeted nutritional and medical prevention strategies.

A comparative study of over 250 000 canine urolith submissions in the United States identified twelve high-risk and fourteen low-risk breeds for calcium oxalate urolithiasis. All high-risk breeds were small dogs, with the first calculi forming at a mean age of 8.4 years. The authors recommend proactive screening of predisposed breeds 2–3 years before expected clinical onset to facilitate early dietary and medical management.

Veterinary Urology publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in veterinary urology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Urolith: A calculus formed within the urinary tract that may obstruct urine flow.

Hydronephrosis: Dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces secondary to urinary outflow obstruction.

Azotaemia: Raised blood concentrations of nitrogenous wastes indicating impaired renal filtration.

Subcutaneous ureteral bypass: A surgically implanted device that shunts urine from the renal pelvis to the bladder beneath the skin to circumvent ureteral obstruction.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): Non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland driven by androgenic stimulation, commonly affecting older intact male dogs.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT): A potent androgen produced by 5α-reduction of testosterone that mediates prostatic growth.

Finasteride: A 5α-reductase inhibitor that reduces conversion of testosterone to DHT, used to manage BPH while preserving fertility.

References

1. Reproductive and endocrinological effects of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and finasteride therapy in dogs. Scientific Reports (2020).
2. Survival and complications in cats treated with subcutaneous ureteral bypass. Journal of Small Animal Practice (2020).
3. Analysis of 7866 feline and canine uroliths submitted between 2014 and 2020 in the Netherlands. Research in Veterinary Science (2021).
4. Epidemiologic evaluation of calcium oxalate urolithiasis in dogs in the United States: 2010‐2015. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2019).