Ultrasound-guided percutaneous antegrade pyelography for suspected ureteral obstruction in 6 pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

OBJECTIVES: To describe the feasibility and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous antegrade pyelography (US-PAP) in pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) with suspected ureteral obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six adult pet guinea pigs (4 females and 2 males, all intact) were evaluated for suspected ureteral obstruction. The mean weight of the guinea pigs was 0.8 ± 0.25 kg (range 0.4–1.1 kg), and mean age was 4.07 ± 1.63 years (range 2–7 years). All animals were free from comorbid diseases, had clinical signs of urologic disease and were referred based on either strong clinical suspicion of, or diagnostic imaging of ureteral obstruction. Data on signalment and clinical examination findings, response to anaesthesia and imaging findings were recorded. RESULTS: Partial ureteral obstruction was confirmed in all guinea pigs but one, in which a complete ureteral obstruction occurred. Uroliths were in both ureters of 5 cases and in both the left renal pelvis and ureters in 1 case. All guinea pigs showed a normal appetite and regular defaecation within 2 h following the procedure. No intraoperative or immediate postoperative complications were encountered after the procedure. The only complication was contrast medium leakages in the subcapsular perinephric, retroperitoneal and, in one case, peritoneal space, which caused no overt clinical consequences afterwards. In one male patient, mobilisation of the ureteral calculus occurred and the urolith was found in the urinary bladder on the radiograph taken after contrast medium injection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The US-PAP technique is a useful, safe and easy-to-perform diagnostic tool in guinea pigs with hydronephrosis and hydroureter.