Retrospective study of proliferative urethritis in dogs: Clinical presentation and outcome using various treatment modalities in 11 dogs

BACKGROUND: Proliferative urethritis (PU) is an uncommon inflammatory and infiltrative disease of the urethra in female dogs, often associated with urinary tract infection (UTI). It typically presents with evidence of urethral obstruction (UO). OBJECTIVES: Identify clinical features in dogs with PU and determine outcome after different treatment modalities. ANIMALS: Eleven client‐owned dogs. METHODS: Medical records of dogs with histopathologic diagnosis of PU from 2011 to 2020 were retrospectively evaluated, including information on clinical pathology, imaging, and histopathology. Outcomes of various treatment modalities were recorded and compared. Long‐term urethral patency (>6 months) was considered treatment success. RESULTS: All dogs were female and presented with UO. Eight (73%) had a history of UTI. Ten of 11 survived to discharge and were used for long‐term data collection. Seven of 10 (70%) were treated using an effacement procedure (balloon dilatation [BD], stent, or both) and 6/7 (86%) achieved long‐term urethral patency (>6 months). Seven of 10 had UO recurrence after their first procedure, including 3/3 (100%) that did not have effacement and 4/7 that did (57%), at a median of 101 days and 687 days, respectively. After effacement, the duration of patency was longer for those treated using a stent than BD alone (median, 843 days and 452 days, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Proliferative urethritis is a recurrent disease often associated with UTI. The best outcome of long‐term urethral patency occurred after lesion effacement, either by BD or stenting. Future prospective studies should determine the impact of immunosuppressive treatment.