Female dogs are known to be 20X more likely to be diagnosed with ectopic ureters with certain breeds more presented including but not limited to Golden and Labrador retrievers, Skye Terriers, etc. A tiny tube, called the ureter, transports urine from each kidney to the bladder. Now there will be no more incontinence, and less chance of infection. This is a good method when the kidney (or the part of it) draining through the ectopic ureter is … In this surgery, the kidney (or the part of it drained by the ectopic ureter) is removed. In girls, an ectopic ureter draining into the distal urethra or vaginal introitus may result in continuous leakage of urine, but with normal voids and no other lower urinary tract symptoms. How is an ectopic ureter diagnosed? A pad test is the best way to establish that the incontinence is continuous. With ectopic ureters, one or both of the ureters do not connect normally to the bladder. In dogs, each kidney has a ureter which carries urine to the bladder where it can be excreted through urination. Ectopic Ureter Causes and Symptoms. An ectopic ureter is a heritable condition that, genetically speaking, is characterized as autosomal dominant: If a woman gives birth to a child who has an ectopic ureter, future children have a 50 percent chance of having an ectopic ureter as well. The kidneys have the unique function of metabolizing, processing, and converting residual waste into urine. Pathology of Ectopic Ureter 80% of ectopic ureters are associated with an ureteral duplication, especially in girls. When a dog has an ectopic ureter, this excretory process is interrupted in that the ureter carries urine directly to the urethra, vagina or uterus, completely bypassing the bladder. This stops the flow of urine into the ectopic ureter. How is an ectopic ureter treated? Traditional surgical correction. Hydronephrosis: When the ectopic ureter connects outside the bladder, the insertion is usually narrow, creating a level of obstruction.The urine that is draining from the kidneys backs up and causes the kidney and ureter to dilate (hydronephrosis). Urine is then stored in the bladder, normally at which point it is voluntarily emptied through a tube called the urethra. Symptoms of an ectopic ureter can occur as a young puppy or kitten or sometimes as a young adult. Diagnosing ectopic ureters is usually a multi-step process because the symptoms are so similar to other conditions, such as urinary tract infections and vaginal infections. Clinical signs raise the suspicion of an ectopic ureter but the diagnosis can be confirmed by ultrasound, CT scan or cystoscopy (passing a camera into the bladder).

In boys, the ectopic ureter may also drain a single renal system.