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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Laser treatment removes mineral buildup on dog's ureteral stent

By Bishop, Bradley A & Gallagher, Alexander E·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2019·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Endoscopic-guided laser lithotripsy for removal of an encrusted ureteral stent in a dog.

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

An 8-year-old spayed female Dalmatian was having frequent urinary tract infections, along with increased urination, blood in her urine, and bladder issues, after having a ureteral stent placed three years earlier. After imaging tests showed mineral buildup on the stent, a laser was used to break up the encrusted material, allowing it to be removed through the urinary tract. The dog was then put on a special diet to prevent future stone formation and given antibiotics for a suspected kidney infection. Follow-up tests showed that her urinary issues had resolved completely.

People also search for: dog urinary tract infection treatment · Dalmatian blood in urine · ureteral stent removal dog · dog diet for urate stones

Abstract

CASE DESCRIPTION: An 8-year-old spayed female Dalmatian was evaluated because of recurrent urinary tract infections following ureteral stent placement 3 years earlier. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Polyuria, pollakiuria, and hematuria were reported by the owner. Abdominal radiography revealed well-defined, faintly mineralized material superimposed over the distal portion of the previously placed ureteral stent. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed thickening of the bladder wall, right hydroureter, and right pyelectasia; the ureteral stent appeared to extend into a region containing cystic calculi. Cystoscopy revealed small uroliths and mineralized encrustation of the distal portion of the ureteral stent. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: A holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser was used to fragment mineralized material from the distal end of the stent and allow endoscopic transurethral removal. Stone analysis revealed ammonium urate as the major component of the mineralized material. The owner was instructed to feed the dog a diet formulated to decrease the likelihood of urate stone recurrence and to administer marbofloxacin for 6 weeks because of suspected pyelonephritis. Follow-up bacterial culture of a urine sample and abdominal ultrasonography revealed resolution of urinary tract infection, pyelectasia, hydroureter, and associated clinical signs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that endoscopic-guided laser lithotripsy can be used as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for removal of severely encrusted ureteral stents in dogs.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31478819/