Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Urethral plugs causing blockage in dogs and breed risks
By Stiller, A T et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2014·College of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Urethral plugs in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of male Pugs was found to have urethral plugs, which can cause urinary blockage. Most of the plugs were made of struvite, a type of mineral. The study noted that Pugs were significantly more likely to develop these plugs compared to other breeds. In the cases reviewed, the affected Pugs did not show signs of urinary infections, and no specific cause for the plugs was determined. Treatment options were not detailed, but recognizing the risk in male Pugs is crucial for pet owners and veterinarians.
People also search for: male Pug urinary blockage · dog urethral plugs treatment · struvite crystals in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Crystalline-matrix urethral plugs have not been previously reported in dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To report the composition of urethral plugs in dogs, describe clinical features of the disease, and identify overrepresented breeds. METHODS: Retrospective case series. A Minnesota Urolith Center (MUC) record search was performed for urethral plugs in dogs submitted during a 6-year period. The composition of the plugs and signalment of affected dogs were recorded. Breed risk analysis was performed using a control group without plugs from the Veterinary Medical Center, University of Minnesota (VMC UMN). Breed risk was also calculated for a group of dogs with struvite (plugs and uroliths). Medical records for the subset of plug cases from the VMC UMN were reviewed and described. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2011, 42 urethral plugs from dogs were submitted to the MUC. All came from male dogs, and the mineral component of the majority (83%) was struvite. Thirty (71%) samples were from Pugs. Pugs were overrepresented in plug submissions (OR 179; CI 88-389; P < .001), and for struvite in general (OR 14.3; CI 7.9-24.4; P < .001). Nine of the dogs were treated at VMC UMN; all were castrated male Pugs. None of these cases had bacteriuria or positive urine cultures, and no underlying cause of plug formation was identified. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: When evaluating dogs with urethral obstruction, plugs need to be considered, especially in male Pugs. Further investigation into the underlying cause of plug formation in dogs is warranted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24524698/