Clinical and radiographic findings compared with urodynamic findings in neutered female dogs with refractory urinary incontinence.

Possible correlations were investigated between the clinical and urodynamic findings in 77 neutered female dogs with urinary incontinence refractory to standard medical management. The clinical data used in the analysis were age, bodyweight, breed, the characteristics of the dribbling of urine and whether it developed before or after neutering, the type of response to previous treatments, signs of polyuria/polydipsia, and the results of urinalysis and culture. In 50 of the dogs, a standardised contrast radiographic examination was made to locate the neck of the bladder and to assess the morphology of the bladder. These findings were analysed for their correlation with the results of multichannel urethral pressure profilometry and diuresis cysto-urethrometry. Logistic regression analysis revealed that neither the clinical nor the radiographic findings could predict any of the abnormal urodynamic findings. Functional abnormalities of the bladder, such as a low compliance, detrusor instability, or a low bladder capacity may therefore be particularly difficult to detect in dogs with urinary incontinence.