Functional urethral obstruction in 3 dogs: Clinical and urethral pressure profile findings

Three dogs with dysuria and urine retention caused by excessive functional urethral resistance are described. All dogs had clinical histories and urol ogic signs that previously would have been classified as detrusor-urethral dyssynergia. Diagnosis of functional urinary obstruction was established by exclusion of anatomic urinary obstruction and confirmed by urethral pressu re profilometry. In 2 cases, multiple pressure deflections recorded in the urethral pressure profile suggested spasm of urethral musculature, whereas in a 3rd dog, abnormally high pressures were recorded along a portion of th e proximal urethra. Functional urinary obstruction was associated with pros tatitis in 1 dog and with a history of urethral calculi in 1 dog, and no un derlying disorder could be identified in the remaining dog. All 3 dogs impr oved with medical treatments that included alpha adrenergic antagonists. Th e etiology, diagnosis, and pharmacologic management of functional urinary o bstruction are discussed.