Bladder Inflammation With Polyps in Dogs

Cystitis is a general name for any kind of inflammation or infection of the bladder and polyps are growths of flesh. Polypoid cystitis is the combination of both, which just means growths of flesh in the bladder which cause inflammation. Polypoid cystitis may cause ulcers in the urinary (bladder) liner, which cause blood in your dog’s urine occasionally. This disorder is not very common, but should be suspected in dogs that have had previous urinary tract problems. While the polyps are usually not malignant (transitional cell carcinoma), it is impossible to be certain without the removal and biopsy of these growths. However, transitional cell carcinoma is usually characterized as one larger growth rather than several small masses. The cause of these growths is thought to be from the irritation and inflammation of the bladder because of recurrent or chronic urinary tract infections. These polyps, or growths, can sometimes be malignant (cancerous) and must be removed and biopsied for a positive diagnosis. Most often, the growths are not malignant if there are more than one.

Bladder inflammation with polyps (polypoid cystitis) is the swelling of the bladder due to polyps, which are round lumps of flesh that grow on the surface of your dog’s bladder. These growths can occur because of constant inflammation caused by multiple urinary tract infections or bladder stones.

The symptoms of polypoid cystitis are the same as with a urinary tract or bladder infection. The most common sign is blood in your dog’s urine and urination that is more frequent. These and other signs can also be symptoms of bacterial cystitis or other conditions, so your dog should always be examined by your veterinarian if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Frequent and difficult urination
• Pain when urinating
• Excessive licking of genitalia
• Incontinence (lack of control of urination)
• Inability to urinate (urinary tract obstruction)
• Loss of appetite (not eating or drinking)
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Malaise
• Weakness
• Collapse

 Types

• Benign polypoid cystitis is the occurrence of polyps and inflammation in the bladder that are non-cancerous
• Malignant polypoid cystitis is the occurrence of polyps and inflammation in the bladder that are precancerous or cancerous

There are no definitive known causes of polypoid cystitis, but they are thought to be caused by:

• Chronic urinary tract inflammation
• Frequent or recurrent bladder or urinary tract infection
• Chronic bladder or urinary tract infections
• Urinary calculi (bladder stones) which could be caused by genetics, a high pH in the urine, or bacterial infections that are not treated
• Cancer
• Old age
• Unknown origin

To get a proper diagnosis, your veterinarian will need to do a complete physical examination of your dog including body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Be sure to bring your dog’s medical history, which should include any recent illnesses, changes in energy level, behavior, or eating habits, what the symptoms are, and when they started. The veterinarian will need to know about any previous urinary tract or bladder infections as well. There are tests that need to be done to verify polypoid cystitis and rule out any other disorders.

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Blood chemistry profile
• Urinalysis and urine culture
• Bacterial and fungal culture
• Electrolyte panel

Double contrast cystography (injecting dye into the bladder and using digital radiographs to determine if there are any polyps or other masses in the bladder) as well as positive contrast cystography could be used for further investigation. Your veterinarian may be able to formulate an opinion on the diagnosis after bladder palpation (feeling the bladder with fingers) because the bladder may feel obviously inflamed. A biopsy of tissue from  polyps that may have been discovered could be suggested as well.

In some situations, the veterinarian may still need more information before a definite diagnosis. Some further tests that your veterinarian may need are:

• Cystoscopy (inserting a tiny camera into the bladder to see the polyps)
• Cystectomy (exposing the inside of the bladder with a small incision)
• Ultrasound (to check bladder lining thickness)
• CT scan
• MRI

Once your veterinarian is sure that your dog has polypoid cystitis, he will want to perform surgery to remove the polyps. This is the only way to treat this disorder and without surgery, the polyps have a good chance of becoming malignant in the future or causing further damage to the bladder and urinary tract. Although all surgery has its risks, this is a routine surgery that has excellent results and few risks. Your veterinarian will make a small incision in your dog’s abdomen to reach the bladder. He will remove each of the polyps one at a time and in some cases may have to remove part or all of the bladder. Treatment for infection will also be administered if necessary. The veterinarian will also send tissues from the polyps to an independent lab to be tested for malignancy.

The prognosis for your dog after surgery is excellent once the polyps are removed and infection is treated. The recurrence of polypoid cystitis can occur so the veterinarian will need to perform urinalysis and ultrasound examinations in 7 to 10 days and again in 30 days. This will ensure that the polyps have not recurred and that your dog’s bladder is healing properly. Follow up with your veterinarian with regular annual check-ups to prevent further polyps.