Ectopic ureters occur more commonly in females. There is a familial tendencyfor ectopic ureters in Siberian Huskies and Black Labradors. There are a few reported cases in cats. Ectopic ureters are often associated with other congenital anomalies or associated diseases such as mega-ureter due to urine reflux, decreased kidney size, congenital hypoplasia, chronic pyelonephritis, decreased bladder size, either congenital or from disuse if ectopia is bilateral. Clinical signs include urinary incontinence present from birth.
Animals can void normally if only one ureter is ectopic.
Ectopic ureters can be diagnosed by endoscopy to visualize the ureteral opening into the vagina or by a radiographic contrast studies, an intravenous pyelogram. The study may be hard to interpret if the ureters tunnel through bladder wall before terminating in an ectopic site. Vaginal contrast studies can also be performed by infusing contrast agent into the vagina in an attempt to retrograde the contrast into an ectopic ureter. The associated infection should be treated prior to surgical transplantation of the ureter. A nephrectomy may be necessary if the kidney attached to ectopic ureter has an intractable infection.