A case of palliative urethral stenting for canine prostatic carcinoma

A 9-year-old, castrated male Shih Tzu was brought to our hospital with labored urination and narrow feces. Prostatic cancer was diagnosed by catheter aspiration biopsy. World Health Organization (WHO) clinical staging of the prostatic tumor was T3N1M0 and urethral stenting was performed. After intervention, labored urination was resolved immediately, and natural urination was possible. Occasional mild incontinence appeared postoperatively, but a dramatic improvement in quality of life (QOL) was achieved. Until the dog died on day 99 of the illness (postoperative day 90), no dysuria was noted and good QOL was maintained. Urethral stenting is minimally invasive and enables natural urination. This technique is useful in palliative treatment of malignant tumors associated with urethral obstruction.