Kidney & Urinary Tract Cancer
Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder/urethra and primary renal tumours.
What is Kidney & Urinary Tract Cancer?
The most common urinary tract cancer in dogs is transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), also called urothelial carcinoma, which usually arises at the trigone of the bladder near the urethral opening. Primary kidney tumours (renal carcinoma, nephroblastoma) are less common.
Common signs and symptoms
Signs vary between dogs and can be subtle at first. Watch for the following, especially if several appear together or persist for more than a few days:
- Blood in the urine
- Straining to urinate or frequent small urinations
- Recurrent 'UTIs' that don't fully resolve on antibiotics
- Weight loss and reduced appetite
- Difficulty defecating (from a large trigonal mass)
Risk factors
Certain dogs are more predisposed. Understanding risk helps you screen earlier and act sooner.
- Scottish Terrier (very high relative risk), West Highland White Terrier, Beagle, Shetland Sheepdog
- Female dogs slightly more affected
- Exposure to older-generation lawn herbicides
- Obesity
When to see a vet
Use this as general triage guidance, not a substitute for veterinary advice.
- Book a routine appointment if: recurrent urinary signs, especially in a predisposed breed, warrant urine analysis and imaging beyond standard UTI treatment.
- Seek urgent care if: inability to urinate, straining with no urine produced, or acute abdominal pain — a blocked urethra is an emergency.
Diagnosis and management
Diagnosis uses ultrasound, cystoscopy, urine cytology, and CADET-BRAF DNA testing on urine. TCC responds well to NSAIDs (piroxicam) combined with chemotherapy in many dogs, and quality of life can be maintained for many months. Stenting is available for urinary obstruction.