How Long Does a Puppy's Urethral Tear Take to Heal?

by Darcy
(Cassville WI)

Reader Question

We got a 6 week old puppy and after having him a day he couldn't urinate. Turns out he had stones in his bladder, which in turn lodged in his urethra. The vet used a catheter to push the stones back into the bladder so they can be surgically removed, causing a tear in his urethra. So now the vet tells me he will have to have a catheter until the tear heals and I was curious as to how long this would be. He still has to undergo the surgery to remove the stones. He has already been in the clinic for a week, how much more am I looking at?

Answer from Our Team

Small urethral tears often heal with a urinary catheter left in place, typically for about 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the size of the tear. Your vet will decide based on how he's doing and may check with a dye X-ray before removing the catheter.

Bladder stones in such a young puppy are often linked to infection, so stone analysis and a urine culture are important, and depending on the stone type your vet may check his liver. Ask your vet for an estimate of the remaining hospital stay and costs. If cost is a worry, ask your vet about a payment plan, or look for a low-cost clinic, humane society clinic or veterinary school near you.

See bladder stones in dogs for more.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.

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How Long Does a Puppy's Urethral Tear Take to Heal?

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