Diagnosis and initial management of uroabdomen in dogs and cats

Uroabdomen is a life-threatening condition occurring in dogs and cats, caused by loss of integrity of the urinary tract. A prompt diagnosis can be achieved by recognition and analysis of abdominal free fluid. A clinician's initial focus should be on treating potentially fatal complications, such as shock and hyperkalaemia, and providing adequate analgesia to the animal. Different urinary diversion techniques can then be considered, according to the site of leakage within the urinary tract, to stabilise the animal before a definitive treatment is performed. This article discusses how to diagnose uroabdomen and treat the early life-threatening complications.