Effects of prolonged distention of retention catheters on the urethra of dogs and cats.

The effects of inflation of a balloon-tipped catheter in the distal part of the urethra of clinically healthy male and female dogs and cats were evaluated. Tissues were evaluated at 1 and 14 days after balloon inflation. Macroscopic and microscopic lesions were limited to the distal part of the urethra occupied by the inflated balloon in animals which were euthanatized 1 day after balloon inflation. The lesions were characterized by submucosal urethral hemorrhage. This investigation indicates that balloon inflation for 15 minutes duration in the distal part of the urethra of dogs and cats results in a mild reversible inflammatory reaction.