Urethro-venous intravasation of contrast medium as a complication during retrograde urethrography in a pug with urethral stricture and urethritis

A 12-year-old, neutered pug was referred with a suspicion of urethral stricture with a 3-week history of dysuria and stranguria, requiring multiple urinary catheterisations. Retrograde urethrography revealed focal luminal narrowing with irregular mucosal margins in the penile urethra. During the procedure, contrast medium was unexpectedly observed in the penile tissue, bulbus glandis and its venous sinuses, dorsal veins of the penis, internal pudendal veins, internal iliac veins, common iliac veins, and the caudal vena cava, signifying pathological contrast medium intravasation and prompting termination of the procedure. Urethroscopy confirmed the presence of urethral stricture and severe urethritis in the region of the bulbus glandis. Cytology of regional cytobrush samples revealed mixed inflammation with a bacterial infection. A scrotal urethrostomy was performed along with medical treatment for concurrent prostatitis, resolving the clinical signs. The patient was discharged without further complications. At the 1-month postoperative check-up, both clinical and ultrasonographic improvements were evident.