Urinary bladder neoplasia in the dog and cat.

Neoplasms of the canine and feline urinary bladder are diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to the veterinary clinician. The diagnosis of a urinary bladder neoplasm is generally delayed because of a lack of overt clinical signs or a partial response to empirical treatment. Surgical resection by partial (segmental) resection is the treatment of choice; however, due to delays in diagnosis, tumor location or extent (stage), this form of treatment may be precluded. More information is needed concerning the efficacy of adjuvant (nonsurgical) treatment modalities. The prognosis of dogs and cats with urinary bladder neoplasms is based on tumor type, location, depth of bladder wall invasion, and presence of regional or distant metastases.