Wall thickness
The measurement is performed by drawing a line perpendicular to the long axis of the bladder wall. The measurement may be taken at the ventral wall, in the cranial part of the bladder, as shown in the scan below. In this region, the wall usually exhibits the greatest thickening in the course of inflammatory processes, although this is not always the case. In the presence of irregular or focal wall thickening, the thickness of the affected area should be recorded. Urinary bladder wall thickness depends on the degree of bladder distension.
DOG
| volume [ml/kg] | wall thickness [mm] |
| minimal 0,5 | 2.3 ± 0.43 (1.87 – 2.73) |
| low 2 | 1.6 ± 0.29 (1.33 –1.89) |
| moderate 4 | 1.4 ± 0.28 (1.12 – 1.68) |
K In dogs without signs of lower urinary tract inflammation, mild thickening of the urinary bladder wall, particularly in its cranioventral region, does not necessarily indicate cystitis (François et al., EVDI Annual Congress 2025). The likelihood of bladder wall thickening unrelated to cystitis is greater in dogs with gastrointestinal or renal disease, as well as in older dogs. Conversely, it is lower in neutered dogs.
CAT
Urinary bladder wall thickness in healthy cats is approximately 1.3–1.7 mm.