Disease Of The Ruminant Urinary System Flashcards
What is normal on a ruminants urine sample?
Colour - clear with no visible calculi No blood / haemoglobin SG - 1.020 - 1.045 pH - normally alkaline Protein - usually trace only Glucose - usually trace
What is a sign that a cow is in pain when she urinates?
Tail moving up and down
What are the differentials for haematuria?
Pyelonephritis Cystitis Urolithiasis Enzootic haematuria Acute bracken poisoning Toxic nephrosis Glomerulonephritis Renal infarction
What are the differentials for haemoglobinuria?
Babesiosis
Post-parturient haemoglobinuria
Bacillary haemoglobinuria - Cl. hameolyticum
Hypospadia
= failure of the male urethra to close
Fatten fine
Farmer should check weekly, hose and apply Vaseline
Pyelonephritis
Corynebacterium renale
E.coli
More common in suckler cows - spread by natural service
Can be seen following dystocia
CS: weight loss, mild Pyrexia, dysuria, blood and pus in urine, examine per rectum - swollen painful kidneys
Tx: Amoxicillin (best, treats e.coli too), oxytetracycline
1/3 get better, 1/3 recur, 1/3 no response
Cystitis
Often secondary to dystocia
Lots of straining = lower urinary tract inflammation
Tx: amoxicillin, oxytetracycline
Amyloidosis
Immune complex deposition in the kidneys secondary to chronic infection
CP: off food, ill, PU PD, swollen kidneys, PLN, low albumin, pale swollen kidneys
Enzootic haematuria
Older cows
Long term ingestion of bracken causes tumours in the gut and bladder (SCC)
Leads to haematuria
Acute bracken poisoning
Bracken contains thiaminases = CCN due to thiamine deficiency
Retinal atrophy - bright blindness
Bone marrow toxicity - pancytopaenia + thrombocytopaenia
Haematuria, bloody diarrhoea, petechiae
Toxic nephrosis
Oak / acorn poisoning
- 3-5 days after Autumn storm
- ingestion of fresh oak leaves in the spring
Tannins = AKI
Sudden death, anorexia, bloat, constipation, tarry diarrhoea, death in 4-7 days
Bacillary haemoglobinuria
Uncommon
Wet conditions on high pH pasture
Clostridium hameolyticum + fasciola hepatica
,
Fatal - oedema, anaemia, jaundice, haemoglobinuria
Prev - vaccinate, fluke control
Babesiosis / red water
Babesia divergens - spread by ixodes ricinus
Bought in or younger animals are more susceptible
Spring / Autumn rise
Cs: Pyrexia, anaemia, haemoglobinuria, diarrhoea
Later: constipation, anaemia and jaundice
Dx: blood smear, thin smear, parasites, PCV anaemia, ELISA
Tx: imidocarb
- 213 day meat withdrawal - likely that the animal will not be able to enter the food chain!
- inform DVM if you treat an animal
Post-parturient haemoglobinuria
Older high yielding diary cows
Haemoglobinuria 1-4 weeks post-calving due to a low phosphorous diet
CS: sudden onset haemoglobinuria and jaundice
Tx: foston IV - guarded prognosis
Urolithiasis
2-4 month old lambs
Mature goats that were castrated in the first month of life
Bull beef calves
High concentrate diet, Ca:P imbalance, not enough water
CS: restless, abdominal pain, dysuria, anuria, preputial crystals
- bladder will eventually rupture
