Diseases of the urinary tract Flashcards
Describe urinary tract disorders in cattle.
What are the main 3?
Urinary tract diseases are less common in cattle than other disorders.
Signs of renal disease might be subtle.
Disorders:
- UTI (bladder, kidneys)
- Obstructions (urolithiasis)
- Dystrophia (toxins, drugs) - post mortem diagnosis.
Clinical signs of urinary disease in cattle. (6)
Chronic weight loss, milk yield decreasing.
Increased frequency of urination or pain at urination.
Look at urine closely especially at the end of the urination process for signs of pus or blood (red colored) – collect urine sample.
Hematuria, hemoglobinuria, pyuria (pus)
Signs of inflammation
Colic
Treatment results for cattle treated for urinary disease.
If cattle are still eating and drinking well and kidney disease has been diagnosed, prognosis with treatment is very favorable.
If appetite has been suppressed, BUN is too high and often in spite of vigorous treatment like intravenous fluids, prognosis is very poor.
Clinical examination when presented with cattle with urinary disease.
History taking (urination posture and behavior!)
General examination (fever or no fever)
Rectal examination (enlargement of bladder or kidney - painful!)
Urine analysis e.g. catch sample in an empty glove for cow-side stix, + sediment examination.
Blood analysis
Ultrasound to check the bladder, the kidneys too.
Urine and blood analysis of cattle when suspecting urinary disease.
Using test sticks, remember: (7)
Proteinuria is normal during the colostral period. High pH value of urine can lead to false positive results, stick results are not correct.
Glucosuria may be caused by many different reasons.
Ketonuria is used for diagnosis of ketosis.
Hematuria, hemoglobinuria - difficult to differentiate. Many disorders cause these. Microscopic examination needed as adjunct.
Myoglobinuria may be caused by severe myopathies or nutritional myopathies.
Blood analysis of cattle when suspecting urinary disease.
Check WBC, fibrinogen, PCV/Hematocrit,
BUN/Creatinine, proteins, liver panel.
Hematuria versus hemoglobinuria causes.
Bracken fern ingestion can technically cause enzootic hematuria but isn’t super common.
E.coli and Corynebacterium renale infection can cause pyelonephritis, cystitis with hematuria.
2 Infectious causes of gross hemoglobinuria.
babesiosis
leptospirosis
Cystitis usual causes
Bacterial: coliforms, C. renale
Hematogenous transfer- salmonella, pseudomonas.
But also, late pregnancy, difficult parturition, cystic calculi.
Urine may have a strong ammonia odor during infection.
Treatment of urinary infection in cattle.
AB with activity against the causal bacteria.
Must be excreted and concentrated in kidney and urine and Be active at the pH if urine. With Low toxicity.
Benzylpenicillin, ampicillin 3-5 days
Coliforms need sulfa/trimethoprim
+NSAID
Low protein diet if poss.
Adjusting the pH value might be useful.
Describe Contagious bovine pyelonephritis
The most common renal disease in dairy cattle.
Secondary bacterial infection of the lower urinary tract (E. coli originated from bladder).
Specific agent: C. renale
The most common renal disease in dairy cattle.
Contagious bovine pyelonephritis
Clinical signs of Contagious bovine pyelonephritis
Fever and toxemia
Hematuria, pyuria, dysuria,
Mild colic
Similar to traumatic reticuloperitonitis
Do:
Urine+blood analysis
Bacteriology
Ultrasound examination
Treatment same as for cystitis!
Urinary diseases of calves.
Umbilicus issues:
- Omphalitis - Omphalophlebitis
- Urachitis (when persistently open)
Urolithiasis in cattle.
Tends to affect Feedlot cattle and steers.
High concentrate ration +
High phosphorus diet predisposes.
Pasture containing silica or oxalate predisposes.
Reduced water intake and Early castration seem to predispose.
Describe rupture of the bladder in cattle.
Secondary to obstruction due to calculi.
Waterbelly, septic cellulitis
Warm, non-painful enlargement of ventral abdomen.
Depression, colic
Abdominocentesis to confirm.
