DL: Stranguria in a small ruminant

Question 1

What is Lambivac?

Answer 1

• against lamb dysentery, struck, pulpy kidney and tetanus

- purified formol toxoids of C.perfringens types B, C and D and C.tetani

Question 2

Define bruxism

Answer 2

involuntary habitual grinding of teeth, often during sleep

Question 3

Why perform a digital rectal exam on a goat?

Answer 3

• check for faeces in rectum
• feel for urethral pulsations (care - if you keep finger in rectum too long, some animals get an urethral pulsation – care of false positives!)

Question 4

Another name - ulcerative posthitis

Answer 4

= pizzle rot = sheath rot

Question 5

Briefly outline ulcerative posthitis

Answer 5

infection in the sheath with Corynebacterium renale this contains Urease which breaks down urea in urine to make ammonia which is caustic to prepuce. Responds well to antibiotic therapy and low protein diet

Question 6

In you PE if you suspect pizzle rot, what is the most important thing to do?

Answer 6

evaluate prepuce and urethral process (pizzle) before doing anything else

Question 7

Describe appearance of goat bladder on ultrasound

Answer 7

• Large adult goats (Boar or Nubian), the bladder is usually

Question 8

Which stones show up on radiograph?

Answer 8

• struvite stones (the most common in feedlot cattle) = magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate

Question 9

Commonest place for urinary tract obstruction in small ruminants

Answer 9

= pizzle (the urethral process)

Question 10

Where do uroliths cause blockages in ruminants?

Answer 10

• just proximal to sigmoid flexure (cattle)

- in urethral appendage (small ruminants)

Question 11

Why does urolithiasis of small ruminants tend to affect castrated males?

Answer 11

Age at castration – diameter of urethra is testosterone dependent.

Question 12

Predisposing factors - urolithiasis in small ruminants

Answer 12

• young animals fed for wt gain
• reduced water intake
• presence of a nidus (e.g. infections)

Question 13

Tx options - urolithiasis in small ruminants

Answer 13

• Amputation of urethral process
• Tube cystotomy surgery
• Urethrostomy (short term, salvage)
• Bladder marsupialisation (short term, salvage)

Question 14

Describe amputation of urethral process for urolithiasis

Answer 14

can sometimes palpate calculi in process and may be necrotic

Question 15

Describe bladder catheterisation in tx of urolithiasis

Answer 15

difficult due to urethral process, sigmoid flexure, urethral diverticulum

Question 16

Outline tube cystotomy in tx of urolithiasis

Answer 16

• Insertion of an indwelling foley catheter relieves the pressure on the bladder
• Diverts urine to allow urethra to heal and stones to break down and pass
• GA
• Leave in place for 2 weeks and then challenge

Question 17

Medical therapy - small ruminant urolithiasis

Answer 17

• fluids
• ABs
• NSAIDs
• monitor urine flow with tube cystotomy

Question 18

How can you decrease K in case of hyperkalaemia?

Answer 18

• calcium gluconate, sodium bicarbonate, 50% dextrose

- as you correct underlying problem and pH decreases then K+ will fall

Question 19

Medical means of urine acidification

Answer 19

• ammonium chloride
• anionic salts
• measure urine pH daily and adjust tx
• works especially for struvite uroliths and for some calcium carbonate (increases solubility)

Question 20

Prophylaxis - small ruminant urolithiasis

Answer 20

• NO grain
• castrate at older age
• no alfalfa hay and reduce access to lush grass
• avoid excessive concentrates, try to increase Ca:P ratio
• feed good quality grass hay
• acidifier (DCAB) = dietary cation anion balance
• always provide plentiful supply of clean, fresh water (beware freezing, contamination etc)