Exotic Urinary Tract Disease

Question 1

What is the most common urinary tract problem in Guinea Pigs?

Answer 1

Uroliths

Question 2

What is the most common urinary tract symptom in Rabbits?

Answer 2

Sludgy bladder syndrome

Question 3

How does Sludgy Bladder syndrome occur?

Answer 3

Rabbits normally have high calcium levels in the urine but are good at eliminating it- when a disease or pathology stops them being able to do this then calcium crystals build up in the bladder and can cause Cystitis

Question 4

What can cause Sludgy bladder?

Answer 4

Renal Damage
Dehydration
Obesity (less active so less agitation of bladder and crystals settle)
Neurological deficits (less bladder emptying)

Question 5

What are the signs of Renal disease in rabbits? (3)

Answer 5

Urine Scalding/ Incontinence
Dysuria
Gut stasis (& therefore anorexia)

Question 6

Is rabbit urine normally acidic or alkaline?
What else is distinct about rabbit urine that indicates pathology in other species?

Answer 6

Rabbits have alkaline urine with trace proteinuria and calcium carbonate crystals

Question 7

In a rabbit with renal disease, what can we expect to see on a Urinalysis?

Answer 7

High Urine Protein Creatinine ratio
High urine gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels indicate tubular dysfunction

Question 8

Why is taking bloodwork for suspected renal disease in rabbits not very useful?

Answer 8

Changes in biochemistry are only seen when more than 75% of renal function is lost

Question 9

Are urea levels in the blood a useful indicator of renal dysfunction in rabbits?

Answer 9

Not really- can be affected by caecal microflora urea metabolism

Question 10

What medical treatment can we offer to rabbits with sludgy bladder?

Answer 10

Fluid therapy to flush the sludge
Analgesia
Grooming to prevent fly strike

Question 11

What analgesia can we offer to rabbits with urinary tract disease?

Answer 11

NSAIDs if renal function is okay
But preferably Opioids or Gabapentin

Question 12

What can we recommend to prevent Sludgy Bladder?

Answer 12

Increase water intake - multiple water sources
Reduce dietary calcium- certain greens

Question 13

What treatment options can be offered to Guinea Pigs with Uroliths? (4)

Answer 13

Surgical removal of urolith (depends on size and location)
Manual expression if in distal urethra
Lithotripsy (shock therapy to destroy stones)
Phenoxybenzamine- smooth muscle relaxant

Question 14

How can we manage Urolith recurrence in Guinea Pigs?

Answer 14

Fluid Therapy
Reduced dietary calcium
Potassium Citrate- used to inhibit calcium stone crystallisation with acidic urine (guinea pigs= alkaline normally)
Glucosamine supplement- strengthen bladder wall

Question 15

Chronic renal disease in Rabbits is often associated with…

Answer 15

E.cuniculi infection

Question 16

In rats, chronic renal disease is usually associated with…

Answer 16

Progressive Glomerulosclerosis and Tubulointerstitial disease

Question 17

Chronic renal disease in Guinea pigs is associated with…

Answer 17

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

Question 18

What is the most reliable diagnosis of renal disease in small mammals?

Answer 18

Ultrasound
(and renal biopsy but this is usually PM)

Question 19

What can be used to treat Chronic Renal disease in small mammals?

Answer 19

Palliative
Increase fluid & decrease dietary calcium
ACE inhibitors
Fenbendazole to treat E.cuniculi

Question 20

What is particularly different about the Reptile urinary system? (3)

Answer 20

No loop of Henle
Not all reptiles have a bladder
Water can be reabsorbed from the bladder

Question 21

What is particularly different about the Avian Urinary system?

Answer 21

Kidney is divided into 3 parts
Kidney is positioned at the synsacral fossa (at acetabulum border)
Nerve supply to the hindlimb passes through the kidneys
No bladder- ureters empty into the urodeum

Question 22

What are the two types of nephrons found in birds and what do they do?

Answer 22

Corticol- produce uric acid (so no loop)
Medullary- produce liquid urine (so have a loop of henle duh)

Question 23

What is the role of the reptile bladder?

Answer 23

Fluid reservoir- can reabsorb water from here
Bouyancy aid!

Question 24

What are some symptoms of Renal disease in birds/reptiles?

Answer 24

Dehydration
Oedema (reptiles usually)
Gout
Lameness (birds)

Question 25

What can cause renal disease in reptiles?

Answer 25

Inappropriate humidity (reptiles)
Hibernation issues (urinating during hibernation or inadequate preparation)
High protein diets in herbivorous lizards

Question 26

Bloodwork of a reptile with Renal disease will show…

Answer 26

high uric acid, potassium, phosphate and low albumin

Question 27

What is the most common diagnostic method used for birds with suspected renal disease?

Answer 27

Endoscopy- used for biopsies, culture and histopathology

Question 28

What medication can be given to reptiles/ birds with renal disease?

Answer 28

Allopurinol- reduced uric acid production
Antibiotics if bacterial cause
Parasite treatment if Hexamita is the cause

Question 29

What is Gout and what causes it?

Answer 29

when uric acid crystals accumulate in the tissue due to elevated blood uric acid levels
(because of decreased excretion or increased production due to high protein diet)

Question 30

How do we treat gout? (4)

Answer 30

Fluid therapy to decrease uric acid blood levels
Anti inflammatory drugs
Treat underlying cause e.g. kidney issues, diet
Uric acid lowering drugs such as Allopurinol