Exotic Urinary Tract Disease Flashcards
What is the most common urinary tract problem in Guinea Pigs?
Uroliths
What is the most common urinary tract symptom in Rabbits?
Sludgy bladder syndrome
How does Sludgy Bladder syndrome occur?
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
What can cause Sludgy bladder?
Renal Damage
Dehydration
Obesity (less active so less agitation of bladder and crystals settle)
Neurological deficits (less bladder emptying)
What are the signs of Renal disease in rabbits? (3)
Urine Scalding/ Incontinence
Dysuria
Gut stasis (& therefore anorexia)
Is rabbit urine normally acidic or alkaline?
What else is distinct about rabbit urine that indicates pathology in other species?
Rabbits have alkaline urine with trace proteinuria and calcium carbonate crystals
In a rabbit with renal disease, what can we expect to see on a Urinalysis?
High Urine Protein Creatinine ratio
High urine gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels indicate tubular dysfunction
Why is taking bloodwork for suspected renal disease in rabbits not very useful?
Changes in biochemistry are only seen when more than 75% of renal function is lost
Are urea levels in the blood a useful indicator of renal dysfunction in rabbits?
Not really- can be affected by caecal microflora urea metabolism
What medical treatment can we offer to rabbits with sludgy bladder?
Fluid therapy to flush the sludge
Analgesia
Grooming to prevent fly strike
What analgesia can we offer to rabbits with urinary tract disease?
NSAIDs if renal function is okay
But preferably Opioids or Gabapentin
What can we recommend to prevent Sludgy Bladder?
Increase water intake - multiple water sources
Reduce dietary calcium- certain greens
What treatment options can be offered to Guinea Pigs with Uroliths? (4)
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
How can we manage Urolith recurrence in Guinea Pigs?
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
Chronic renal disease in Rabbits is often associated with…
E.cuniculi infection
In rats, chronic renal disease is usually associated with…
Progressive Glomerulosclerosis and Tubulointerstitial disease
Chronic renal disease in Guinea pigs is associated with…
Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
What is the most reliable diagnosis of renal disease in small mammals?
Ultrasound
(and renal biopsy but this is usually PM)
What can be used to treat Chronic Renal disease in small mammals?
Palliative
Increase fluid & decrease dietary calcium
ACE inhibitors
Fenbendazole to treat E.cuniculi
What is particularly different about the Reptile urinary system? (3)
No loop of Henle
Not all reptiles have a bladder
Water can be reabsorbed from the bladder
What is particularly different about the Avian Urinary system?
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
What are the two types of nephrons found in birds and what do they do?
Corticol- produce uric acid (so no loop)
Medullary- produce liquid urine (so have a loop of henle duh)
What is the role of the reptile bladder?
Fluid reservoir- can reabsorb water from here
Bouyancy aid!
What are some symptoms of Renal disease in birds/reptiles?
Dehydration
Oedema (reptiles usually)
Gout
Lameness (birds)
What can cause renal disease in reptiles?
Inappropriate humidity (reptiles)
Hibernation issues (urinating during hibernation or inadequate preparation)
High protein diets in herbivorous lizards
Bloodwork of a reptile with Renal disease will show…
high uric acid, potassium, phosphate and low albumin
What is the most common diagnostic method used for birds with suspected renal disease?
Endoscopy- used for biopsies, culture and histopathology
What medication can be given to reptiles/ birds with renal disease?
Allopurinol- reduced uric acid production
Antibiotics if bacterial cause
Parasite treatment if Hexamita is the cause
What is Gout and what causes it?
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)
How do we treat gout? (4)
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
