Food Animal Urology Flashcards
Normal posturing for cows during micturition?
Usually urinate right after standing
Arched back, raised tail, straddled legs
How can you collect urine samples from cows, bulls, and ewes?
Cows — stimulate vulva or catheterize (feather)
Bulls/steers — preputial massage
Ewes— hold of nose
Where are you palpating when finding the kidneys rectally?
Left kidney — 3-5th lumbar vertebrae, usually mobile
Right kidney — 12th thoracic lumbar vertebrae, right side, non-motile (not palpable per rectum)
In what speices is the kidney normally lobulated?
Bovine
Smooth in sheep, goats, and pigs
T/F: you can normally feel the ureters of a cow by rectal palpation
True
Normally the size of straws
How can you palpate the urethra?
Rectally or in perineal area
What is normal USG in cattle?
1.020-1.040 , can be as low as 1.007 in dairy cattle
Normal pH of urine?
7.0-8.0
What can red urine be caused by?
Hematuria
—pyelonephritis, cystitis, urolithiasis, Enzootic hematuria, embolic nephritis
Hemoglobinuria
—lepto, bacillary hemoglobinuria, copper toxicity, post-parturient hemoglobinuria, cold water intoxication
Myoglobinuria
— cassia toxicity, capture myopathy
Normal BUN and CREA in bovine?
BUN 10-30 mg/dl
CREA <2mg/dl
Who is predisposed to obstructive urolithiasis?
Disease of males
—especially castrated due to decreased urethra diameter and preputial attachment still intact
What types of plants have high concentrations of calcium and can lead to Ca carbonate or Ca oxalate stones?
Legumes
Oxalates —apples —sweet potatoes —dock —pigweed
What are predisposing factors to urolith formation?
Increased urine concentration
Urine stasis
Increased urine pH
Increased mineral excretion
Decreased urinary colloids
Desquamated epithelial cells
UT infections
Increased urinary mucoproteins
Most facilities form more readily in _______pH
Alkaline
What factors can cause a alkaline urine?
Herbivores
High protein diets
UTI
What are common sites for urolith obstruction?
Urethral process
— vermiform appendage
—urethral process
—“pizzle”
Distal sigmoid flexure
What are the types of uroliths?
Magnesium ammonium phosphate = struvite
Calcium phosphate = apatite
Silicate
Oxalate
Calcium carbonate
Prolonged partial obstruction can lead to what pathology?
Hydroureter
Hydronephrosis
Bladder wall damage
Urethral strictures
Clinical signs of urethral obstruction?
Stranguria Urethral pulsation without urination Anorexia, mild bloat, lethargy Treading, stretching, kicking at abdomen Tail switching Vocalization (esp goats) Palpable bladder distention —abdominal palpation in small ruminants —rectal palpation in large ruminants Azotemia
Blood or crystals in preputial hairs Mild urethral swelling at site of obstruction Preputial/rectal prolapse Tachypnea Tachycardia Metabolic abnormalities — hyperkalemia
Will you see changes in BUN or CREA first in a cow with urethral obstruction?
creatinine
BUN recycled in rumen
Ruptured urethra with an accumulation of SQ urine ventrally is also called?
Water belly
Clinical signs of a ruptured urethra ?
Ventral and preputial edema
Aspirated fluids smells like urine when heated
Chronic — skin and SQ sloughing
Preputial adhesions
Clinical signs of a ruptured bladder?
Gradual abdominal distention
Depression and anorexia
Signs of uremia
Large amounts of abdominal fluid on US
Clear fluid on abdominal tap
Treatment for ruptured bladder/urethra?
Phenothiazine tranquilizers
IV fluids — 0.9% NaCl
Slow drainage of uroperitoneum via trochanter in cases of ruptured bladder
Paramedian skin incision to drain urine (ruptured urethra)
Antibiotics
Urinary acidifiers
Fluid support — if hyperkalemia — add dextrose
Surgical repair
Flunixin and meloxicam
How can a obstructive uroliths be surgically managed?
Amputation of the urethral process (small ruminants)
Urethral catheterization/ retrograde flushing
Perineal urethrostomy
Tube cystotomy
Ischial urethrostomy
Cystostomy
What is the process for amputation of the urethral process?
Exteriorize penis with animal sitting on rump
Amputate process close to attachment of glands
What can be complications of urethral catherization?
Urethritis
Urethral rupture
Urethral stricture
What solution do you use for urinary bladder lavage?
Walpol’s solution (glacial acetic acid)
Sedation/anesthesia is required
Titration to acidic pH in the bladder
Ultrasound helpful
What surgeries are usually used for urethral obstructions in animals for slaughter?
Urethrostomy
Penile amputation
Urethrotomy at site of obstruction
What surgeries are usually done for urethral obstruction in breeding animals or pets?
Tube cystostomy
Bladder marsupialization
What are the functions of tube cystostomy?
Diverts urine while allowing urethral swelling to subside, stones can pass
Allows fishing of bladder at surgery
What additional care do you do while a tube cystotomy is in place?
Tube is left in until urine noted from prepuce ( at least 10 days)
Antibiotics during and after placement
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Flunixin megulmine
Meloxicam
Urinary acidifiers
Acetic acid infusion
Urinary tract analgesics
Surgical treatments for urethral rupture?
Urethrostomy or penile amputation
Tube cystotomy with primary closure of rupture
Surgical treatment for a ruptured urinary bladder?
Tube cystostomy for breeding or pet animals
Urethrostomy with catheterization may allow bladder to healed
Common post op complications from urethrostomy ?
Stricture
Urine scald
What are ways that urethral obstruction can be prevented?
Delay castration
Recommend females as pets
Increased water intake (4-5% salt in total ration, clean warm water)
Avoid grain supplements, maintain good quality grass hay and loose trace mineralized salt
Breeding or production animals — try to keep grain supplant to <25% of ration
Proper Ca, P, and Mg ratios
Urinary acidifiers — anionic ration or ammonium chloride
