Urinary Tract Diseases of the Small Ruminant Flashcards
What is the term for more urine production?
Polyuria
What is the term for less urine production?
Oliguria
What is the term for NO urine production?
Anuria
What is the term for increased frequency of urination?
Pollakuria
What are some of the clinical signs associated with urinary tract disease?
- abdominal pain + distension
- pain or difficulty urinating
- subcutaneous swelling
- depression (uraemia)
- weight loss +/- diarrhea
- changes in kidney size
What factors shouldnt be found in small ruminant urinalysis?
Not normal to see: Glucose Ketones Protein Blood Bilirubin
What biochemical parameters can we measure to help diagnose UTD in ruminants?
Urea Creatinine Total Protein Creatine Kinase Electrolytes Beta Hydroxybutyrate (BHB)
How can uremia be categorized and tested in the ruminant?
Pre-renal- SG >1.025
Renal- SG >1.008 - 1.012
Post-renal- SG > 1.025, but variable
What is the most common cause of pre-renal uremia in ruminants?
- Dehydration
- Shock
What is the most common cause of renal uremia in ruminants?
- Pyelonephritis
- Toxic Insult
- Amyloidosis
What is the most common cause of post-renal uremia in ruminants?
- Urolithiasis
- Trauma (ruptured bladder)
What are the most common diseases of the urinary tract in sheep and goats?
Kidney:
- Pulpy kidney or bacillary haemoglobinuria
- Toxic Nephrosis (acorns are toxic or certain antimicrobials)
Lower Urinary Tract:
- Urolithiasis: very common
- Ulcerative balano-posthitis/ balanitis/ vaginitis
Other diseases do occur but are far less common in sheep and goats
What causes Pulpy kidney disease?
- Clostridia perfringens type D enterotoxemia
What are the clinical signs associated with Pulpy Kidney Disease?
acute onset
headpressing
central blindness
frothing
How can Pulpy Kidney Disease be diagnosed?
- Glycosuria
- PM: focal symmetrical encephalomalacia + leakage of blood in kidney cortex hence a soft and pulpy kidney
What is the treatment/ prevention for Pulpy kidney disease?
Treatment is impossible
Prevention is through maternal vaccination- GOOD vaccine available thats given 4-6 weeks before lambing
Lambs then need to be vaccinated 3-6 weeks old and again a month later
What causes Bacillary haemoglobinuria in sheep and goats?
Ingestion of Clostridia haemolytica
What is the pathogenesis of Bacillary haemoglobinuria ?
- Ingestion
- Latent spores become lodged in the liver
- Require a locus of anaerobic microenvironment in the liver (commonly caused by liver fluke)
- The spores germinate in anaerobic conditions and produce Beta toxin (phospholipase C)
- This results in intravascular hemolysis, hemolytic anemia and hemoglobinuria (red urine)
What are the clinical signs associated with Bacillary haemoglobinuria?
Dull Depressed Pyrexic with dark urine Jaundice Death in 48-72 hours
How can Bacillary haemoglobinuria be diagosed?
- Clinical signs
- PM: ischemic infarct in the liver, petechial haemorrhage in dark friable kidneys with a purple-red urine stained bladder
What is the treatment and prevention of Bacillary haemoglobinuria?
Treatment is impossible
Prevention is through maternal vaccination- GOOD vaccine available thats given 4-6 weeks before lambing
Lambs then need to be vaccinated 3-6 weeks old and again a month later
What are the common toxins that cause Toxic Nephrosis in Sheep and Goats?
- Antimicrobials: aminoglycosides, oxytetracyclines, sulphonamides
- NSAIDs
- Dewormers: benzimidazoles
- Monensin
- Aldrin poisoning in goats (pesticide)
- Mycotoxins
- Acorns (Quercus poisoning): very common
What are the clinical signs associated with ingestion of Acorns (Quercus poisoning) in sheep and goats?
Anorexia Depression Brisket edema Dehydration Rumen stasis Tenesmus Halitosis Serous ocular and nasal discharge PU/PD +/- hematuria Icterus Constipation -> mucoid to haemorrhagic diarrhea
Signs usually present 3-7 days after ingestion
What would be a classic renal failure biochem panel + urinalysis seen with Quercus poisoning in sheep and goats?
- Increased BUN and creatinine
- Proteinuria, glucosuria, hyperbilirubinuria, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia
- Urine with a low SG
What findings might you find on PM from a sheep with Quercus poisoning?
- pale swollen kidneys
- coagulative necrosis
- perirenal edema, ascites and hydrothorax
- edema and sub-serousal petechial or eccymotic haemorrhage of the intestinal mucosa and ulceration of the esophagus
What is the treatment and prognosis of Quercus poisoning in sheep?
Prognosis poor unless found early
- Fluid therapy
- Ruminal microflora transplantation
- Calcium hydroxide, activated charcoal
- Polyethylene glycol in the feed or water will bind tannins and reduce tissue damage
What is the cause of Ovine/ Lamb Nephrosis?
Currently unknown, but believed to be linked to coccidiosis or nematodirus GI parasites, or linked to the dewormers we use to rid of these parasites
What are the clinical signs associated with Ovine/ Lamb Nephrosis?
Dull, not suckling Ill-thrift Hunched backs Appear thirsty and will stand at water but wont drink Ataxic Diarrhea Seizures Death in 1- 3 days
How can Ovine/ Lamb Nephrosis be diagnosed?
- Clinical signs
- PM: swollen, pale kidneys
What is the treatment and prognosis for Ovine/ Lamb Nephrosis?
~100% fatality
No treatment
What is the most common cause of Urinary Tract Infections (Pyelonephritis and Cystitis) in sheep?
- Reproductive tract disease such as metritis or endometritis post lambing
- Post-urethrostomy surgery in males is nearly always due to Corynebacterium renale
What are the signs associated with UTI (Pyelonephritis and Cystitis) in sheep?
+/- fever
stranguria
weight loss
pyuria +/- hematuria
What is the treatment and prognosis of UTI (Pyelonephritis and Cystitis) in sheep?
Prognosis guarded especially if chronic or associated with urethrostomy
Tx:
- Penicillin, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin for 14-21 days
- Urine acidifiers e.g. Sodium acid phosphate 100g/day if C.renale is present as it alkalinizes the urine
What are the risk factors associated with Urolithiasis in sheep or goats?
- Male lambs/ kids, especially in those that were castrated in the first month of life (narrow urethra)
- Breed: texan and scottish black face
- High Mg content in ration (0.2%+), causing Struvite crystals
- Alkaline urine (pH >8.0)
- Low Ca:P ratio in diet
- Dehydration
- Rapid dietary changes
Where are the 2 most common areas that crystals/ stones get stuck?
- Sigmoid flexure
- Tip of penis
What are the clinical signs associated with urolithiasis in sheep/ goats?
Dull Restless Tail swishing Separation Sternal recumbancy Foot stomping Excessive bleating Bruxism Painful expression Stranguria and tenesmus: wide based hind limb stance with legs held backwards Increased HR, RR and congested mm
How can Urolithiasis be diagnosed in sheep and goats?
- clinical signs
- Uroperitoneum due to a leaking bladder wall. Rupture is actually rare
- Ultrasound
- Gritty material at prepuce (but not always indicative)
What is the treatment for Urolithiasis in sheep?
- Daily oral dosing of ammonium chloride
- excision of the vermiform appendix if cause of the problem
- Sub-ischial urethrostomy (opening urethra in the caudal end). Most common
- Permanent or non-permanent Cystotomy in valuable breeding rams
- Tube cystotomy to allow for urethral rest and resolution, then removal at day 10
How can Urolithiasis be prevented in sheep?
- Dont castrate unnecessarily
- Correct ration formulation (lower Mg and correct Ca:P ratio)
- supply good quality hay/ roughage
- NaCl supplementation: stimulates water consumption
- Provide clean, fresh, unfrozen water
- Dont feed ewe nuts (high in Mg) to young rams
What is the cause of balano-posthitis (aka Pizzle Rot)?
- C. renale infection (Urease enzyme activity converts Urea to NH3 which has a caustic effect)
- High protein pasture
How can balano-posthitis be diagnosed in male sheep/ clinical signs?
- Swollen, edematous prepuce
- Difficulty urinating
- Strong ammonia smell
- Prone to myiasis (fly strike)
What is the treatment for balano-posthitis in male sheep?
- IM Penicillin for 5+ days
- Topical antiseptics
- Reduce protein intake
- Oral ammonium chloride (urinary acidifier)
What is the cause of Ulcerative balanitis/ vaginitis?
- Ureaplasma spp
What are the clinical signs associated with Ulcerative balanitis/ vaginitis ?
- Swollen, edematous prepuce/ vagina
- Difficulty urinating
- Ulcers on the penis/ vagina
- +/- discharge
What is the treatment for Ulcerative balanitis/ vaginitis ?
- Long acting oxytetracyclines and topical antiseptics
