What goes wrong with the urinary system Flashcards
Renal failure is
RENAL FAILURE - an inability of the kidneys to perform their normal functions
What happens to urea in renal failure
Urea (blood urea nitrogen) and creatine (a waste product of muscle metabolism) will accumulate in the blood
This is called azotemia or uremia
Azotemia can be caused by a problem within the kidney or can be before or after the kidney
Three categories of renal failure
Prerenal uremia
Renal azotemia
Postrenal azotemia
Postrenal azotemia is
the problem is occurring post-, or after the kidneys, hence post-renal
Usually due to urethral obstruction due to stones, mucus plugs, blood clots, or tumors
If severe, can cause urine to back up into kidneys and damage or destroy nephrons (to cause renal azotemia)
Renal azotemia is
the problem is within the kidneys
Damaged nephrons due to toxins, infection, or inflammation
Poorly functioning or destroyed nephrons can’t filter blood – causes toxins to accumulate
BUT, kidneys have great capacity to compensate for nephron loss
Need loss of ⅔ to ¾ of nephron function before see clinical signs (thats only ⅓ to ¼ of remaining function!)
Prerenal uremia is
the problem is occurring BEFORE the kidneys - hence pre-renal
Decreased blood flow to kidneys due to dehydration, CHF, shock
Kidneys may still have adequate function!
Acute renal failure is and c/s
a recent loss of kidney function
Often difficult to distinguish from chronic renal failure.
Acute failure is usually due to trauma, obstruction, shock, viruses, or toxin (heavy metals, antifreeze)
In acute failure the loss of function may be preserved if the cause can be discovered and corrected.
Clinical signs include sudden onset vomiting, diarrhea, depression, dehydration and anorexia and often lack of urine production.
Chronic renal failure is and c/s
the loss of function developed over an extended period of time
More common than acute
Usually seen clinically when >⅔ of the kidney is compromised
Progression is gradual and cant be reversed
Signs are similar to those in acute renal failure plus polydipsia and polyuria, weight loss and anemia (how can you tell).
In acute failure they may be slightly swollen
On ultrasound kidneys are often shrunken in chronic renal failure
Cystitis is most seen in females for what reason and c/s
Females are more prone to cystitis because the urethra is:
Short
Wider
Opens to the vagina
Bladder is more likely invaded by bacteria, causing bacterial cystitis, or lower urinary tract infection
Signs include:
Frequent, small volume urination
Cloudy urine with WBC and possibly RBC
Uroliths and Urolithiasis is and what are they common in
Some waste products in urine may precipitate out and clump together to form solid crystals or stones- called uroliths, urinary stones, or urinary calculi
i.e.: ammonium, calcium
Common in cats, dogs, cattle, sheep, and goats: uncommon in horses
Seen more commonly in certain breeds
Min schnauzer, dachshund, dalmatian, pug, bulldog, basset, beagle
Uroliths and Urolithiasis formation occurs in and depends on
Formation occurs mainly in the bladder, but can be kidneys
Depends on urine pH, diet, urinary tract infection, and urinary volume and frequency
Animals that are chronically dehydrated or not allowed to urinate frequently may have lower urine flows and higher risk
Uroliths and Urolithiasis treatment
may require surgical removal; some dissolve with diet; some require antibiotics if associated with a UTI; many require a preventative diet for life to to prevent recurrence
Ruminant Urolithiasis - “Water Belly” in steers is some most frequently where and c/s
Seen most frequently:
In winter, when water intake is restricted
When water source has a high mineral content, and
When a high grain content diet is fed (feedlot)
Occlusion of the urethra by calculi leads to rupture of the urethra or rupture of the bladder
Clinical signs - failure to pass urine or dribbling urine, and abdominal pain.
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is
Also known as Feline Urological Syndrome (FUS)
Sand like crystals or mucus matrix forms a plug in the urethra resulting in inability to urinate (“blocked cat”)
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) multifactorial causes are
Crystals (often struvite or calcium oxalate)
Diet
Stress
Water intake
Cystitis
