Clinical Examination of Farm Animals - CYF MEDICAL DISTRIBUTION

Clinical Examination of the Urinary System
such as urolithiasis may affect several members of
the herd.
Some specific points of history may be of particular
interest in the investigation of urinary disease.
Both the immediate and past history of the patient
should be investigated. The owner may have observed
some difficulty or discomfort in the passage
of urine. Straining with arching of the back may be
seen before, during or after urination, but this may
be mistaken by owners as a sign of constipation.
Changes in diet and an interruption of the water supply
may predispose to urolithiasis. The water consumption
of individual animals provides useful
information, but may not be known unless the patient
is in isolation. Discoloured urine may have been
seen sometimes, with possible evidence of blood or
pus.
Animals with severe renal dysfunction, including
uraemia, may show few specific signs other than
anorexia, lethargy and depression. Animals with
urolithiasis may show an unexpected improvement
and freedom from pain when rupture of the bladder
or urethra occurs. Such improvement is temporary
and the animal’s condition usually deteriorates
again as the consequences of leakage of urine become
apparent. Loss of bodily condition is observed in
some, mostly chronic, cases of renal disease.
Observation of the patient
Figure 9.4 Male calf with ruptured urethra with leakage of urine around
prepuce ‘water belly’.
To confirm the presence of any abnormalities in the
process of urination noted by the owner, the patient
is observed. In some cases it may be difficult to be
sure that an animal is actually passing urine. Placing
the animal in a clean box with a dry concrete floor for
2 hours will often confirm evidence of urination.
Time may not always be available for this procedure.
Dampness around the ventral commissure of the
vulva in the female or on the preputial hairs of the
male may indicate recent urination. Urination or attempted
urination should be closely observed and a
mid-stream sample of urine collected into a sterile
container. Renal pain, prolonged attempts to urinate
or straining after urination may cause the animal
to stand with its back arched. The animal may also
show signs of abdominal pain. Kicking at the abdomen,
frequent changing of position, straining,
bruxism and bellowing in discomfort may be seen.
Abdominal distension may be seen in animals in
which rupture of the bladder has caused urine to
accumulate in the abdomen. Swelling around the
prepuce extending along the ventral abdominal wall
may be seen in animals with rupture of the urethra
(Fig. 9.4).
Examination of the urinary system
in cattle
Any abnormalities detected during observation of
the patient should be followed up during the detailed
clinical examination. The vulva or prepuce is
examined to see if blood or pus is present which
might have arisen from the urinary system. Any abdominal
distension and ventral swelling observed,
possibly caused by leakage of urine, should be investigated
by palpation and if necessary by ultrasonographic
examination. The skin covering areas of
subcutaneous urine leakage may become cold and
necrotic. The preputial hairs of male animals should
be examined. Numbers of small uroliths attached
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