Clinical Examination of Farm Animals - CYF MEDICAL DISTRIBUTION

CHAPTER 9
Examination of the genitalia
Vagina
Vaginal examination in the female, preferably by
speculum, should also be performed. This will allow
a visual examination of the vagina and the external
urethral orifice to be completed and the presence of
discharges of uterine origin or urovagina (Fig. 10.9)
to be detected.
Figure 9.5 Prepuce of calf suffering from urolithiasis (or at risk of
urolithiasis). Note uroliths on preputial hairs.
Penis
In the male, the external course of the penis should be
followed by palpation. Details of this examination
are given in Chapter 11.
to the dry looking hairs are often seen in animals
which have or are at risk of developing urolithiasis
(Fig. 9.5).
Rectal examination
This is an important and essential part of the assessment
of the urinary system in cattle. The caudal
pole of the left kidney should be palpated (Fig. 9.1).
Pain, enlargement or loss of the lobulated pattern
of the kidney may all indicate renal disease. In
pyelonephritis the left kidney may be painful to
the touch. In renal amyloidosis the kidney is enlarged
and its lobulated pattern is indistinct. The
ureters are normally only palpable if diseased. Pain
on palpation of the bladder may be seen in cases of
cystitis or acute urinary retention. In the cow or
heifer the bladder may, if empty, be partially obscured
by the uterus which lies above it. The uterus in
the female and the accessory sexual glands in the
male should also be palpated to check that they are
not also involved in any disease process. Large quantities
of free fluid in the abdomen can be palpated per
rectum and also be detected by external ballottement
or paracentesis.
Ultrasonographic examination of the structures
palpated and ballotted provides useful additional
information, and should be carried out whenever
possible. The scan should be carried out per rectum
and a transabdominal scan can provide further
useful additional information.
Congenital defects
Hypospadia
This is failure of closure of the male urethra. The mucosal
surface of the urethra is exposed from the perineum
to the tip of the prepuce. Affected animals are
often able to live a normal life and urine emerges
from just beneath the anus (Fig. 9.6).
Patent urachus
This is less common in cattle than in the foal. Urine
may leak from the umbilicus or there may be a closed
cyst-like structure filled with urine adjacent to the
umbilicus (Fig. 9.7). Urachal infection may be a sequel
to umbilical infection leading to abscess formation.
The enlarged urachus can often be palpated running
caudally from the umbilicus towards the bladder.
Ultrasonographic confirmation of diagnosis and the
extent of tissue involvement is very helpful.
Kidney aplasia and ectopic ureters
These are very rare in cattle.
Hydronephrosis
This may occasionally be seen in calves. It has also
been seen in older cattle recovering from enzootic
haematuria (see below). Hydronephrosis may be
120