Clinical Examination of Farm Animals - CYF MEDICAL DISTRIBUTION

CHAPTER 9
symptomless unless severe. Grossly enlarged kidneys
may be (unusually) palpable in the sublumbar
fossae beneath the lateral processes of the lumbar
vertebrae. They can also be detected and evaluated
by an ultrasonographic scan through the right dorsal
flank.
Notes on specific clinical signs
associated with some common bovine
urinary system diseases
Diseases of the kidney
Pyelonephritis
Usually sporadic, often in fat, middle aged cows; can
also affect calves.
Clinical signs Insidious onset, pyrexia 39.5 to 41°C,
loss in condition, frequent painful urination, may
stand with back arched and may show colicky signs.
The urine contains pus, blood, protein and bacteria.
Uraemia in terminal cases. One or both kidneys are
affected. The left kidney may be enlarged and painful
on rectal examination and one or both ureters may be
enlarged and thickened. Chronic pyelonephritis – few
external signs and detectable only on rectal examination
or through urine analysis is occasionally seen. In
calves pyrexia and frequent passage of bloody urine
may be seen.
Renal amyloidosis
Seen mostly, although rarely, in older postparturient
dairy cows.
Clinical signs Non-pyrexic, severe diarrhoea, generalised
subcutaneous oedema, depression, anorexia.
Left kidney is enlarged and rounded on rectal
examination. May see polyuria and/or polydypsia if
animal lives long enough. Severe proteinuria; severe
hypoproteinaemia. Rapid deterioration and terminal
uraemia.
Glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis
and nephrosis
Specific physical clinical findings may not be present.
Renal neoplasia
Rare, but gross and irregular renal enlargement may
be found on rectal examination aided by an ultrasonographic
scan.
Diseases of the bladder and urethra
Cystitis
Mostly sporadic and may involve the bladder only or
be part of the pyelonephritis complex (see above).
Cystitis is more common in females than in males
and often occurs shortly after parturition, especially
when dystocia has occurred. It may also follow careless
use of a urinary catheter.
Clinical signs Mild pyrexia, seldom inappetant,
frequent passage of small quantities of urine often
with much straining and posturing. Discoloured
urine contains numerous red and white blood cells,
cells, pus and bacteria. Blood clots are sometimes
seen in the urine or protruding from the external urethral
orifice. The bladder wall may feel thickened,
hard to the touch and painful on rectal examination.
Urolithiasis
May be sporadic but outbreaks may occur on some
units. It can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and
may be accompanied by heavy losses. In cattle the
uroliths are usually calcium magnesium ammonium
phosphate (CaMgNH 4
PO 4
).
The case history may include a number of factors
which predispose to precipitation of solutes in the
urinary tract. These are as follows:
• water deprivation – no water or some animals
unable to reach the trough
• abnormal urinary pH
• high concentrate diet
• abnormal Ca : P ratio in diet; high phosphorus and
low calcium levels are particularly dangerous
• gender – urolithiasis is more common in the male
(especially the castrated male) than the female
• urinary infection – may provide foci of pus or
debris which predispose to solute precipitation.
Clinical signs Usually a progression of obstruction
to urethral rupture, then bladder rupture; signs vary
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