Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Urolithiasis in Cattle, Sheep and Goat
Urolithiasis in Cattle, Sheep and Goat
PARVEZ AHMED
MVSC 1ST YEAR
2018-19
Introduction
Urolithiasis is common as a subclinical disorder
among ruminants
It considered primarily a nutritional disease
When ration is composed primarily of grain
Mortality is high in case of urethral obstruction
As a result, prevention is important to limit loses from
urolithiasis
Urolithiasis
Urolithiasis is the formation of stones (uroliths) in the
urinary tract.
It is most commonly seen in castrated male
common sites -
1. Cattle:- distal aspect of the sigmoid flexure
2. sheep and goats:- the sigmoid flexure and urethral
process
Diameter of urethral lumen at the sites of distal sigmoid
flexure and urethral process are the narrowest, thus
calculi could easily be trapped at these sites
Common
site
of stone
formation
Urethral
process
Calcium oxalate
Silica uroliths
whereas ruminants grazing on silicarich soil are
predisposed to form silica uroliths.
Risk factor for obstructive urolithiasis
Size of individual calculi- often the obstruction is
caused by one stone
Amount of calculus material- aggregation of many
small calculi also can cause obstruction\
Diameter of urethra- small diameter of urethra in
castrated animal
The castration affects the normal development of
urethra due to lack of testosterone which also
decreases the hydrophilic colloids in the urine thus
predisposing the animal to calculus formation
Pathogenesis
Calculi may be present in kidneys, ureters, bladder,
and urethra
Major clinical manifestation is urethral obstruction
Rupture of urethra or bladder occur within 2-3 days if
the obstruction is not relieved and the animal dies of
uremia or secondary bacterial infection
Smooth, spherical calculus- rupture of bladder
Irregularly shaped stone- rupture of urethra
Clinical finding
Stranguria - passage only few drops of blood stain
urine
Abdominal pain with kicking at the belly
Treading with the hind feet
Swishing of tail
vocalization (especially goats)
palpable bladder distention
abdominal palpation in small ruminants
rectal palpation in large ruminants
A heavy precipitate
of crystal is often
visible on preputial
hair
Sequelae to untreated obstruction
Diffuse swelling of subcutaneous tissue of ventral body
wall
Diagnostic procedures
Diagnosis based on history
Clinical signs
Urinalysis(urine may be light to dark yellow and pale
pink in colour in bovine )
Urine culture
Radiography
Ultrasonography
Laboratory findings
Increase in hemoglobin, haematocrit, total leucocytes
and neutrophils occurs in bullocks suffering from
urine retention due to urolithiasis