CLINICAL VETERINARY SURGERY VIDEOS- UROLITHIASIS IN A BULLOCK

A case of Urolithiasis in a 15 yr old Bull. He was struggling for past 4 days and was in critical condition. Before the bladder rupture, we could save him by an emergency urethrotomy and catheterisation.

Possible predisposing factors include:
• Excessive mineral intake, which can occur from highly mineralised artesian water or from high
concentrate diets.
• Ingestion of certain plants containing high levels of oxalate, oestrogens or silica.
• Diets high in magnesium.
• Increased presence of mucoprotein in the diet caused by feeding high concentrate low roughage rations,
pelleted rations, or rations high in phosphate.
• Concentrated urine, which is produced when there is no drinking water available or when water is of poor
quality. Water deprivation can be exacerbated by heavy fluid loss from in hot conditions.
• An imbalance in the calcium to phosphorus ratio of the diet.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Partial obstruction
Animals will probably be off feed, uncomfortable, stretching, and straining to urinate; but will only pass small
amounts of urine or dribble urine which may be blood-tinged.
Total obstruction
Symptoms are as above but more painful; animals may strain to urinate but are not able to pass any urine; and may have a ‘stretched out’ stance or go down.
Rupture of the urethra
The animal may seem more comfortable again for a while but will develop swelling under the skin of the belly; the sheath; under the tail; and will gradually deteriorate over a couple of days.Rupture of the bladder (water belly). The animal may seem more comfortable initially, but one to two days after the rupture its belly will start to fill up with urine and the animal will become depressed and weak; then it will go down and die fairly quickly.If there is an obstruction and it is not relieved, a bladder or urethral rupture will occur usually within 48 hours.
THE PRESENT CASE WAS A UNIQUE ONE WHICH HAD SURVIVED 72 HOURS OF OBSTRUCTION AND GOT SAVED BY URETHROSTOMY