![]() Animals may have an arched stance, tread their feet, swish the tail, or kick at their belly. Early clinical signs associated with obstruction include signs of colic. Clinical signs will vary depending on the duration of obstruction, the site of obstruction, and whether a rupture has occurred. Even with appropriate treatment urethral stricture or hydronephrosis may present long term complications. If left untreated, obstruction of the urinary tract may result in urethral rupture or urinary bladder rupture. In small ruminants the urethral process is an extremely common site for uroliths to lodge. Uroliths may also be fount on lesser occasion at the ischial arch. ![]() The sigmoid flexure is a common site for uroliths to lodge in all ruminant species. In addition, the anatomy of the male ruminant urinary tract also contributes due to the potential narrowness of the passage and tortuous route. Decreased salt or water intake, urinary stasis, urinary tract infection, high urine pH (struvite, calcium phosphate, and calcium carbonate stones), vitamin A deficiency, and high estrogen intake have all been implicated as risk factors. A variety of risk factors exist for the development of uroliths in ruminant species. Crystal formation occurs when the inhibitory capacity of mucopolysaccharides, ions, and organic acids is exceeded. High dietary calcium and oxalate may predispose to carbonate and oxylate urolithiasis.įormation or urinary calculi is dependent on the supersaturation of urine with soluble ionized minerals. Calcium carbonate and calcium oxalate urolithiasis is less common and seen primarily in sheep grazing lush clover or legume pastures. Crystals are often present on the preputial orifice in affected animals. Animals with Magnesium ammonium phosphate stones generally have multiple small, soft, amorphous stones or sludge in the urinary tract. These are most common in feedlot animals and others on high concentrate rations. Magnesium ammonium phosphate uroliths are often referred to as phosphatic or struvite stones. High dietary Ca may predispose to the development of these uroliths. The stones are single, hard, and damage urethral mucosa during passage. Silica urolithiasis typically occurs in the western United States in animals that are grazing pastures or eating feeds harvested from pastures with high silicate concentrations. Silica, magnesium ammonium phosphate (phosphatic, struvite), calcium carbonate, and calcium oxylate are the most common types of crystals found in ruminants. Disease predominates in late fall or winter and the arid months of summer, likely due to fluctuations in water supply and intake. It is more common in young animals and may reflect both population and feed bias. Particularly those castrated prior to 2 months of age. Clinical urolithiasis is more common in males and castrated males. Urolithiasis is the most widespread and economically important urinary disease of ruminant species.
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