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Topic:Urinary Health
Urinary health in horses encompasses the study of the equine urinary system, which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. This system is responsible for filtering blood, removing waste products, and regulating fluid and electrolyte balance. Conditions affecting urinary health can range from infections and obstructions to renal dysfunction and urolithiasis. Monitoring urinary health involves assessing clinical signs, conducting urinalysis, and utilizing imaging techniques. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management of urinary health issues in horses.
Measurements of urethral pressure profiles in the male horse. Urinary tract pressure profiles were evaluated in 6 clinically normal geldings over 3 consecutive days. This was performed by introducing a 1.3 m-long cuffed catheter into the urinary tract, under xylazine sedation (0.8 mg/kg, iv). The method was reproducible. The mean (+/- sd) intra-vesicular pressure (IVP) and maximal urethral closure pressures (MUCP) were 10.3 (+/- 1.7) and 129.8 (+/- 19.6) cmH2O, respectively, and the ratio between MUCP and IVP was 13.2 (+/- 2.5). A gelding with urinary incontinence showed a significantly lower MUCP (73.4 cmH2O), and an MUCP to IVP ratio of 8.0. It was con...
Urinary concentration of corticoids in normal horses and horses with hyperadrenocorticism. The urinary corticoid:creatinine (c:c) ratio was determined in eight horses with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). The mean (+/- SD) urinary c:c ratio of the eight horses with HAC (29 +/- 14 x 10(-6)) was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than the ratio in seven control horses (11 +/- 4.3 x 10(-6)). The urinary concentration of corticoids in control horses (201 +/- 60.4 nmol litre-1) was significantly (P 0.05) between both groups. As both false negative and false positive cases were found, it is concluded that a measurement of the urinary c:c ratio in the horse should not be used as the sole test...
Botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder in a filly. No abstract available
Urinary indices of horses after intravenous administration of crystalloid solutions. Saline or glucose solution was infused for approximately 4 hours into six healthy mares in two separate experiments to determine the effect of infusion of crystalloid solutions on fractional excretion (FE) of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P), ratio of urinary creatinine to serum creatinine (UCr/SCr), and ratio of urinary osmolality to serum osmolality (Uosm/Sosm). After intravenous infusion of either saline or glucose solution, FENa, FECl and FEP were significantly increased, whereas UCr/SCr and Uosm/Sosm were significantly decreased. In addition, FEK was significa...
Small intestinal incarceration through the lateral ligament of the urinary bladder in a horse. Small intestinal incarceration through the lateral ligament of the urinary bladder was diagnosed in a 14-year-old, 569-kg, castrated Quarter Horse. The incarceration was corrected by ventral midline celiotomy. Approximately 70 cm of the middle portion of the jejunum was resected and end-to-end, single-layer anastomosis was performed. After surgery, the horse developed signs of adynamic ileus and lameness in the right forelimb. The horse developed laminitis in all 4 feet within 24 hours of surgery. The horse was euthanatized because of poor prognosis for survival. At necropsy, a 4.5-cm rent was...
Bilateral ureterocystostomy in a 450-kg horse with ectopic ureters. A 450-kg yearling Clydesdale filly was determined to have bilateral ectopic ureters. The resulting incontinence caused severe malodorous perineal dermatitis. Bladder capacity was measured at 800 ml. The urethral sphincter lacked tone, and the horse was seen to urinate in a normal manner only 2 or 3 times a week. A midline celiotomy was performed, and the ureters were identified by cannulation from the ectopic openings. The ureters were ligated, and the cut ends were anastomosed to the dorsal bladder surface by an extravesicular end-to-side technique. A partial thickness seromuscular layer of t...
Disposition of human drug preparations in the horse. II. Orally administered fencamfamine. A gas chromatographic method to measure urinary levels of the central nervous system stimulant fencamfamine and some of its metabolites is described. When 100 mg fencamfamine was given orally to four horses the parent drug could not be detected in the urine. After enzymatic hydrolysis of the urine the major human metabolite, N-desethylated fencamfamine, only accounted for 1% of the dose in 12 h. The major equine metabolites were conjugated parahydroxylated compounds representing 18% of the dose. With regard to horse doping control and analysis, the injudicious use of human doping routine metho...
Struvite urethral calculus in a three-month-old thoroughbred colt. A 3-month-old Thoroughbred colt was presented with signs of colic. Findings from physical examination, abdominal paracentesis, abdominal radiographs and clinical pathology revealed uroperitoneum secondary to a calculus obstructing the urethra and causing subsequent urinary bladder rupture. Analysis of the calculus demonstrated a tissue center with outer concretions composed primarily of struvite.
Conservative management of uroperitoneum in a gelding. Uroperitoneum as a sequela to urethral calculus in an adult gelding was successfully managed by use of subischial urethrotomy and abdominal drainage. Necrosis of bladder mucosa was seen endoscopically, but a tear or rupture was never identified. Peritonitis developed but was controlled with antibacterial treatment. Although uroperitoneum is usually a sequela to bladder rupture and the ideal treatment is surgical repair, conservative management may be warranted in selected cases.
[Selenium, an essential and toxic element. Latin American data]. After a brief discussion of some of the aspects of importance, sources, deficiencies and excesses of selenium the great differences of ingestion between different countries are mentioned. Breast fed children from an area in Venezuela ingest 10 times the amount compared with children from Finland. Among sesame seed samples from 20 different countries used as Se indicators, the highest and the lowest values were found in those of Latin-American origin. With very few exceptions the highest and the lowest urinary and serum Se levels reported in the literature came from this region. The performance...
Diagnosis of ruptured urinary bladder in a foal by the identification of calcium carbonate crystals in the peritoneal fluid. A 3-day-old Quarter Horse colt was examined because of signs of severe depression, discomfort, and abdominal straining. The foal seemed disoriented, and the abdomen was tense and distended ventrally. The differential diagnoses included ruptured urinary bladder, retained meconium, septicemia/bacteremia, and neonatal maladjustment syndrome. Serum biochemical analysis revealed marked hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and moderate hyperkalemia, as well as mildly high urea, creatinine, and phosphorus concentrations. The primary differential diagnosis at this time was ruptured urinary bladder. Abdominoce...
Postpartum partial cystectomy through the vagina in a mare with everted partially necrotic bladder. The bladder of a 750-kg Clydesdale mare had everted through the urethra into the vagina immediately after parturition. The bladder was reinverted into the peritoneal cavity by an attending veterinarian, but 4 days later, the bladder was everted again in the vagina. The mare was able to void urine through both ureters, which could be seen in the mucosal surface of the bladder. The everted bladder had become edematous and could not be reinverted through the urethra. A considerable portion of the fundus was necrotic. The mare was administered xylazine epidurally to induce perineal analgesia, and ...
Long-term effects of porcine zonae pellucidae immunocontraception on ovarian function in feral horses (Equus caballus). Ten feral mares free-roaming in Maryland, USA, were inoculated with porcine zonae pellucidae (PZP) protein before the breeding season for three consecutive years (1988-90). Ovarian function was monitored for 51 days during the peak of the breeding season after the third annual PZP inoculation, in seven of these mares and in four untreated control mares, by means of urinary oestrone conjugates and nonspecific progesterone metabolites. None of the ten inoculated mares became pregnant in 1990, compared with 55% of 20 control mares, which included two of the four monitored for ovarian function. Th...
Characterization of a trypsin inhibitor from equine urine. A trypsin inhibitor was isolated from pregnant mares' urine by adsorption on bentonite and elution with aqueous pyridine followed by batch DEAE-cellulose treatment and column chromatography. Final purification to an electrophoretically homogenous glycoprotein was achieved by gel permeation chromatography. This equine urinary trypsin inhibitor (E-UTI) is acid- and heat-stable, has a molecular weight of 22 to 23 kDa, an isoelectric point of 4.55, forms a 1:1 molar complex with trypsin and has serine as its N-terminal amino acid. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of this protein is almost identi...
The spectrum of antibiotic resistance in human and veterinary isolates of Escherichia coli collected from 1984-86 in northern India. This study was undertaken to assess the spectrum of drug resistance prevalent in Escherichia coli isolates from human and animal populations in Northern India. Three hundred and two isolates of Escherichia coli isolated from various infections of humans (47 from diarrhoea; 101 from urinary tract infection) and veterinary animals (17 from poultry septicaemia; 75 from bovine diarrhoea; 14 from ovine diarrhoea and 48 from equine metritis) were studied for their susceptibility to ampicillin, cephaloridine, amoxycillin, cloxacillin, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and tri...
Urolithiasis in 68 horses. Medical records of 68 horses with urolithiasis were examined. Calculi were in the bladder in 47 horses, urethra in 11 horses, kidneys in 15 horses, and ureter in two horses. They occurred at several sites in six horses. Common clinical signs included hematuria, altered micturition (pollakiuria, dysuria, urinary incontinence), and tenesmus. Weight loss, possibly attributable to chronic renal failure and colic, was associated more commonly with renal and ureteral calculi. Weight loss also occurred in 13% of horses with cystic calculi only. In male horses, most cystic calculi were removed by peri...
Lymphosarcoma with urinary bladder infiltration in a horse. A 9-year-old Thoroughbred mare was examined because of pollakiuria, hematuria, and weight loss of 3 weeks' duration. Physical examination revealed a regular cardiac rhythm with occasional premature contractions, and a soft tissue mass in the pelvic canal palpable per rectum. Microscopic examination of urine sediment revealed numerous RBC and a large population of lymphocytes and lymphoblasts with characteristics of neoplasia. Similar cells were found in peritoneal fluid obtained by abdominocentesis. The horse was euthanatized without treatment. Necropsy revealed a soft tissue mass infiltrating...
Effect of diet on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicosis in horses. Gentamicin sulfate-induced nephrotoxicosis was compared in 2 groups of horses fed different rations. Four horses were fed only alfalfa hay, and 4 other horses were fed only whole oats. Seven days after initiation of the diet, all horses were given gentamicin IV (5 mg/kg of body weight) every 12 hours for 22 days. Urinary gamma-glutamyl-transferase to urinary creatinine (UGGT:UCr) ratio was calculated daily, and serum concentration of gentamicin was measured at 1 and 12 hours after drug administration. Results indicated that horses fed oats had greater renal tubular damage than did horses fed a...
[Rupture of the bladder and of the urachus in foals. A literature review]. It is well documented that the incidence of rupture of the urinary bladder or urachus is highest in newborn male foals and occurs during the (usually uncomplicated) parturition. Important clinical symptoms include frequent passing of small quantities of urine, abdominal distention and positive abdominal undulation. Hyperkalaemia, hyponatraemia, hypochloraemia and an elevated serum creatinine level are often present. The serum blood urea nitrogen concentration may be normal or only slightly elevated. The creatinine concentration in the peritoneal fluid is invariably higher than that in serum, a...
Follicular and endocrine responses of anoestrous mares to administration of native GnRH or a GnRH agonist. Thirty-seven seasonally anoestrous mares were divided into treatment and control groups and given 10 micrograms of native GnRH (GnRH) per hour using a peristaltic pump, or 10 micrograms GnRH agonist (GnRHa) twice daily, beginning on either 13 January, 13 February or 14 March. Treatment with GnRH was equally effective in inducing ovulation in January (4/5), February (4/5) and March (3/4). GnRHa treatment was more effective in inducing ovulation in February (4/5) and March (4/4) than in January (2/8). Peak luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations in mares induced to ovulate with GnRH (7.4 +/- 1.5...
Autonomic innervation of the equine urinary bladder. The distribution and density of intrinsic autonomic nerve fibers and cells were studied in the equine urinary bladder by means of the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemical method to localize tyrosine-hydroxylase (TH), and by means of a histochemical technique to detect acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. The results suggest that the equine urinary bladder, like that of other mammalian species, possesses a rich autonomic innervation which includes catecholaminergic and acetylcholinesterase positive nerves. At least a part of these nerve fibers have an intrinsic origin from ganglion ce...
Endoscopic diagnosis of unilateral ectopic ureter in a yearling filly. Unilateral ectopic ureter was diagnosed by endoscopic examination in an 18-month-old filly examined because of chronic urine dribbling. Intramuscular administration of azosulfamide discolored the urine and enhanced visualization of the ectopic ureter. Endoscopy proved valuable in determining that only one ureter entered the urinary bladder and in locating the ectopic ureter in the ventral portion of the vagina.
Ten cases of bladder paralysis associated with sabulous urolithiasis in horses. Bladder paralysis and sabulous urolithiasis were diagnosed in 10 horses with urinary incontinence. Additional neurological deficits in the hindquarters were detected in five of them. Treatment by catheter drainage and bladder lavage was unsuccessful, and all the horses were destroyed within 14 months of presentation. Neuritis of the cauda equina was diagnosed post mortem in one horse, but the cause of the paralysis was not identified in the others, although radiography revealed abnormal lumbosacral vertebral angulation in one case.
Obstructive nephrolithiasis and ureterolithiasis associated with chronic renal failure in horses: eight cases (1981-1987). Eight adult horses with obstructive nephrolithiasis and/or ureterolithiasis were examined between 1981 and 1987. One horse had bilateral ureteral obstruction at hospital admission; the others had unilateral ureteral obstruction. All horses had similar bilateral renal pathologic findings that were compatible with chronic intermittent or complete obstruction. Horses were referred for evaluation of weight loss, poor performance, and/or decreased appetite. Clinical findings, laboratory results, and/or postmortem findings in all horses supported the diagnosis of chronic renal failure. Age of the 8 ...
Effect of meal feeding on plasma volume and urinary electrolyte clearance in ponies. The effect of meal size and frequency on plasma volume, plasma aldosterone concentration and urinary Na and K clearances was determined in ponies. A daily maintenance ration of hay-grain pellets was provided either as a multiple feeding regimen, ie, 12 equal portions fed at 2-hour intervals, or as single large feedings, ie, half the ration fed every 12 hours at 0800 and 2000 hours. Only the effect of the single morning feeding was studied, using the latter regimen. Serial measurements of plasma volume were made by use of an indicator-dilution technique and indocyanine green (0.15 mg/kg of body...
Equine urine pH: normal population distributions and methods of acidification. Our investigation of the urine of grazing horses at the University of Kentucky shows that the mean pH level is about 7.9, and if their diet is supplemented with grain, it is about 7.4. There appears to be no significant effect of time of day or year on urine pH levels in horses. However, horses taken from pasture and supplemented with grain in a stalled environment show a slight decrease in urine pH. Additionally, we investigated the effects of storage on pH levels. Equine urine samples appear to be quite stable with regard to pH for 48h, but then show a marked increase. Urine pH can have a gr...
Ectopic ureter in the horse: Three cases and a review of the literature. Ureterovesicular anastomosis resulted in resolution of the clinical signs of urinary incontinence in three horses with unilateral ectopic ureter. Follow-up of two of the horses ten months and three years later indicated no further urinary tract problems; the third horse died four days after surgery from intestinal infarction.Diagnosis can be readily confirmed by antegrade or retrograde ureterography, or endoscopic visualization of the ectopic ureteral openings. Nephrectomy appears indicated in cases of unilateral ectopic ureter with associated ipsilateral urinary tract infection or hydronephro...
Urinary eCG patterns in the mare during pregnancy. Blood and urine samples collected from 12 mares at frequent intervals from 25 to 210 d of pregnancy were analyzed for equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). Blood and urine samples were collected daily through two consecutive ovulatory periods from five cyclic mares for comparative purposes. Separate radioimmunoassays (RIA) were developed to detect eCG in the urine and plasma. A simple and quick commercial dipstick enzyme-linked immunospecific assay (ELISA), developed for eCG in the blood, was also utilized in this study to detect eCG in the urine. In the 12 pregnant mares, eCG concentrations in...
