Obstructive urolithiasis, unilateral hydronephrosis, and probable nephrolithiasis in a 12-year-old Clydesdale gelding.

This research article describes the diagnosis and treatment of a 12-year-old Clydesdale gelding (type of horse) that was suffering from obstructive urolithiasis, unilateral hydronephrosis, and probable nephrolithiasis.

Detailed Explanation

Clinical Presentation

• The 12-year-old Clydesdale gelding was brought to the clinic with chief complaints of colic and dysuria. Colic refers to severe, often fluctuating pain in the abdomen that is caused by the spasm, obstruction, or distension of any of the hollow viscera, such as the intestines. Dysuria refers to difficulty or pain during urination.

Diagnosis

• The horse was diagnosed with obstructive urolithiasis and chronic renal disease. Obstructive urolithiasis refers to the formation of calculi or ‘stones’ in the urinary tract that block the flow of urine. Chronic renal disease is a progressive deterioration of renal function over a period of time.
• The diagnosis was made using transurethral endoscopy and percutaneous ultrasonography. Transurethral endoscopy involves the passage of an endoscope into the bladder via the urethra to visualize and investigate the lower urinary tract. Percutaneous ultrasonography uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body and was used for imaging the kidneys of the horse.
• Nephroliths (kidney stones), hydronephrosis (swelling of a kidney due to a build-up of urine), and peri-ureteral fibrosis (an abnormal fibrous tissue formation around the tube that carries urine from kidney to the bladder) were identified during these investigations.

Treatment and Management

• Surgical intervention was considered for the horse, but the option was declined, possibly due to the advanced age of the horse, surgical risks or financial limitations. Instead, the horse was managed medically.
• Medical management included the administration of antibiotics, most likely to control any secondary bacterial infections in the urinary tract.
• The horse’s diet was also modified, possibly to decrease the mineral concentrations that contribute to stone formation, and manage hydration and overall renal health.

The research article provides valuable information about the diagnosis and management of obstructive urolithiasis, unilateral hydronephrosis, and probable nephrolithiasis in a horse. The medical management strategies highlighted could serve as a guide for the treatment of similar cases in the future.