Causes: infection, toxins, etc., irritant diuretics, chills, moulting,
swill. Lesions: cortical kidney congestion, red to black, softening
friability; urine limpid to red, with blood globules, albumen, and
crystals. Symptoms: chill, tender loins, colic, straining, recovery in
four days. Diagnosis: from hæmoglobinuria, cystitis, calculus.
Prevention: diet, etc. Treatment: laxatives, flax seed, wet
compresses, bromides, camphor, disinfectants, bitters.
_Causes._ In cattle this malady is largely traceable to the same causes
as in the horse, and is very often but a complication of some other
affection. The renal congestion of infectious diseases is seen in the
advanced stages of lung plague, in anthrax, in malignant catarrh, in
hæmoglobinæmia, and implies an accumulation of irritant toxins in the
system. The abuse of diuretics, the ingestion of acrid diuretic plants,
including the early shoots of the coniferæ, the introduction through any
channel of cantharides or potato beetles, the drinking of stagnant water
charged with deleterious fermentation products, the consumption of musty
or spoiled fodder, and the sudden change to the succulent grasses of
spring, operate as in the horse. So it is with cutaneous chills, cold
stone floors, cold wet storms, draughts and dropping from a leaky roof.
The shedding of the coat in spring is an undoubted predisposing cause.
Cattle in the swill stables of breweries and distilleries are the
subjects of a constant renal congestion and polyuria, which, however,
does not prevent rapid fattening. This diet, however, unfits the animal
for a future vigorous life, and any concurrent injurious influence may
easily bring on active kidney disease.
_Lesions._ There is redness and swelling of the kidney, it may be to two
or three times its normal size, the enlargement being especially
referable to the cortical portion, which may be mottled in different
shades of red up to black extravasations. The lack of firmness in its
connection with its sheath, and the softening and friability of the
parenchyma resemble the same conditions in the horse. The urine may be
clear or more or less tinged with blood, and contains blood globules,
albumen, and crystals of carbonate of lime and urate of ammonia, which
seem to indicate the presence of a bacterial ferment.
_Symptoms._ The patient usually shows some indication of chill, with
staring coat and arched back, which is very sensitive to pinching. There
is impairment of rumination and appetite, decrease of milk in dairy
cows, uneasy movements of the hind limbs and tail, frequent straining to
urinate, and the passage of urine often in small amount and sometimes of
a pink or reddish tinge. In bad cases this may become deep red, or
black, and the pulse becomes weak, with palpitations, marked muscular
weakness and a tendency to lie down most of the time.
With early improvement recovery may be complete in from four to six
days. In the more severe and fatal cases death may occur as early as the
sixth day. Unless under the influence of violent irritants or a
persistence of the original poison the prognosis is favorable.
_Diagnosis._ It is especially important to distinguish this from
=hæmoglobinæmia=, which shows an uniform red or brown discoloration of
the urine and an entire absence of blood globules as such. In congestion
the reddish material tends to precipitate and is found to consist
largely of blood globules. It is further associated with albuminuria.
=Hæmorrhagic cystitis= and =cystic calculi= are both chronic affections,
and identified on rectal exploration by the tenderness of the bladder
and the presence of the stone.
_Prevention_ consists in the avoidance of the various causative factors,
and especially those that find access among alimentary matters. Cattle
turned out in early spring should be fed before going and should be
returned from the pasture in an hour or two. This repeated day by day,
allows the digestive and urinary organs to accommodate themselves to the
fresh spring grass and to any vegetation to which the animals have not
been accustomed. Chills, draughts, injuries and other disturbing
conditions must be guarded against.
_Treatment._ Bleeding is strongly recommended by Cruzel and Cadeac. In
Germany, England and America derivation toward the digestive organs is
more generally relied on. Laxatives should be, as in the horse,
oleaginous (castor, olive, linseed) or manna, rather than agents that
may perchance act on the kidneys. Free purgation should be secured.
Flaxseed tea, and wet compresses over the loins are valuable adjuncts,
and anodyne agents like camphor, bromide of camphor, or other bromides
may be added, and when there is any suspicion of infection, salicylates,
or iodide of potassium may be employed. Finally a course of bitters
(salicin, quinine, nux,) may be employed to restore tone and iron
carbonate with sodium carbonate as a reconstructive tonic. The diet must
be changed to wholesome food, but not too stimulating, and the animal
kept quiet.