From wounds, calculus, parasites, infection, injuries in parturition.
Symptoms: in wounds of ureter. Course: danger of infection of kidney
or bladder. Treatment: for calculus, antispasmodics, anodynes,
fomentations, for parasites arsenious acid, for catarrhal conditions,
balsams, buchu, salicylates, etc. Operation. Uretero-vaginal fistula.
This may arise from the passage of a rough calculus, from wounds of the
ureter sustained in kicks and blows or by being run over by wheels
(dogs, cats), it may be due to the blocking of the tube by a parasite
such as strongylus gigas, echinococcus, etc., or it may be the result of
extension of an infectious inflammation backward from the kidney or
forward from the bladder. Again it may be the result of a lesion of the
ureter in cases of dystokia.
The _symptoms_ are obscure but there is likely to be frequent straining
and passage of urine, tenderness of the loins, all the more significant
if confined to one side, lameness or halting on the corresponding hind
limb, and on examination through the rectum the swollen and tender cord
representing the ureter may be recognizable. In case of calculus or
other obstruction the ureter may be felt to be swollen, elastic and
tender back to a slight nodular, painful, firm swelling at the seat of
obstruction.
_Course._ In all such cases there is always danger of inflammation
(infections or otherwise) of the kidney with degeneration and loss of
structure and function, the organ being reduced to a simple urinous cyst
(hydronephrosis). In some cases, however, the obstruction (calculus,
parasite) may escape into the bladder and a recovery follow. Slight
infections, too, may improve and advance to complete convalescence.
_Treatment_ will depend much on the causative factor: Calculus must be
treated by anodyne antispasmodics, and fomentations, and in case of
relief by measures calculated to prevent its formation anew: parasites
may be treated by arsenious acid, oil of turpentine, and other
parasiticides which are secreted by the kidneys: catarrhal and infected
conditions may be met by balsams, buchu, salicyclic acid and even
peppers. In case of calculus which does not give promise of passing,
even a surgical operation may be thought of, especially in the smaller
house animals.
In rupture of the ureter in dystokia the walls of the womb or vagina
have usually suffered, and a recovery with a ureterouterine or
uretero-vaginal fistula is not unknown.