This occurs in all genera of domestic animals, and may be either acute
or chronic. It is most common in the entire males, not only because of
infections sustained in copulation, but because frequent erection
exposes the opening of the urethra to injury and inflammation, and to
the entrance of pathogenic germs.
_Symptoms._ Pruritus of the penis, and difficulty and pain in urination
and straining are frequent, but a single small jet may be all that is
passed at a time. The papilla on the end of the penis is red and angry
and somewhat swollen. Later a few drops of muco-purulent fluid may be
pressed from the orifice. In the bull, dog and boar this oozes from the
retracted penis into the sheath, so that a collection is found in that
canal, and the mucosa becomes infected causing a balanitis.
The infection may be conveyed from male to female and _vice versa_. Dr.
Horand of Lyons even found that the muco-purulent discharge of gonorrhœa
in man caused an urethral catarrh in the dog, which however did not
persist for any great length of time.
_Diagnosis_ is based on frequent and painful urination in jets,
tenderness of the urethra under palpation or catheterization, redness
and swelling round the urethral orifice, and the oozing of pus. In the
absence of any external injury one should always ascertain if cystitis
is present.
_Prognosis_ is favorable under appropriate treatment. Spontaneous
recovery will usually occur early.
_Treatment._ Dilute the urine. Give pure water to drink at will, or
flaxseed gruel, or gum or barley water. Alkaline carbonates. In the
early stage foment and use injection of potassium permanganate (2 grs.
to 1 oz.). Later may be used more astringent agents (boric acid 1:100,
zinc sulphate 1:100, lead acetate 1:100, potass. chlorate 3:100. In the
presence of great pain cocaine muriate 2:100). There is danger of
stricture from the stronger astringents or caustics in the early stages
before suppuration. To complete the cure give copiaba, buchu, resin, or
essence of turpentine.