INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS NEPHRITIS 391 



cellular infiltration between them. The glomeruli are often 

 filled with blood and covered with bloody extravasations. 



Symptoms. The general symptoms are loss or suppression 

 of the appetite, slight elevation of the body temperature, 

 pulse strong and hard at first, later weak and rapid; frequently 

 vomiting in the dog and cat. Constipation during the early 

 stages, followed later by diarrhea, is prominent in most 

 cases. 



Most animals have difficulty in walking (stiff gait) as 

 the movement of the body tends to compress or move the 

 kidneys, hence pain is induced. During the early stages of 

 the disease there are frequently noticed paroxysms of pain, 

 especially when the animal is first moved, or palpated over 

 the region of the kidneys. On standing they assume a 

 stretched attitude in order to relieve the tension on the dis- 

 eased organ. Frequently in walking the limb on the side 

 affected will be dragged or the forward step shortened. It 

 has been observed in male animals that one testicle will be 

 drawn higher than the other. 



The changes in the urine form the most characteristic 

 symptom. Usually at first there is suppression, with very 

 scanty flow of urine, highly colored, containing some blood, 

 albumin and tube casts. The total quantity passed in twenty- 

 four hours is greatly reduced, specific gravity high, of a 

 thicker consistency than normal, often slimy and turbid. 

 Hematuria may develop. 



Microscopically the urine is found to contain urinary casts 

 in large numbers, white and red blood corpuscles and numer- 

 ous epithelial cells. The urine is voided a few drops at a time, 

 especially in the dog, with pain (strangury) . 



Uremic symptoms are noted in some cases. The stoppage 

 of the flow of urine from the swelling of the tissue of the 

 kidneys, compression and filling of the ducts with exuded 

 casts, causes a retention of waste products and a lack of 

 secretion, hence an accumulation of urea and uric acid, and 

 other decomposition products sufficient to produce marked 

 symptoms. In the dog these symptoms develop rather 

 rapidly in the form of weakness, staggering gait, convulsions, 

 irregular temperature and coma. 



