UREMIA 401 



during the development of uremia certain nervous symptoms, 

 such as contractions of groups of muscles (clonic spasms, 

 epileptiform convulsions) followed by unconsciousness. 

 Yelping or howling is often a prominent symptom during 

 the nervous attacks. 



The respirations are slow, often difficult; edema of the 

 lungs usually exists. 



The temperature is at first elevated, but later becomes 

 subnormal, sometimes as low as 96 F. 



Vomiting in the dog and cat is a frequent symptom as 

 is diarrhea. The discharges from the stomach and bowels 

 usually have a uriniferous odor. 



Chronic Uremia. Chronic uremia develops from chronic 

 diseases of the urinary organs, particularly chronic nephritis, 

 and from long standing cases of partial urine retention due 

 to some obstruction in the urinary tract. 



The most prominent symptoms of chronic uremia are: 

 Digestive disturbances, such as gastro-intestinal catarrh, 

 diarrhea, vomiting, etc., without any apparent cause; dis- 

 turbances in the nervous system as dulness, and at times epi- 

 leptiform convulsions, which are usually mild and recurrent. 



Diagnosis. This is made by careful examination of the 

 patient, observation of the symptoms, and examination of 

 the urinary organs. 



Prognosis. The prognosis depends upon the primary con- 

 dition producing the uremia. In acute uremia it is unfavor- 

 able, most cases terminating fatally. 



Chronic uremia is not so immediately fatal. The long 

 course of the disease, which suffers exacerbations and remis- 

 sions, eventually, however, terminates in death. 



Treatment. Medical. Medical treatment consists in the 

 administration of laxatives to assist the elimination of urea 

 compounds via the bowels. Diuretics are used except in 

 those cases where there is some impediment to the outflow 

 of urine. 



In chronic cases, after the uremic symptoms begin to dis- 

 appear, tonics and alteratives are indicated. 



Surgical. Where an obstruction exists in some portion 

 of the urinary tract, which interferes with the outflow of 



26 



