606 DISEASES OF SWINE 



juries of the back are often followed by a retention of urine, espe- 

 cially if these injuries be well back in the neighborhood of the hips. 



Symptoms. — The one important symptom is the inability of the 

 animal to pass the urine. The bladder becomes distended and the 

 animal very restless. Frequent efforts are made to urinate, but, in 

 spite of forcible straining efforts, only very small amounts of fluid 

 are passed. This usually comes in the form of a thin stream and is 

 in very small amount. In some of the more severe cases no urine 

 whatever is passed. 



After a few hours stretching of the bladder becomes so severe 

 that the sphincter muscle is paralyzed, and then the urine dribbles 

 away in a fine stream. If the animal is examined, the swollen out- 

 line of the bladder can be made out, and pressure upon it causes the 

 urine to flow out in a stream. If the catheter be introduced into 

 the bladder a large amount of urine can be drawn off. 



General symptoms are usually seen in retention of urine. The 

 animal loses appetite, becomes restless, and remains apart from the 

 rest of the herd. The animal will lie down for a while, and then get 

 up to make straining efforts to pass urine. If not reheved, the 

 bladder may stretch to the point where it will rupture into the peri- 

 toneal cavity, and the sick hog then develops symptoms of perito- 

 nitis and dies. 



Treatment. — In order to relieve the urgent s^^mptoms the blad- 

 der must be emptied. This may be done by pressure over the dis- 

 tended organ, carefully made, or may be accompHshed by passage 

 of a small rubber catheter into the bladder. This is very easy in 

 the sow, more difficult in the barrow. In cases that are accom- 

 panied by considerable restlessness small doses of tincture of 

 opium may be given. Injections of hot water into the rectum are 

 often sufficient to relieve the spasm of the bladder and enable the 

 animal to pass the urine of its own accord. Where tumors or 

 abscesses of the sheath are pressing upon the urethra and causing 

 obstruction the only permanent relief obtainable is by surgical 

 removal of these tumors and abscesses. This should be done at 

 once. 



In cases due to muscular spasm the animal should be placed 

 in a warm, comfortable stall for a few days, and fed on a warm, 

 sloppy diet until the bladder function returns to normal. 



