DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS 63 



may be divided into sixteen powders. One of the powders 

 should be given with each feed. 



Retention of the Urine. — This may be due to a variety of 

 causes. In the ox and ram, small calculi collect in the vS-shaped 

 curvature of the urethra, or at its terminal extremity. In the 

 horse, cystic calculi are more common than urethral. In cattle 

 and hogs, fatty secretions from the inflamed lining membrane of 

 the sheath of the male may accumulate, and obstruct the flow 

 of urine from the anterior opening. The giving of feed rich in 

 salts, concentrated urine resulting from feeding of too dry a 

 ration, insufiiicient exercise and inflammation of the bladder 

 are the direct causes of calculi. 



Compression of the urethra by growths or tumors, strictures 

 of the urethra, distended bladder, spasm of the neck of the 

 bladder in nervous animals, paralysis of the bladder and in- 

 juries to the penis are common causes of retention of the urine. 



The early symptoms in rumhiants are not usually recognized 

 until a day or two after retention of the urine has occurred. 

 The symptoms are then quite marked. The animal acts dull, 

 refuses to eat, rumination is stopped, and there is a constant 

 effort to urinate, as indicated by the raising of the tail and 

 rhythmical contractions of the urinary muscles just below the 

 anus. Urine may dribble from the sheath or the flow may be 

 completely suppressed. The odor of urine may be marked. 



Horses show symptoms of abdominal pain. The animal 

 may move about the stall, lie down and get up again, or make 

 unsuccessful attempts to urinate. On examination the bladder 

 is found to be greatly distended with urine. In the horse the 

 retention is recognized at an earlier period than in ruminants, 

 because of the prompt, decided symptom of pain. 



Eetention of the urine commonly terminates in rupture of 

 the bladder in ruminants. When this occurs, the symptoms of 

 pain are less evident. Death occurs from urajmic poisoning 



