112 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 



The presence of renal calculi creates more or less irrita 

 tion of the kidney, and when, by their growing dimensions, 

 pressure on the substance of the gland is produced, this 

 irritation is considerably increased, inflammatory action 

 arises, and suppuration follows. 



Symptoms. — There is generally an irritable condition of 

 the stomach, and the animal frequently vomits. In walk- 

 ing he moves with a stiff, straddling gait, and evinces 

 tenderness on applying pressure to the lumbar region ; the 

 urine is generally voided with pain, in small quantities, and 

 mingled at times with blood, mucus, or pus ; considerable 

 febrile disturbance is present, rapid emaciation ensues, and 

 death sooner or later takes place from exhaustion, nephritis, 

 or uremic poisoning. 



When at first the calculi is small, oval, and smooth, it 

 may descend by the ureter to the bladder without exciting 

 any great disturbance, and be voided from thence again, oi 

 it may remain in the bladder, and in the course of time give 

 rise to cystic irritation. 



M. Latour records the following case of renal calculi in 

 the dog: " Seized with pain, August 20, 1827. He barked 

 and rolled himself on the ground almost every minute ; he 

 made frequent attempts to void his urine, which came from 

 him drop by drop. When compelled to walk his hind and 

 fore legs seemed to mingle together, and his loins were bent 

 with a perfect curve ; his flanks were drawn in ; he could 

 scarcely be induced to eat ; and he evidently suffered 

 much in voiding his faeces. Mild and demulcent liquids 

 were his only food. Warm baths and injections were 

 applied almost unceasingly, and in eight days he seemed 

 to have perfectly gained his health. In March of the fol- 

 lowing year the symptoms returned with greater intensity. 

 His hind-legs were drawn after him, he rapidly lost flesh, 

 and his howlings were fearful and continuous. The same 

 mode of treatment was adopted without any, good effect." 

 A calculus, weighing 126 grains, and composed of urate 



