398 DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS 



palpation performed with gentle pressure. Micturition is 

 painful, very often only small quantities of urine being voided. 

 As the disease progresses -more pronounced general symptoms 

 of weakness, exhaustion, and uremia will be observed. 

 Animals often die very early from general sepsis. 



Diagnosis.— An accurate diagnosis is very difficult. In 

 many cases the disease is not recognized until a postmortem 

 examination is made. The symptoms, including careful 

 palpation coupled with examination of the urine, usually 

 suffice for the diagnosis. 



Prognosis.— The prognosis is bad as the disease is usually 

 in an advanced stage before being recognized. 



Treatment.— In cases of advanced renal abscess there is 

 little that can be done. The operation of removing one 

 kidney does little good as both are usually diseased. I T remia 

 commonly follows the removal of the kidney when both are 

 involved. Symptomatic treatment is about all that can be 

 done. Heart stimulants, laxatives, etc., may be tried. (See 

 Acute Nephritis.) 



INFLAMMATION OF THE RENAL PELVIS. 



Pyelitis. 



Definition. — Inflammation of the pelvis of the kidney. 



Etiology.— Pyelitis may result from the spread of inflamma- 

 tion from adjacent parts or organs, such as from the kidney 

 (pyelonephritis) or from the bladder (pyelocystitis). 



The presence of urinary calculi in the pelvis of the kidney 

 mechanically irritates the membrane and leads to an inflam- 

 mation. 



In the course of infectious diseases (distemper in the dog 

 and cat; cholera in birds) this condition develops on account 

 of the infectious or poisonous matter excreted from the body 

 via the kidneys irritating the mucous membrane. 



Excretion of toxic materials (poisons of different kinds) 

 would act in a similar manner. On account of the frequency 

 of poisoning in small animals this is a very common cause. ' 



Parasites often cause pyelitis, especially in dogs 

 (Dioctophyme renale). The parasites cause an intense inflam- 



