224 DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS 



with pus and its walls ulcerated, necrosis of the papilla, 

 diffuse, purulent nephritis with abscesses in the cortex and 

 chronic interstitial nephritis. 



Symptoms. — ^Most cases of pyelonephritis occur in cows 

 following parturition. This is especially true when injuries 

 have occurred in the uterus or vagina or where retention 

 of the afterbirth has followed. It may, however, originate 

 independent of parturition. In sucklings infection through 

 the navel can occur and in male animals it has resulted from 

 primary abscesses. There is also a probability that the 

 infection may be introduced via the digestive tract. The 

 clinical symptoms are usually rather indefinite. In a cow 

 which has calved with difficulty or suffered from retention 

 of the placenta the condition of the animal grows bad, the 

 appetite and rumination suppressed, the patient losing 

 flesh, showing fever, colicky pains, irregular gait, frequent 

 urination and sometimes strangury. Pressure over the 

 sacrum causes pain and the tail and buttocks are soiled 

 with pus which flows from the vagina. The urine in rare 

 instances remains clear, but is usually cloudy. On rectal 

 examination the bladder is found partially filled, the ureters 

 dilated and sometimes the kidneys enlarged, sensitive and 

 fluctuating. The chemical analysis of the urine shows 

 albimiin and free ammonia. Under the microscope pus 

 cells, blood, crystals of triple phosphates, and reaal epithe- 

 lial cells are found. With the Gram stain large numbers of 

 bacteria — the corynebacilli, are found generally arranged 

 in clumps. As cystitis is a common complication, bladder 

 epithelium will also be found in the urine. 



Diagnosis. — Diagnosis depends upon the examination of 

 the urine and the determination of the corynebacillus which 

 is usually present. The rectal findings, the fact that the 

 urine contains pus, and the failing of the patient after 

 parturition, point to pyelonephritis in cows. 



Prognosis. — Prognosis is bad, therefore it is advisable to 

 make the diagnosis as early as possible so that the animal 

 may be slaughtered. 



Calculous Pyelonephritis (Kidney Stones). — Definition. — 

 This is an inflammation of the pelvis of the kidney due to 



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