372 
URINARY CALCULI IN THE DOG. 
great difficulty in removal; and therefore, if urine is not at once voided 
in considerable quantities after removing the stone, the urethra should 
be examined with a sound, or elastic catheter. 
More serious embarrassment is caused by the infiltration of urine, 
which regularly happens in dogs, and is almost always followed by 
gangrenous inflammation. Possibly the acid reaction of the urine in 
carnivora plays an important part in effecting this, or it may be caused 
by decomposition products resulting from alkaline fermentation of the 
urine. Simon has noted that though acid human urine injected into the 
subcutis produces no inflammatory change, it is quite otherwise when 
alkaline fermentation has set in. Whatever the cause, the fact remains 
that infiltration of urine in the dog always causes inflammation, which 
tends to take on a gangrenous character. In such cases good results 
often follow from vegetable diet and the free administration of alkalies. 
Repeated washing of the wound with alkaline lotions like 5 to 10 per 
cent. sod. carb., or powdering with a mixture of sod. bicarb, and 
iodoform, also appears useful. Should these complications be safely 
escaped, cicatricial contraction of the urethra occurs after some time, and 
greatly impedes the discharge of urine. As a rule, operation in carnivora 
foi ui ethral calculus must be classed amongst the least thankful exercises 
of the healing art. 
Of cystic calculi in the dog the same may be said as of cystic calculi 
in ruminants and swine. In spite of an extended experience in canine 
practice, Moller never found opportunity to carry out lithotomy in these 
animals, though he repeatedly met with cystic calculi in making post¬ 
mortem examination. Hendrickx and Lienaux successfully removed a 
cystic calculus in the dog by laparo-cystotomy; Malzeff has also 
performed the operation. 
Malzeff anaesthetises the dog, which is then laid on its back. The bladder 
having been emptied, washed out with 2 per cent, boric solution, and the seat 
of operation thoroughly disinfected, an incision, 2 to 3 inches long, is made 
over the linea alba. The incision commences at the symphysis pubis and 
is carried down to the peritoneum, the penis meanwhile being pushed towards 
the left side. The peritoneum is next opened, and (the hands having been 
carefully disinfected) the urinary bladder is sought for by introducing the 
forefinger. When discovered it is grasped with forceps, drawn forward into the 
wound, and incised for a short distance to permit the stone to be withdrawn. 
Bleeding is slight. The wound in the bladder is next closed with boiled or 
carbolised silk, that in the abdominal coats cleansed with 2-| per cent, carbolic 
solution, powdered with iodoform, and brought together with button sutures. 
A dressing is useless, and even hurtful, as it makes the patient restless. 
Eleven cases out of twelve recovered. Rubay claims to have opened the 
kidney without penetrating the peritoneal sac, removed the calculi, and washed 
out the pelvis of the kidney and returned the organ to its position. 
