“STUDIES ON INCIDENCE, DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF SURGICAL AFFECTIONS OF URINARY SYSTEM IN DOGS

ABSTRACT “Studies on Incidence, Diagnosis and Management of Surgical Affections of Urinary System in Dogs”Studies on Incidence, Diagnosis and Management of Surgical Affections of Urinary System in Dogs” Name of Student Name of Major Advisor Gohil Kishorsinh M. Dr. P. V. Parikh Department of Veterinary Surgery & Radiology College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, A.A. U. , Anand-388 001 The present study was carried out on canine patients which were presented at the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (TVCC) and referred to the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology of the College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat) from April-2015 to March2016. The study was planned out with three major objectives, viz., (I) To study the incidence of surgical affections of urinary system in dogs; (II) To evaluate different diagnostic procedures for confirmation of urinary surgical affections in dogs; and (III) To evaluate treatment protocols used for surgical management of urinary affections in dogs. A total of 14978 cases of canine patients were registered at TVCC during a period of last three years (i.e., April-2013 to March-2016) out of which, 3468 (23.15%) were diagnosed with surgical affections of different bodily systems. Out of these 3468 cases, 64 cases were diagnosed to have surgical affections of urinary system with an overall incidence of 01.85%. The highest year-wise incidence of surgical affections of urinary system in dogs was reported at 02.22% (28/1260) for the year April-2015 to March-2016 followed by 01.78% (21/1180) for April-2014 to March-2015 and 01.46% (15/1028) for April-2013 to March-2014. From surgical affections of urinary system reported during April-2015 to March2016 (N=28), the incidence of urolithiasis was highest (67.86%; 19/28) followed by traumatic injuries to organs of urinary tract (17.86%; 05/28), transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of urinary bladder and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of vagina (07.14%; 02/28, each). Out of 28 surgical affections, the cases of cystolithiasis predominated with 60.72% (17/28) as compared to urethrolithiasis with 07.14% (02/28). The retrospective analysis was then further extended towards assessment of status of urolithiasis in dogs. From a total of 3468 cases referred to Department of Surgery & Radiology between April-2013 to March-2016, 55 dogs were diagnosed with urolithiasis out of which, the overall incidence of cystolithiasis was higher (01.41%; 49/3468) as compared to urethrolithiasis (00.17%; 06/3468). The overall age-wise incidence of urolithiasis for a period of last three years (N=55) was highest in dogs under 5-8 years age group (50.91%) followed by dogs under 9-12 years (36.36%), 0-4 years (07.27%) and above 12 years of age (05.46%) groups. The overall breed-wise incidence of urolithiasis during last three years was highest in Pug (20.00%) followed by Pomeranian (16.36%); German Shepherd dog (14.55%); Labrador Retriever (10.91%); Doberman Pinscher (09.09%); Dalmatian, Rottweiler and Dachshund (05.45%, each); Cocker Spaniel (03.64%); Boxer, Beagle, Terrier, Lhasa Apso and Golden Retriever (01.82%, each). During the year April-2015 to March-2016, the cases of cystolithiasis predominated (17/19) over cases of urethrolithiasis (02/19). The breed-wise, age-wise and sex-wise incidence of urolithiasis was recorded as highest in Pomeranian breed (21.06%), in dogs under 5-8 years age group (52.63%) and in male dogs (78.95%), respectively. Clinical variants in dogs diagnosed with urolithiasis (N=19) revealed that the Mean±S.E. values of rectal temperature (°F), heart rate (per minute) and respiratory rate (per minute) were 103.30±00.25°F, 93.00±01.00/minute and 36.00±02.00/minute, respectively. The common clinical manifestations were dullness, depression, dehydration, distension of urinary bladder and urinary incontinence (68.42%; 13/19, each) while hematuria was observed as a less frequent (31.58%, 06/19) clinical manifestation. Haematobiochemistry revealed that the Mean±S.E. values of Hb (g/dl), TLC (×10 3 /cmm), Neutrophils (%), Lymphocytes (%), Eosinophils (%), Monocytes (%) and PCV (%) in dogs with urolithiasis were 11.03±01.16 g/dl, 13.52±05.67×10 3 /cmm, 78.30±07.16%, 27.25±04.83%, 01.15±00.52%, 01.50±00.80% and 31.72±04.63%, respectively while the Mean±S.E. values of serum biochemical parameters BUN (mg/dl) and SCr (mg/dl) were 101.56±09.87 mg/dl and 02.27±00.97 mg/dl respectively. Diagnostic survey radiography revealed characteristic presence of radio-opaque calculi in urinary bladder (89.47%; 17/19) and in urethra (10.53%; 02/19). Similarly, ultrasound examination revealed presence of hyperechoic calculi followed by acoustic shadow in urinary bladder and urethra in 17 (89.47%) and 02 (10.53%) cases, respectively. To evaluated treatment protocols, 16 cases of cystolithiasis were divided into two groups, viz., Group-I (treated by cystotomy) and Group-II (treated by urohydropulsion + medicines) with 08 dogs, each. Post-treatment evaluation of cases (30 th day) revealed that all (100.00%) cases of urolithiasis surgically managed by cystotomy (Group-I) showed complete clinical recovery without any post-operative complications. Post-treatment uneventful clinical recovery was observed in 75.00% cases treated by urohydropulsion in combination with medicines (Group-II). Post-treatment complications were not observed in dogs treated under Group-I while complications such as incontinence and hematuria were evident in 25.00% cases treated under Group-II. The results of the study indicated that a treatment protocol including surgical cystotomy is a better treatment option with higher recovery rates and least or no postoperative complications in dogs diagnosed with presence of large radio-opaque calculi in urinary bladder. Treatment by urohydropulsion in conjunction with medicines (viz., hemostatic, diuretic, antibiotic and urinary alkalizer/acidifier) was also effective in cases with presence of sludge and/or radio-opaque gritty material/smaller sized stones.