Urology/Nephrology

Over the last several years, there has been a shift in the mineral content of uroliths in cats from predominantly magnesium-ammonium phosphate to calcium oxalate.

Urolithiasis is common in dogs and cats, causing morbidity and, occasionally, mortality.

Give this form to clients with overweight cats to help them understand the ins and outs of weight loss.

What is your interpretation and diagnosis?

In 1981, calcium oxalate was detected in only 2 percent of feline uroliths submitted to the Minnesota Urolith Center, whereas struvite was detected in 78 percent. However, beginning in the mid-1980s, a dramatic increase in the frequency of calcium oxalate uroliths occurred in association with a decrease in the frequency of struvite uroliths (Figure 1) .

In the Dr. Seuss classic Go Dogs Go, we learn a very important lesson that remains with us throughout our lives: Red means stop.

Malignant tumors of the lower urinary tract include transitional cell carcinoma, squamous-cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

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This article and the accompanying algorithms are intended to guide practitioners through the series of steps necessary to confirm the presence of hematuria, localize the source of the RBCs, and identify the specific cause.

Urinary incontinence is a common problem that is very vexing to clients, and frequently to veterinarians.

Intrinsic renal failure occurs when damage to the renal parenchyma occurs.

The International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) has developed a system to stage chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Proteinuria can be pre-glomerular, glomerular, or post-glomerular in origin.

Kidney disease is classically compartmentalized into acute and chronic disease, which is a convenient way to view what are very frequently markedly different manifestations of kidney disease.

The majority of uroliths submitted for analysis are retrieved from the lower urinary tract (primarily bladder, occasionally urethra).

Dr. C.W. Dewey gave an excellent lecture at the 2007 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum on ?Recent and Upcoming Developments with the New Anticonvulsant Drugs.?

A quarter-century ago, analysis of uroliths removed (usually by surgery) was optional. In fact, rather than have the stones analyzed, some veterinary practitioners gave them to their clients as a topic of conversation. What about today? Is it an acceptable standard of practice to give stones retrieved from the urinary tract to owners without knowing their composition? What would be your response to a physician who gave you stones retrieved from your urinary tract? Believe it or not, we have received uroliths for analysis formed by our veterinary colleagues that were given to them by a physician. Of course, we did not perform the requested analysis because we did not want to cross the line of practicing medicine without a license. Instead, we sent them to a laboratory licensed to provide that service.

Urinalysis is one of our most important clinical diagnostic tools. Unfortunately, most diagnostic reagent strips used to perform routine urinalyses in veterinary laboratories have been designed for human use.

Knowledge of urolith composition is important because contemporary methods of detection, treatment and prevention of the underlying causes of urolithiasis largely depend on knowledge of urolith composition.

A shift in your attitude can help your practice more than a change in prices.

A 3-year-old male non-castrated English Bulldog was admitted to the Veterinary Medical Center because of intermittent episodes of gross hematuria of two months' duration.

Definitively diagnosing canine hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) can be exceptionally difficult because nonadrenal illness can affect the test results. However, I think that the urine cortisol:creatinine ratio (UC:Cr) serves an invaluable role in ruling out canine Cushing's disease since a dog with a normal UC:Cr almost assuredly does not have Cushing's disease.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is by far the most common neoplasm of the urinary system in dogs.

I frequently notice a disparity between referred patients' in-house urinalysis results and laboratory-read urinalysis results.

Veterinarians often overlook the urinary tract when evaluating patients for endocrine diseases.

Feline urinary problems can frustrate both owners and veterinarians. To help us discern whether the problem is medical or behavioral or due to litter box issues, we have the owners complete this form. Inappropriate housesoiling is often due to a combination of these issues, and this form helps us narrow in on the cause and correct it. --Maureen Owen, LVT Fishers, Ind.

Feline urinary problems can frustrate both owners and veterinarians.

This study characterizes the clinicopathologic features in cats acutely obstructed, most for the first time, that were treated at an urban center.

Diagnostic analysis of urinalysis