Abstract

The objectives of study were to screen the calves as stone and non-stone formers, to manage the calves with obstructive urolithiasis by diversified surgical approaches based on clinical and sonographic assessment. The study was conducted in bovine calves (n=27), manifesting clinical urolithiasis. All these animals and 52 calves of age group 3 to 18 months presented with any form of ailments were included in screening as normal and stone former. Anamnesis, clinical and physical examinations, ultrasonography, peri operative and post operative observations and, complications were recorded. On the basis of clinical symptoms, ultrasonographic findings of urinary system, duration of obstruction and position of calculi, were divided into five groups of 6 animals each except  group T having 3  animals  and  most  suited  surgical  procedure, that is, in dwelling  Normograde   catheterization,tube cystostomy, cystostomy and uretotomy,trocarization and Percutaneous catherizati on and abdominocentesis were awarded. The highest occurrence was found in the age group of under one year (60%) followed by 40% above one year. Cross bred calves were most affected (70%). Duration of illness in calves varied from 24 to 120 h. The rectal temperature increased slightly at different postoperative intervals in all the groups. The heart rate and respiration rate showed a gradual decrease at different postoperative intervals and became normal towards end of study. In 90% cases small multiple irregular and smooth concretions were retrieved. The calves suffering from obstructive urolithiasis had the history of feeding on diets containing wheat bran, commercial cattle feed, rice bran and rice straw few days before manifesting symptoms. Trocharization followed by peritoneal catheterization helped to prolong the life of the severely diseased animals and made them more suitable for major surgery subsequently.

Key words: Urolithiasis, abdominocentesis, trocarization, ultrasonography.