Management of obstructive urolithiasis in a bullock by urethrotomy

Abstract

Urinary tract obstruction is a common secondary complication in ruminants with urolithiasis. Such a condition is considered as a medical emergency and should be managed effectively to prevent the mortality associated with it. A five-year-old non-descript bullock was presented with history of difficulty in passing urine since few days. It was tentatively diagnosed as a case of urethral obstruction secondary to urolithiasis and was decided to perform urethrotomy since tube cystostomy failed to relieve the urethral obstruction. Local anesthesia was performed by local infiltration at site. Pre-scrotal urethrotomy was performed. Following incision at the obstruction site after locating through catheter guidance, urolith was removed. The incision was closed after confirming the patency of urethra by passing urinary catheter both side of incision site in retrograde or normograde way. Post operatively the animal was treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Suture was removed at the 10th post-operative day and the animal made an uneventful recovery.