URINARY OBSTRUCTION IN CAMELIDS AND ZOO RUMINANTS

Ten cases of urolithiasis causing complete urinary obstruction were identified from male zoo animals in Canada, Europe, Australia, and South Africa: two Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus); two Ankole-Watusi (Bos taurus); and single cases in a dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius); guanaco (Lama guanicoe); European bison (Bison bonasus); yak (Bos grunniens); scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah); and common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia). Age at presentation ranged from 15 mon to 16 yr; four of ten were castrated and six of ten intact. Of the ten reviewed cases, one animal was euthanized without attempting surgical resolution, one died under anesthesia before surgical intervention could be performed, and eight underwent surgery. Of the eight cases that survived surgery, two of eight recovered fully and required no further treatment, two of eight were euthanized within 72 h of surgery, and four of eight required at least one revision surgery, after which three of four recovered fully. Perineal urethrostomy (PU) was performed as the initial surgery in four of eight cases, urethrotomy in three of eight, and tube cystostomy in one of eight. The tube cystostomy recovered and required no further treatment. Of the cases having an initial PU, one of four recovered well, one of four was euthanized 72 h post-PU, and two of four required one or two revision PU surgeries from which the animals fully recovered. One of the urethrotomy cases was euthanized 24 h after surgery because of urinary bladder rupture; two reobstructed at 2 mon and 2 yr 3 mon after urethrotomy, and both were treated with PU surgery from which one recovered and one was euthanized 72 h post-PU. All initial surgeries were performed under field conditions; of the three successful revision surgeries, all were transported to a hospital environment for surgery. Hyperkalemia, hyperkalemia-hypermagnesemia, and anemia were associated with poor outcomes.