[Nephrectomy for chronic, unilateral suppurative pyleonephritis in cattle]

This report presents the case history of a five-year-old Eringer cow suffering from chronic hematuria. Results of clinical examination, ultrasonography of the kidneys, endoscopy of the bladder, and cytologic and bacteriologic analysis of the urine revealed unilateral pyelonephritis of the right kidney caused by Corynebacterium renale. Antimicrobial treatment with procaine penicillin was not successful. Therefore, nephrectomy of the affected kidney was performed through a right flanc approach in the standing animal. Follow-up examination ten months after surgery revealed normal general condition. Etiopathogenesis and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of pyelonephritis in cattle are discussed.