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Medical management of urinary calculi in a stallion with breeding dysfunction
P L Sertich1, M A Pozor, S A Meyers
1Section of Medicine and Reproduction, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348-1692, USA.
Insights
A stallion with bladder stones experienced breeding dysfunction. Medical management resolved the issue, allowing a return to breeding, though urine contamination suggests underlying bladder control problems.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Urology
- Equine Reproduction
Background:
- A 9-year-old Thoroughbred stallion presented with breeding dysfunction, characterized by mounting and intromission but failure to thrust and ejaculate.
- Clinical signs suggested potential urethritis, prompting further diagnostic investigation.
Observation:
- Endoscopic examination revealed irregular, spiculate yellow crystals and sabulous deposits in the urethra and bladder.
- Numerous calculi were embedded in the bladder mucosa, indicating significant urolithiasis.
Findings:
- Medical management, including bladder lavage with acetic acid and anti-inflammatory/antimicrobial drugs, was initiated due to the breeding season.
- The stallion successfully returned to breeding mares with good semen quality, despite initial concerns.
Implications:
- The case highlights successful non-surgical management of equine bladder calculi during the breeding season.
- Persistent urine contamination post-treatment suggests a possible primary neurologic deficit affecting bladder function and secondary calculi formation.
Abstract:
A 9-year-old Thoroughbred stallion was examined because of breeding dysfunction and possible urethritis. The stallion had good libido and readily obtained an erection, mounted, and intromitted but did not thrust and ejaculate. After mounting the mare, the stallion would squeal and dismount. Endoscopic examination of the urethra and bladder revealed irregular, spiculate yellow crystals (< 1 cm in size) and sabulous deposits; numerous calculi were embedded in the mucosa of the bladder. Because the horse was at the start of a breeding season, the owner would not give permission for general anesthesia. Medical management was attempted, because postoperative convalescence after surgical removal of calculi might have curtailed breeding activities, and the calculi were small. Every 1 to 3 days, the bladder was lavaged with saline solution containing acetic acid, and anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drugs were administered. The stallion was able to return to breeding mares, and sperm numbers and semen quality were good. However, urine contamination of the ejaculate was detected, suggesting that the stallion may have had a primary neurologic deficit affecting bladder control and function that was causing calculi to form secondarily because of delay in movement of urine through the urinary tract.