Page 474 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

Common clinical problems 411

waiting for a diagnosis. Note that some causes urine is probably red/brown due to the presence
of gastroenteritis in livestock may infect people of haemoglobin. To make sure, however, the
so make sure that basic hygiene is maintained, sample should be submitted to a veterinary lab-
for example, animal handlers and animal health oratory to allow full sediment examination and
staff should wash their hands after handling sick urinalysis.
animals and if indicated, wear the appropriate
PPE. Specific diseases which should be consid-
ered in horses, cattle and pigs are outlined in clinical history
Tables 10.3–10.5.
Remember that diarrhoea may be part of a The following are key questions that should be
more generalized illness (septicaemia, toxae- asked.
mia) and not restricted to the intestines. Causes
of gastrointestinal upset include: • What species are involved?
• How many animals are affected?
1 infectious systemic disease (viral, mycotic, • What age range of animal(s) are affected?
bacterial) – there are often many animals • Has the problem occurred previously?
affected • What is the duration of the problem?
2 helminths – often young animals affected • Have any animals died following develop-
3 protozoa – usually young or debilitated stock ment of the problem?
affected • What is the diet? (Do the animals have access
4 nutritional – associated with inappropriate to bracken fern or other toxic plants?)
diet, food shortage or spoiled food • Has any medication been given recently?
5 toxic – one or several animals affected • Have there been any abortions recently?
6 physiological – stress/excitement related. • Is mastitis present?
• Is there a tick problem in the area?
• What, if any, control measures have been
10.3 Haematuria and taken?
haemoglobinuria (red urine) • Is the red urine persistent or intermittent?

If an animal has red urine this may be due to
the presence of red blood cells, haemoglobin clinical examination
or a chemical (medicine or plant). To make a
correct diagnosis it is necessary to take a good • Has the animal got a high temperature?
clinical history and to perform a thorough clini- • Are the lymph nodes enlarged?
cal examination. To confirm the diagnosis, it is • Are there any ticks present on the animal?
usual to collect freshly voided urine and other • Is the animal anaemic/jaundiced?
samples including fresh blood, blood smears and
serum. The urine sample may be left to settle It is very important to determine whether or
overnight or it can be centrifuged in a labora- not the animal(s) is/are anaemic so check the
tory. If there are a lot of red blood cells present mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes. If
in the urine the animal has ‘haematuria’. A few the mucous membranes are yellow the animal is
red cells may be present due to contamination jaundiced, if they are pale it indicates the pres-
from the reproductive tract in female animals. If ence of anaemia. Anaemia and/or jaundice can
there are no red blood cells in the sediment then indicate that the animal has haemolytic anaemia

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