F E

feline kidneys more lobulated

Renal Function Overview

• Filtration of blood

• Waste removal (urea, creatinine)

• Regulation of electrolytes and fluid balance

• Hormonal function (e.g., erythropoietin, renin)

Clinical Signs of Urinary Disease

• Polyuria/polydipsia (PU/PD)

• Hematuria

• Stranguria

• Anuria/oliguria

• Vomiting, lethargy, weight loss (with kidney disease)

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) causes

toxins (ethylene glycol), ischemia, infections (Leptospirosis)

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Pathophysiology

• sudden decrease in GFR

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Diagnosis

• elevated BUN/creatinine, urinalysis

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Treatment

• IV fluids, supportive care, dialysis (severe)

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) etiology

• progressive nephron loss

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) common in

• older cats, dogs with congenital disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Staes (IRIS staging)

• based on creatinine, SDMA

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Clinical signs

• PU/PD, weight loss, uremic breath, oral ulcers

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) management

• renal diets, phosphate binders, fluids

Glomerular Diseases

• Glomerulonephritis

• Protein-losing nephropathy (PLN)

Glomerular Diseases signs

proteinuria, edema, hypoalbuminemia

Glomerular Diseases diagnosis

UPC ratio, biopsy

Glomerular Diseases Treatment

• ACE inhibitors, low-protein diet

Urolithiasis

• : bladder/kidney stones

Common types of urolithasis

• struvite, calcium oxalate, urate

Urolithasis species tendencies

• struvites in dogs, oxalates in catsA

Signs of urolithasis

• : dysuria, hematuria, obstruction

Urolithiasis diagnosis

radiographs, ultrasound

Urolithiasis treatment

diet, surgery, lithotripsy

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

• Includes idiopathic cystitis, urolithiasis, UTI

Common in indoor, stressed cats

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) signs

• frequent urination, straining, blood in urine

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) diagnosis

• urinalysis, imaging, culture

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) management

stress reduction, diet, analgesia

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

• More common in females

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) signs

frequent urination, pain, accidents in the house

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) diagnosis

• urine culture and sensitivity

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) treatment

• : antibiotics based on C&S

Neoplasia of the Urinary Tract

• Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) – most common bladder tumor in dogs

Neoplasia of the Urinary Tract signs

• : hematuria, stranguria, obstruction

Neoplasia of the Urinary Tract diagnosis

: ultrasound, contrast studies, biopsy

Neoplasia of the Urinary Tract treatment

NSAIDs (piroxicam), chemotherapy, surgery (palliative)

Diagnostic tools

Urinalysis

Blood work

Imaging

Biopsy

Urinalysis

• SG, protein, pH, sediment

Blood work

BUN, creatinine, SDMA, electrolytes

Imaging

radiographs, ultrasound

Biopsy

rare, for glomerular or neoplastic disease

Preventative care

• Diet: prescription renal or urinary diets

• Hydration

• Monitor for early signs in high-risk breeds

• Routine blood work for aging pets

Summary

• Kidneys vital for systemic health

• Early detection improves outcomes

• Common diseases: CKD, FLUTD, uroliths, infections

• Treatment often supportive and chronic

Female Reproductive Diseases

Pyometra

Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia (CEH)

Ovarian and Uterine Neoplasia

Dystocia

Pyometra definition

Infection of the uterus, typically during diestrus; closed vs open cervix

Pyometra etiology

: Hormonal changes (progesterone), bacterial infection (E. coli)

Pyometra clinical signs

• PU/PD, lethargy, vomiting, vaginal discharge

Pyometra diagnosis

Radiographs/ultrasound (enlarged uterus), CBC (leukocytosis)

Pyometra treatment

• Emergency ovariohysterectomy or medical management (PGF2α)

Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia (CEH)

• Often precedes pyometra

Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia (CEH) Pathophysiology

• Chronic progesterone stimulation

Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia (CEH)

Histopathology

• Glandular cysts, thickened endometrium

Ovarian and Uterine Neoplasia common types

Ovarian adenocarcinoma, uterine leiomyoma

Ovarian and Uterine Neoplasia diagnosis

Imaging, histopathology

Ovarian and Uterine Neoplasia treatment

• Surgical excision

Dystocia causes

• Maternal (narrow pelvis), fetal (malpresentation, oversized fetus)

Dystocia diagnosis

• Prolonged labor, lack of progress

Dystocia treatment

Medical (oxytocin, calcium) vs surgical (C-section)

Male reproductive diseases

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Prostatitis

Testicular Neoplasia

Cryptochidism

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) pathogenesis

Testosterone-driven prostate enlargement in intact males

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) clinical signs

: Straining to urinate/defecate, hematuria

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) diagnosis

• Rectal exam, ultrasound

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) treatment

• Castration or finasteride

Prostatitis etiology

• Often ascending bacterial infection

Prostatitis clinical signs

Painful abdomen, fever, lethargy, discharge

Prostatitis diagnosis

Prostatic fluid analysis, imaging

Prostatitis treatment

Antibiotics, possibly castration

Testicular Neoplasia types

Sertoli cell tumor, seminoma, interstitial (Leydig) cell tumor

Testicular Neoplasia Paraneoplastic syndrome

Feminization with Sertoli cell tumors

Testicular Neoplasia diagnosis

Physical exam, ultrasound, histopathology

Testicular Neoplasia treatment

Castration, metastasis check

Cryptochidism definition

Failure of one or both testes to descend

Cryptochidism complications

Increased neoplasia risk, infertility

Cryptochidism treatment

• Surgical removal

Infectious reproductive diseases

Brucellosis (Brucella canis)

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), herpesvirus (FHV-1), FeLV, and FIV

Brucellosis (Brucella canis)

• Zoonotic, causes infertility, abortion

• Diagnosed by serology, PCR

• No cure: recommend neutering and isolation

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), herpesvirus (FHV-1), FeLV, and FIV

• impact breeding colonies

Diagnostic Tools and Techniques

• Ultrasound and radiology

• Cytology and histopathology

• Hormone assays (progesterone, estrogen, testosterone)

• Vaginal cytology in females

• Serology and culture in infectious disease

Preventive Medicine and Client Education

• Spay/neuter recommendations

• Screening for breeding animals (e.g., Brucella testing)

• Regular exams in intact animals

• Responsible breeding education

Infectious disease

caused by pathogenic microorganisms

Pathology

study of disease processes and changes in tissues/organs

Routes of infectious disease transmission

direct contact, aerosol, vectors, fomites

Pathogen Categories

Bacterial infections

Viral infections

Fungal infections

Parasitic infections

Bacterial infections

Canine Parvovirus

Leptospirosis

Bordetella bronchiseptica

• Canine Parvovirus

(wait — that's viral;)

• Leptospirosis

• Spirochete; zoonotic; transmitted via urine-contaminated water

• Targets kidneys and liver

• Leptospirosis pathology

: nephritis, hepatitis, hemorrhages

Bordetella bronchiseptica

• Part of kennel cough complex

Viral infections

• Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)

Feline panleukopenia

Feline panleukopenia

• Parvovirus; attacks rapidly dividing cells

• Bone marrow depletion, intestinal crypt necrosis

• Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)

• Respiratory, GI, neuro involvement

• Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) pathology

inclusion bodies, demyelination in CNS

Fungal infections

• Cryptococcus neoformans

• Dermatophytes (e.g., Microsporum canis)

• Cryptococcus neoformans

• Affects nasal cavity and CNS in cats

• Cryptococcus neoformans pathology

granulomatous inflammation

• Dermatophytes (e.g., Microsporum canis)

• Superficial skin infections; zoonotic

Parasitic infections

• Toxoplasma gondii

• Giardia spp.

• Toxoplasma gondii

• Intracellular protozoan; zoonotic

• Toxoplasma gondii pathology

multifocal necrosis in lungs, liver, brain

• Giardia spp.

• Protozoan; causes malabsorptive diarrhea

Pathogenesis & Disease Progression key terms

• virulence, incubation, acute vs chronic

• Steps in Disease Progression:

• Entry (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, bite)

• Colonization

• Immune evasion

• Tissue damage

• Transmission to next host