CHRONIC CATARRHAL CYSTITIS.
This may begin as such or it may continue after an acute attack. It has been noticed in horse, ox, and dog.
It may be associated with calculi, gravel, papilloma, and bacterial invasion especially by the colon bacillus.
Lesions. The mucosa and muscular coat are thickened, corrugated, puckered and contracted so that the bladder will not contain more than a few ounces of urine. The surface of the mucosa is discolored, mottled and variegated, slaty blue, brown, red, purple, or even black, with ulcers, encrustations of triple phosphate, and fungoid elevations. In dogs especially, the prostate is often enlarged.
Symptoms. Frequent urination accomplished with pain, groaning, or whining and it may be with sudden arrest. There may be incontinence, the urine dribbling almost continuously from the penis or vulva and in the latter case trickling down the thighs. The presence of pus and mucus tends to mat the hairs, and a strong urinous and ammoniacal odor is emitted.
Palpation of the prepubian region often, and of the vagina or rectum always causes pain and wincing. Temperature is normal.
Urine is albuminous in ratio to the amount of pus, or above that, and is then suggestive of kidney disease and likely to be complicated by casts.
Complicating lesions of the womb, vagina, prostate, and kidney are to be carefully looked for, also cystic papilloma.
Prognosis. Recovery though not uncommon is too often but partial and it is usually desirable to fatten the animal.
Treatment. Rest, moderate laxative diet, pure drinking water ad libitum, warmth, antiseptic irrigation.