Urogenital Hypoplasia and X Chromosome Monosomy in a Draft Horse Filly

Imaging of the Urinary Tract

This article provides a comprehensive review of imaging techniques used to evaluate the equine urinary tract. This overview includes officially recognized modalities and new applications reported in the most current literature. Technical aspects and indications for use of endoscopy and ultrasonography are highlighted. Normal endoscopic and ultrasonographic appearance of the upper and lower urinary tract is described, with characterization of common abnormalities found in patients with hematuria, stranguria, and renal failure. Visual examples of several pathologic conditions from clinical cases are provided. An outline of the main features, potentials, and limitations of radiography, nuclear scintigraphy, and computed tomography is provided.

Urinary Incontinence and Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary incontinence results from disorders of the lower urinary tract or neurologic diseases either of the nerve supply to the bladder/urethra or within the central nervous system. Congenital causes include patent urachus and ectopic ureter. Coordination of lower urinary tract function involves the interaction of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic system as well as somatic branches of the central nervous system. Well-recognized causes of incontinence include equine herpes virus 1 myeloencephalopathy, polyneuritis equi (neuritis of the cauda equina), and sacral/coccygeal trauma. Idiopathic bladder paralysis is characterized by bladder paralysis and sabulous cystitis in the absence of overt neurologic deficits.