urolithiasis

n.
A diseased condition resulting from the formation of calculi in the urinary tract.

(yʊr'ō-lĭ-thī'ə-sĭs)
n.

A diseased condition resulting from the presence or formation of calculi in the urinary tract.

Formation of calculi in the urinary tract, or the condition associated with urinary calculi. In many food animals the condition goes unnoticed. Castrated males are a special case because of the high risk of urethral obstruction. There is a high prevalence of urolithiasis in male cats. Recorded also in marine fish larvae. See also feline urological syndrome, urolith.

• obstructive u. — one or more uroliths obstructs the passage of urine. Obstruction of a ureter causes a period of acute abdominal pain followed by dilatation of the obstructed ureter and renal pelvis and later by hydronephrosis. Obstruction of the urethra occurs almost exclusively in males and at a much higher prevalence in castrated males. It causes a syndrome of acute abdominal pain manifested by restlessness, swishing of the tail, groaning and grunting while straining to urinate but passing only a few drops of blood-stained urine. The penis is often protruded. There is pain on palpation of the urethra per rectum and distention of the bladder is also apparent during this examination or by palpation through the abdominal wall in small animals. Rupture of the bladder is inevitable unless the obstruction is relieved. No significant amount of urine is passed, an observation that may require that the animal be confined.
• preputial u. — in steers can cause obstruction of the preputial orifice and infiltration of the belly wall with urine. Called also postholithiasis.