Urinary Calculi or “Water Belly”
Cause. Urinary calculi (kidney stones) are hard
mineral deposits in the urinary tracts of cattle. Affected
cattle may experience chronic bladder infection from
tissue damage produced by the calculi. In more serious
cases, calculi may block the flow of urine, particularly
in male animals. The urinary bladder or urethra may
rupture from prolonged urinary tract blockage,
resulting in release of urine into the surrounding
tissues. The collection of urine under the skin or in the
abdominal cavity is referred to as “water belly.” Death
from toxemia may result within 48 hours of bladder
rupture. Signs of urinary calculi include straining to
urinate, dribbling urine, blood-tinged urine, and
indications of extreme discomfort, such as tail
wringing, foot stamping, and kicking at the abdomen.
Phosphate urinary calculi form in cattle on high grain
diets, while silicate urinary calculi typically develop
in cattle on rangeland.