AN EVALUATION OF THE CLINICAL-PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED URINARY-BLADDER RUPTURE IN PRERUMINANT CALVES

The purpose of this project was to study the biochemical abnormalities that develop over time in preruminant calves with experimentally indu ced uroperitoneum. Uroperitoneum was produced by incising the bladder, ia a standing left flank laparotomy. Serum and peritoneal concentrati ons sodium, chloride, potassium, phosphate and creatinine were determi ned at 0, 2, 4, 8, 24, and 40 h. Serum creatinine concentration was in creased by 8 h post-bladder rupture. Peritoneal concentrations of pota ssium and phosphate were significantly elevated 2 h after bladder rupt ure and peritoneal creatinine was significantly elevated by 4 h, Serum to peritoneal fluid ratios for potassium, phosphate and creatinine ex ceeded 2:1 within 2 h of bladder rupture. Pre-ruminant calves with exp erimentally induced uroperitoneum did not become hyperkalemic during t he 40 h experiment.