Diagnosis and treatment of urolithiasis in client-owned chelonians: 40 cases (1987-2012).
OBJECTIVE
To calculate the prevalence of urolithiasis in client-owned chelonians examined at a veterinary teaching hospital and to describe the clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment of urolithiasis in chelonians.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
40 client-owned turtles and tortoises with urolithiasis.


METHODS
The medical record database of a veterinary teaching hospital was searched from 1987 through 2012 for records of client-owned chelonians with urolithiasis. The prevalence of urolithiasis was calculated for client-owned chelonians examined at the hospital. Signalment and physical examination, hematologic, biochemical, urinalysis, diagnostic imaging, treatment, and necropsy results were described.


RESULTS
The mean prevalence of urolithiasis in client-owned chelonians for the study period was 5.1 cases/100 client-owned chelonians examined. Thirty-one of the 40 chelonians were desert tortoises. Only 5 of 40 chelonians had physical examination abnormalities associated with the urogenital tract. Surgery was performed on 17 chelonians; 5 developed postoperative complications, and 4 of those died. Necropsy was performed on 18 chelonians, and urolithiasis contributed to the decision to euthanize or was the cause of death for 9. Uroliths from 13 chelonians were analyzed, and all were composed of 100% urate.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated chelonians with urolithiasis have various clinical signs and physical examination findings that may or may not be associated with the urinary tract. Hematologic, biochemical, and urinalysis findings were nonspecific for diagnosis of urolithiasis. Many chelonians died or were euthanized as a consequence of urolithiasis, which suggested the disease should be identified early and appropriately treated.
Krista A
KA
Keller
Michelle G
MG
Hawkins
E P Scott
EP
Weber
Annette L
AL
Ruby
David Sanchez-Migallon
DS
Guzman
Jodi L
JL
Westropp
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D057805:Pets; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014426:Turtles; D052878:Urolithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*