Straining to urinate, dribbling urine, prostration, weakness, tachycardia, tachypnoea, poor suckling

Potentially signs of sepsis (fever, injected mucous membranes, diarrhoea, systemic disease/septic foci)

CBC/Biochem: haemoconcentration, azotaemia, hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia, hypochloraemia, metabolic acidosis (decreased AG and low HCO3)

Abdominocentesis: compare peritoneal to serum creatinine (greater than/equal to 2:1 is diagnostic for uroperitoneum) and use cytology to ID peritonitis or GIT compromise.

Ultrasound: peritoneal fluid/fluid wave, bladder/urachal tears

PE: depressed/weak, bradycardia, potentially signs of sepsis, dehydration, fluid wave on abdominal ballottement

ECG: assess for bradycardia, prolonged QRS, increased P wave duration, or A-V conduction disturbances.

Treatment of hyperkalaemia if severe (Ca gluconate to protect myocardium, dextrose/insulin, rarely NaHCO3)

Systemic antimicrobials if evidence of sepsis (swollen joints/navel, diarrhoea, pneumonia, injected mucous membranes) or peritonitis: penicillin + gentamicin (or TMS/Ceftiofur if renal compromise). Additional metronidazole if diarrhoea/concerned about anaerobic involvement.

If evidence of septic arthritis then joint lavage to reduce bacterial load

Sepsis, hypoxaemia, pneumonia, peritonitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome

If grossly distended abdomen and dyspnoea then immediate ventilatory/oxygen support