Clinical examination of the urinary tract in horses includes medical, explore the external genitalia, the act of observing from a distance urination, urine analysis and perform a physical examination of the urinary tract by inspection and palpation.
Urinary tract diseases often come announced a change in urinary habits of the horse, such as frequent attempts to urinate (with or without discomfort) and / or a tangible change in the quality and volume of urine eliminated.

Urinary tract examination per rectum

Kidneys

The kidneys of equines can not be felt through the abdominal wall due to the large thickness and stiffness of the wall, but can be felt by rectal examination.
Only the left kidney is accessible via the rectum. Bean-shaped (18 cm long x 10-12 cm wide x 5-6 cm thick) and smooth surface. It is located ventral to the last rib and the first two or three lumbar transverse processes. Its caudal pole is felt on the roof of the abdomen to the right of the midline, usually at arm's length. It is usually painless and somewhat mobile.
The right kidney is palpable only when very dilated and / or displaced.

Ureters

Is absolutely impossible to feel either ureters, due to its small diameter (6-8 mm) and its path along subperitoneal pelvic muscle to the bladder.
When the ureters are palpable is likely:

bilateral enlargement due to inflammatory processes, such as pyelonephritis or cystitis ureteritis.
unilateral enlargement due to the presence of a ureteral stone from an abscess or hematoma.

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