Mary Allen
It started comparatively harmlessly: the Persian cat Pasha showed the classic symptoms of a bladder infection. He frequently passed small amounts of urine, pressing and pressing, and could not rest even at night.
Based on a urine sample, the veterinarian diagnosed a bladder infection and pebbles. Antibiotics were prescribed against inflammation and a special diet against pebbles. After a short time, there was an apparent improvement. But after a few days, the condition worsened acutely: the cat Pasha only sat in the litter box, tried unsuccessfully to urinate, and was no longer responsive to colicky pain. The vet diagnosed a urethral obstruction. Pasha was immediately anesthetized. A catheter was placed and the bladder was flushed with diuretic drugs. The little cat was already suffering from urinary poisoning.
Cystitis
If the cat frequently urinates in small quantities, pressing and pressing, and shows pain, these can be signs of an incipient bladder infection or an obstruction to the flow of urine due to urinary stones or urinary gravel. Both diseases can occur simultaneously and require immediate veterinary attention. Other symptoms of a bladder infection include blood in the urine and cloudy (“cola-colored”) urine, which often smells sharp. In the advanced stage, fever and disturbances in the general condition occur. When palpating the abdomen, the cat shows pain in the bladder area.
Effects On The Kidneys
Bladder infections are often caused by bacteria. The treatment can be very lengthy and definitely belongs in the hands of the veterinarian. If this is not visited in time, the acute condition can result in a chronic bladder infection and effects on the kidneys, which are difficult to treat with medication.
Urethral Obstruction
Urethral obstruction (also commonly referred to as FUS = Feline Urological Syndrome) is the most feared condition among hangover owners. Urinary stones or urinary gravel, which lead to them, are not uncommon in cats. Various statistical surveys show the number of cases between 06% and 1% of the cat population. The disease is not linked to age or sex, but male cats and castrates are affected most frequently, since their urethra is longer than in female animals, has a smaller lumen, and also has less elasticity. Bladder stones are always the cause of the disease in sick cats, while in tomcats it can be both urine gravel and urinary stones.
Most Are Phosphate Rocks
There are different types of stone whose composition can be determined by chemical analysis. In about 90% of cases, it is phosphate stones, a compound of ammonium and magnesium, also known as struvite. The causes of crystallization have not yet been clearly clarified, but several factors always seem to be involved in stone formation. The most important cause is too high a urine concentration. Cats generally drink less than their actual needs. This increases the urine density (the specific gravity of the urine) and the concentration of electrolytes (dissolved salts) in the urine. Another factor is the acidity of the urine, which also depends on the feed. Struvite develops in an alkaline environment, so urine must be kept acidic. Another factor can be the mineral concentration of the feed. Magnesium and phosphorus can trigger stone formation. Furthermore, husbandry conditions can be an indirect cause. Dirty litter boxes are reluctant to be used and the cat will retain urine, which in turn can affect stone formation. Urinary stones and gravel irritate the bladder mucosa. As with cystitis, the first signs are frequent and unsuccessful trips to the litter box. If urine is passed, it is often bloody in the final stream. Some cats have such a strong urge to urinate that they will try to urinate in other places outside of the litter box. Sometimes the urge is so strong that the animal defecates with the unsuccessful pressing. Male cats constantly lick their penises, causing abrasions from the rough tongue. In some cases, small crystals can also be seen at the tip of the penis. At the same time, gelatinous mucus clots form in the urethra in response to irritation and damage to the lining of the bladder and urethra, further aggravating congestion.
Life-Threatening Urinary Obstruction
The condition of urethral obstruction is life-threatening. The bladder keeps getting fuller, but you can no longer urinate. The enlarged bladder is tender and there is a risk of tearing the bladder wall. From a large number of urinary substances (mainly end products of protein metabolism, e.g. urea or creatinine), which are otherwise excreted in the urine but now remain in the bloodstream, uremia develops within a few days, which further worsens the prognosis. Complete urinary obstruction can be endured for a maximum of 48 hours, after which it is life-threatening. The vet anesthetizes the cat and inserts a catheter into the urethra. Medication that dissolves urinary grit is used to flush the bladder and urethra and is intended to prevent the new formation at the same time. Sometimes the vet can also massage crystals and mucous plugs out of the tip of the penis to clear the blockage. With the help of an ultrasound probe, which is inserted into the urethra, pebbles can be broken up. These measures can sometimes avoid a complicated surgical procedure (penile amputation).
Prevent Relapse
Since the recurrence rate is very high (approx. 50%), the formation of new calculi must be prevented. The veterinarian can prescribe appropriate urinary stone diets, which are available ready-made in practice as wet or dry food. There are also various pastes and tablets that are intended to acidify the urine and prevent the formation of struvite. The owner must pay attention to regular and daily urination. If the cat does not drink enough, you can increase its thirst by mixing table salt with the wet food (1 g for 100 g of food).