The most common causes
of urinary obstructions in male cats are due to urinary tract stones or urethral mucus plugs.
The incidence
of urinary obstructions is reportedly higher in the winter months.
Click here for a description
of urinary obstruction.
If your cat is male and is exhibiting any abnormal urinary behavior, then you should run rather than walk to the vet; male cats are at risk
of urinary obstruction, which can rapidly lead to fatal consequences.
Any change in behavior that is constant such as urinating more, drinking more water, urinating less, and trying to urinate but nothing comes out (this is a serious dangerous clinical sign
of urinary obstruction — see vet immediately), hiding, wanting to be by his or herself when normally very social, (a big sign in cats if something is wrong), off balance, overall weakness, eating less or more than usual, painful crying out.
He will probably need fluid therapy, procedures to drain urine and unblock his urethra, close monitoring, and diagnosis and treatment for the underlying cause
of his urinary obstruction.
Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC): This is the most common cause of feline lower urinary tract disease and one of the most common causes
of urinary obstruction.
Domino, a 4 - 1/2 year old male, neutered Dalmatian presented to an emergency clinic with symptoms
of an urinary obstruction (straining to urinate, blood in urine).
Urinary crystals (usually struvite) are important in the male cat syndrome
of urinary obstruction which is a complication of FIC and scientific studies have found benefit to using urinary diets to prevent future FIC episodes.
Medical Management
of Urinary Obstruction Urinary obstruction caused by stones lodged in the urethra is an urgent or emergency situation.
Not exact matches
After a month
of constant medical interventions to save our son from the complications
of a rare condition called LUTO (Lower
Urinary Tract
Obstruction), Bryson went home to join Joey on heaven's playground.
Bladder stones were less frequent and tended to be more noticeable in men due to prostatic
obstructions, while women had a higher frequency
of infection stones as a result
of recurrent
urinary tract infections.
It is recommended for the treatment
of urea, uric acid and
urinary obstructions.
ARF is an abrupt shutdown
of kidney functions, often triggered by poisoning, trauma, infection, or
urinary obstruction.
However, this symptom could also represent
obstruction of the
urinary tract by bladder stones — a situation that is very urgent indeed.
One
of the most common challenges we see in the ER when it comes to cats is
urinary obstruction in male cats, also commonly called «blocked tom.»
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of a Shelter Vet, Unable to Urinate,
Urinary Catheter, Urination, Urine, Vet, Veterinarian
The most common cause
of obstruction is a urethral plug, which consists
of mineral crystals (e.g., struvite, calcium oxalate), white blood cells, red blood cells, protein (mucus), and epithelial cells.5 The underlying cause
of urethral plugs is unknown; however, plugs have been linked to struvite crystalluria — suggesting that diet may play a role — and idiopathic cystitis.6 Other causes
of urethral
obstruction include urethral edema and spasm associated with lower
urinary tract inflammation and pain.7 Uroliths, neoplasms, and urethral strictures can also lead to urethral
obstruction; however, they are reported less frequently than other causes.5
An
obstruction of any sort in your pet's
urinary system that impedes the flow
of urine can also raise blood creatinine levels.
Prompt treatment
of bacterial kidney infection, termed pyelonephritis, or relieving an upper
urinary obstruction caused by kidney stones and fragments that lodge in the ureters, can help spare the kidneys» remaining nephrons.
However, vomiting can also be a symptom
of a more serious illness, such as bacterial or viral infection, intestinal
obstruction from foreign bodies,
urinary tract
obstruction, liver disease, or cancer.
32 hours
of continuing education including: The hyperthyroid cat with renal failure, feline hepatic lipidosis prevention and treatment, Atkins diet for dogs and cats, cancer and non-steroidal drugs, ear flushing and medical treatment
of otitis externa, dealing with the allergic dog,
urinary obstruction and incontinence, managing the neonate, aggression in cats, and canine atopic dermatitis.
Initially, I tried feeding my cats with dog dry food for puppies (because it is easier to find and quite cheaper), this caused the death
of two
of my cats due to
urinary obstruction, I did not know dog food was damaging for cats, this makes me feel extremely guilty.
December 2005 University
of Wisconsin - School
of Veterinary Medicine Conference on Surgical Emergencies 8 hours
of continuing education including lectures on: Esophageal and Gastrointestinal
Obstructions, Biliary Tract
Obstruction and Liver Disease,
Urinary Tract
Obstructions.
These losses may have occurred before presentation to the clinic — such as animals with a history
of protracted vomiting or diarrhea — or may be anticipated after treatment has been instituted, as is often seen in cases
of postobstructive diuresis in cats with
urinary obstruction.
The term FLUTD or feline lower
urinary tract disease is a term that refers to a number
of conditions that affect the
urinary tract and urethra such as cystitis, urolithiasis (
urinary stones), urethral
obstruction (blockage), urethral plugs or cancer.
This is done by placing a
urinary catheter through the urethral opening and either through the
obstruction itself, or using pulses
of flushing solution to move the plug back into the bladder where it can be dissolved.
A chronic
obstruction can result in death, so any sign
of urinary distress should trigger a trip to the veterinarian, particularly if a cat appears to be crying out in pain, or if you see other signs such as a cat that is passing no or a small amount
of urine.»
When this occurs in especially male cats, life threatening
obstructions of the
urinary tract may occur, stressing the importance
of prompt veterinary attention in all
of these patients.
These cats may be unable to urinate at all because
of a complete
obstruction of the
urinary tract or may be straining frequently to urinate only to pass just a few drops
of urine at a time, often with blood in it.
As mentioned above, cats with a complete
obstruction of the
urinary tract have a medical emergency and need immediate attention.
Common diseases seen in most species
of chelonians include respiratory infections, constipation, deficiency
of vitamin A causing aural abscesses, stones in the
urinary tract,
obstructions of the GI tract caused by the ingestion
of foreign bodies and penis prolapse.
In some cases — especially in male cats as they have a much longer and more narrow urethra than females — an
obstruction occurs, which can lead to extreme discomfort and eventual damage to the kidneys; it could even lead to rupture
of the
urinary bladder, if the problem is not treated immediately.
I'm glad to see this food sold through Chewy, I used to buy this frequently after someone recommended this brand to me after one
of my cats was treated for a complete
urinary obstruction.
In over 85 %
of cases other possible causes or triggers
of the disease include cholangiohepatitis, pancreatitis, respiratory conditions, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidsim, FLUTD (feline lower
urinary tract disease), cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), bowel
obstruction, anemia and pyometra (puss in the uterus).
Some veterinarians have found that dispense amitriptyline, an anti-anxiety medication, seems to reduce the reoccurrence
of urinary tract
obstruction.
With a
urinary tract
obstruction, it is important to seek immediate veterinary care because blockage to the flow
of urine can be a life - threatening complication if untreated.
Urinary obstruction and spread
of the cancer has taken the lives
of most dogs with TCC.
Cats obstruct for many reasons, as any disease causing a decrease in the diameter
of the feline urethra may cause
urinary obstruction.
This is then followed up with more intensive therapy which includes placement
of a
urinary catheter to relieve the
obstruction and clean out the bladder; intravenous fluid administration to «flush out» the kidneys and restore normal electrolyte balance; blood and urine testing to determine the cause
of the
obstruction and the extent
of kidney damage; and X-rays to examine the bladder for stones or sediment.
Cats can have any number
of medical emergencies during their lifetime, from GI
obstructions,
urinary blockages or viruses that stop them from eating to cat heart disease and kidney failure.
Common conditions we see on an emergency basis include (but are not limited to) vomiting and diarrhea, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, canine parvoviral enteritis (Parvo), complications from diabetes, pancreatitis, pneumonia, hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease), anemia, coagulopathies (like Rat Bait Poisoning), intervertebral disk disease / paralysis, rattlesnake envenomation, heat stroke,
urinary obstruction, toxicities, and various types
of trauma.
Bladder stones normally do not affect the rest
of your pet's body unless the stones break off or lodge in the urethra, leading to potential
urinary tract
obstruction.
While many cats appear to thrive on a vegan diet, there are also anecdotal reports
of cats with recurring
urinary tract problems, including infections associated with previous urethral
obstructions caused by
urinary crystals.
Cats and dogs can be equally affected by this condition and common causes
of AKI include bacterial infections, toxins,
urinary tract
obstruction, immune - mediated diseases.
Causes
of obstructions or blockages include
urinary stones (calculi), tumors and a tissue mass that developed in response to an infection
Because
of the location and rapid growth
of many bladder cancers,
urinary obstruction with potential toxic buildup
of waste products and shock is always possible.
Over time, the malignant tumor grows and causes
urinary obstruction, and spreads to the lymph nodes, lung, bones, and other areas
of the body.
To understand all
of the harmful consequences
of urine
obstruction, it is important to realize the normal function
of the
urinary tract.
In male cats in particular, it was feared that early castration would affect the development
of the
urinary tract and lead to an increased incidence
of cystitis or
urinary obstruction.