The first sign of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is difficulty in urinating.
When an owner sees his/her cat straining while at the litter box, this is a cause for worry.
This action is usually mistaken as difficulty in pooping or constipation.
It is best to hold your cat and feel the abdomen. When you feel a hard “ball” in the said area, this is a sign of a distended urinary bladder. Failure to address the issue will soon lead to a multitude of problems such as kidney failure, shock, dehydration, and cardiac arrest due to severe electrolyte imbalance. Urinary bladder rupture may even occur.
Predisposing conditions:
1. Male cats
2. Urinary Tract Infections
3. Multi-cat household
4. Hereditary
5. Diet
6. Concurrent illness
Treatment:
The first thing to do is to help the cat void urine by “unblocking” with a urinary catheter. Sometimes this can be difficult to do when the cat is conscious. A sedative may be given to the cat to help it relax.
After the cat is unblocked, a work-up will be done. This includes a set of blood tests, urine test and imaging such as ultrasound and radiographs.
The cat will be on intravenous fluid, antibiotics, and urinary catheter for a few days to address the abnormalities. A shot of anti-inflammatory medicine will be given after the catheter is removed. The cat will then be observed for his/her ability to void urine.
If the cat can pass urine, it is discharged from the hospital.
Surgery will be required if there is a stone or narrowing strictures of the urethra.
The cat will also be maintained on a special diet.
Editor’s note: This article will hopefully help cat owners detect a problem in their cats and bring their pets to the veterinarian immediately. The treatment above should be done only by a licensed veterinarian and is meant to help owners understand what their cat will go through.
To avoid an advanced stage of FLUTD, we recommend that you always observe your cats, especially the male ones, and talk to your vet about the best diet for your cats.
Bring your cat to the vet immediately when:
1. Your cat is crying when urinating.
2. You see blood in the urine.
3. Your cat urinates outside the litter box or in unusual or inappropriate places.
4. Your cat overgrooms herself or licks more often around the perineum, anus or rectum.
5. Your cat exhibits behavioral changes like aggression and irritation.
6. Your cat strains to urinate and no urine comes out.
Although more expensive, please ask your vet to recommend a cat food brand that has no (or less) salt and preservatives in it.
Canned or wet food is always preferred because it has water which they need, but this more expensive.
You can also cook your cat's food but ask the vet which ingredients can be given to cats. There are food that are toxic to cats.
Please note however that while you save on funds when you buy cheap cat food, you might end up spending more funds to pay for medical bills. Worse, your cat will suffer.
About the author: Dr. Dexter Mercurio is the head veterinarian at Vets in Practice (VIP) in White Plains, Quezon City. He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines.