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| Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease The term "feline lower urinary tract disease" is used to describe a disorder presenting with difficulty passing urine and blood in the urine that is not caused by bacterial infection, crystals, or bladder tumours. Affected cats often urinate frequently in small amounts and frequently in inappropriate locations, blood is usually present in the urine. Male cats frequently lick the penis. Crystals may be present in the urine. If a large amount of mucoid material combines with this crystalline material, a plug forms that may lodge in the tapering distal urethra, resulting in urethral obstruction. Obstructed cats will die if urine flow is not reestablished quickly. This disease does not appear to be contagious and affects male and female cats, although female cats are extremely unlikely to experience a urethral obstruction. This disorder causes most cats to empty their bladders when only a small amount of urine is present. Upon presentation, most cats have an empty bladder. Cats with an obstructed urinary tract present with pain in the abdomen and a large, firm urinary bladder. These cats become dehydrated and very depressed with increasing duration. Treatment involves ensuring there is a patent urinary tract, if obstruction is present then catheterisation and bladder irrigation will be required. If any secondary kidney damage has occurred then intravenous fluids may be necessary. For non obstructed cases anti-spasmodics and anti-inflammatories such as prednisolone, megestrol acetate and amitriptyline are useful to help re-establish urine flow. If concurrent cystitis is suspected then antibiotics should be given. Obesity can contribute to this disease so weight loss is recommended in overweight animals. Analysis of the urine is important to check for bacterial infection and crystals. If crystals are presents the diet may have to be altered to eliminate their excretion in the urine. Inappropriate urination is the most common behavior problem of cats and it can be confused with the loss of litterbox training. If this problem does not respond to treatment then further investigation should be carried out to rule out other urinary problems. Additional tests include X-rays and ultrasound and bacterial culture of the urine. Prognosis depends on the underlying cause, the prognosis for cats without urinary obstruction is good, although the problem may be recurrent. Those cases that have urethral obstruction and have a more guarded prognosis. Recovery is likely if urine flow occurs normally and kidney function is unimpaired. |
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