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Feline Lower Urinary
Tract Disease
Urine
produced in a healthy urinary tract contains a great deal of dissolved
minerals. In cats with feline lower
urinary tract disease (FLUTD), mineral crystals collect in the urinary
tract,
especially the bladder and its outflow tract (urethra).
The accumulating crystals irritate the lining
of the urinary tract and may clump together to form "stones" in the
bladder or obstruct the outflow or urine.
Obstructions are relatively common in male
cats and may be fatal if not
treated promptly.
Signs
of FLUTD include excessive licking of the genitalia, frequent voiding
of small
amounts of urine, urinating in unusual locations, blood in the urine,
straining
or evidence of pain during urination and unproductive attempts to
urinate. Total urinary obstruction results
in
depression, lack of appetite, vomiting and eventually coma and death.
Despite
intense study, no single cause for FLUTD has been discovered. We are,
however,
aware of several factors that may lead to FLUTD. These factors include
bacterial and viral infections, diet, obesity, reduced physical
activity, low
water consumption and prolonged urine retention. Surgical
neutering does not cause FLUTD.
Important
Points
in Treatment
FLUTD
is an emergency and prompt treatment is essential. Many cats
require hospitalization for
treatment. Treatment is designed to
relieve the obstruction, flush the crystalline material from the
urinary tract,
treat any infections, correct any fluid imbalances and institute
preventive
dietary therapy. Despite treatment, some
cats die from irreversible kidney damage.
Dietary
control is essential to treatment
and prevention of FLUTD. Veterinary prescription diets designed to
treat or
prevent FLUTD contain minimum magnesium levels and cause increased
water
consumption and production of acidic urine.
Neither ash content nor magnesium levels alone
are responsible for this
disorder. Grocery or pet store "Low
Ash" diets may not have sufficiently low magnesium levels to help
prevent
FLUTD. Urine pH is the most relevant
factor in the management of FLUTD.
Acidic urine tends to prevent formation of
mineral crystals. The best
diets for preventing FLUTD are "Hills C/D" and “Royal Canin Urinary
S/O", feeding half canned food and half dry food. Since
these diets create acidic urine, they
are only available as prescription diets through your veterinary clinic. Please ask us about them.
Notify the
Veterinarian if Any of the Following Occur:
- Your
cat strains and/or cries when urinating
- Your
cat frequently passes small volumes of urine
- Your
cat has blood in the urine or urinates in odd places
- Your
cat refuses to eat, seems depressed or vomits
These special preventative
diets must be fed as the only diet for your cat (unless otherwise
recommended by this veterinary clinic). You must also be aware
that
these are prescription diets and cannot be sold unless we have seen
your pet within the past eighteen months.
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