Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
Feline lower urinary tract disease is a broad descriptive term, which describes diseases of the bladder and urethra of cats. It is a condition in cats that occurs as a result of inflammation of the urinary bladder (cystitis) or the urethra (urethritis). In some instances FLUTD can be life threatening to your cat.
The cause of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease is poorly understood and is thought to have many factors. The gender of your cat does not increase the risk of FLUTD; however, male cats are at much higher risk of developing urinary tract obstructions. Urinary tract obstruction ("Blocked Cat") is one of the most serious syndromes in this disease complex. FLUTD is more common in overweight cats because they tend to be more sedentary with fewer trips to the litter box. Diet is thought to play a role in the development of FLUTD. Diets which contain increased concentration of magnesium (ash) may contribute to the formation of crystals and stones in the urinary bladder. This is especially true in alkaline (pH > 7.0) urine.
There are a variety of non dietary factors which are thought to predispose
to FLUTD as well. Dirty or inaccessible litter boxes, decreased water
consumption and reduced physical activity all tend to cause cats to urinate
less frequently allowing for crystals and bacteria to build up in the urine.
Signs your cat has Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease:
Observation of your cat and early detection will greatly improve the success of treatment. Your cat will usually provide you with obvious signs that it is having trouble. Frequent trips to the litter pan, crying while going to the bathroom, increase licking of the genitals, prolonged squatting or straining when urinating, urinating outside the litter box or blood in the urine are all signs your cat is experiencing a urinary tract problem. Other signs you may notice are: poor appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain and general weakness in more severe cases.
Diagnosis:
Based on the information you provide and your veterinarian's physical exam findings, he or she may advise further diagnostic tests to be performed. These tests will help to determine the cause of the problem, provided a measure to monitor improvement and allow your veterinarian to provide you with a prognosis or outcome. These tests will often include: blood work to evaluate the function of the kidneys (this is important when predicting the success of treatment) urinalysis to determine the cause of the disease (urine crystals or bacterial infection) abdominal radiograph (x-ray) to see if stones are present in the bladder ( it may be necessary to use a contrast material to visualize certain types of stones). It is usually indicated to perform a urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity to determine if bacteria are present and which antibiotic to choose.
To monitor the progress of your cat some of these tests will be repeated during the course of treatment.
Treatment:
The goal of treatment is to identify the cause of your cat's disease,
eliminate that cause and develop a home management to reduce the frequency
of recurrences. A urinary tract obstruction is a life threatening problem
for your cat. He will usually require sedation in order for your
veterinarian to pass a urinary catheter and relieve the obstruction.
Intravenous fluids will be administered to rehydrate your cat and to stimulate
urine production. Hospitalization and careful monitoring of
your cat will be necessary until your cat can urinate freely on his own.
If your cat is diagnosed with inflammation of the bladder (cystitis) your
pet can usually be treated at home with antibiotics. In most instances
your veterinarian will recommend a medicated diet that will help to reduce
the frequency of your cats problem.
It is recommended that you have at least one litter box for each cat in your household. The box should be cleaned daily and your cat should have free access to fresh clean water at all times.