Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
FLUTD, A Frequent Cause of Cat Urinary Problems
Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is commonly seen in cats and may sometimes also be referred to as feline urologic syndrome or FUS.
Symptoms of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
Symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease include:
- bloody urine
- straining to urinate
- urinating in inappropriate locations outside of the litterbox
- excessively licking at the vulvar area or penile region
- inability to urinate (this happens primarily in male cats)
Causes of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
Feline lower urinary tract disease is actually a multi-factorial illness and incorporates many different types of feline urinary problems.
Cystitis (or bladder infections) may be present in some cats with FLUTD, but tends to be more common in older cats. Cats younger than 4 years of age rarely develop true bladder infections.
Bladder stones may be present in some cats with feline lower urinary tract disease. These stones may be present with or without a bladder infection.
Urethral obstructions may be the primary presenting complaint with FLUTD and is most common in male cats. This is often caused by small stones or sludge which accumulates in the urethra and causes a blockage, effectively making it impossible for the cat to urinate. This is a serious and life-threatening situation.
Cancer within the urinary tract is another potential cause of feline lower urinary tract disease.
Trauma, such as injury due to a car accident or fall, is another possible cause.
In addition, other diseases such as kidney failure or urinary incontinence can produce symptoms very similar to those seen in feline lower urinary tract disease and these diseases need to be ruled out as potential causes. Behavioral issues, such as urine marking or spraying and litter box aversions may be difficult to differentiate from feline lower urinary tract disease as well.
Unfortunately, in many cases of feline lower urinary tract disease, it is impossible to actually locate the cause of the disease. There may be a psychological component to this disease which occurs as these cats respond to stress in their lives. Stress may come in the form of new additions to the household (a new pet, a new baby, a new roommate), recent moves, remodeling or redecorating the house or the visibility of other animals outside the house.
Diagnosing Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
Diagnosis of feline lower urinary tract disease involves
- a urinalysis to look for blood, red blood cells, white blood cells, crystals and other abnormalities within the urine.
- a urine culture and sensitivity to determine whether a bladder infection is present, especially in older cats.
- radiographs (xrays) of the bladder to search for bladder stones.
- a blood screen (usually a minimum of a complete blood count and blood chemistry profile and sometimes a thyroid test) to look for evidence of other disease, such as kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism and others.
As stated previously, in a large percentage of cats suffering symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease, these tests will be perfectly normal and a definitive diagnosis of cause will not be possible. This is particularly true in young cats less than 4 years of age.
Treatment of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
Treatment of feline lower urinary tract disease needs to be aimed at treating the primary cause if that cause can be isolated.
In the event that a specific cause cannot be determined, recommended treatments may include:
- increasing water consumption by feeding canned foods, moistening dry food, using water fountains
- tranquilizers
- anti-spasmotic drugs
- feeding diets which acidify the urine
- antibiotics, though their use is controversial unless bladder infection is confirmed
- use of the drug Adequan and similar drugs which increase the mucous layer in the bladder
- pain medications
- reducing stress through behavior modification
FLUTD Can Make Your Cat Avoid the Litterbox
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