Urinary stone disease (urolithiasis) in cats is an illness with the formation of stones in the urinary ducts. Usually, it affects young animals at the age of 1 - 6 years, castrated and large in weight. Natural susceptibility to the disease is also noticed - Persian and long-haired pets suffer from urolithiasis much more often than their ordinary brethren.
The main cause of urolithiasis in cats is an excess of phosphorus and magnesium in the diet. The acquired causes of the disease include enzymopathy, leading to a disturbance of metabolic processes and the formation of stones. A certain role in the development of urolithiasis belongs to inflammatory processes occurring in the kidneys, lack of water and its quality, when there is a high content of calcium.
In some animals urolithiasis develops under the influence of such factors:
- imbalance of hormones;
- peculiarities of the structure of the urethral canal;
- abnormalities and dysfunctionality of the gastrointestinal tract;
- poor diet;
- sedentary lifestyle of the animal;
- excessive protein foods in the diet.
Symptoms of urolithiasis in cats
The manifestations of urolithiasis in cats are determined by the shape, size and location of the stones. An asymptomatic course of the disease is possible when the lumen of the urethral canal is free of stones, and the formations themselves do not have sharp edges, injuring the delicate mucosa.
In other cases, the disease is expressed by difficulty in urination. The cat often goes to the toilet or defecates in the wrong place, but he pushes. The urine comes out weakly, almost in drops, and blood and fine sand can be seen in it.
Closure of the urethra by the plug leads to distension of the bladder and constant urges to urinate. Over time, the animal’s condition worsens: because the blood vessels of the bladder burst, either blood enters the urine or the urine enters the blood. This is how poisoning of the body occurs.
The animal refuses to eat, becomes sedentary and constantly tries to urinate. Subsequently, he opens vomiting, seizures begin. These changes are signs of severe poisoning with urine components. In especially advanced cases, the bladder ruptures.
Treatment of urolithiasis in cats
Treatment of urolithiasis for an animal is prescribed on an individual basis, taking into account the type of stones that have formed. These can be trivalent phosphates - struvites or salts of oxalic acid - oxalates. Then the cat’s urine and blood are tested and the results are used to prescribe medications.
During an exacerbation of IBC the goal of its treatment is to relieve painful attacks and renal colic. The animal is prescribed antibiotics and antispasmodics. In the absence of urination, catheterization is performed.
After elimination of symptoms and adjustment of urination, the animal is recommended to eat a diet. Treatment can be supplemented by taking homeopathic and folk remedies (decoctions of bearberry, plantain and cowberry leaves will be useful for cats).