FLUTD or FIC is one of the most common conditions seen in cats. This condition is very common but always a challenge to determine a definitive cause in each case. Thus, the term 'idiopathic cystitis', meaning bladder inflammation of unknown origin is used to describe this condition. Potential causes include environmental stress, bladder stone, urinary tract infection and crystals. Urine testing and abdominal imaging is usually necessary to help determine the cause of the problem in each case. Urethral blockage (by urethral plugs or crystals) is a common consequence seen in male cats with FLUTD/FIC. It is an emergency if a cat has urethral blockage or commonly called 'blocked bladder'. The blockage could cause damage to kidneys and it is a life- threatening situation if the blockage is not relieved soon. Recurrence of the condition is very common. Early recognition of clinical signs and preventative measures are very important to reduce incident and severity of condition.
Clinical signs of these conditions include:
- Blood in urine
- Increase frequency of urination with small volume of urine produced
- Pain when urinating
- Straining to urinate (can sometimes look like the cat is constipated)
- Urinating in unusual places
If your cat is showing any of the above signs, be sure to call us immediately.
If your cat is showing any of the above signs, be sure to call us immediately.
Prevention:
- Increase water intake (drinking fountains, fresh water bowl, wet food diet, special diet)
- Encourage urination (provide multiple litter trays : rule of thumb is number of litter trays= number of cats plus one , provide clean litter trays at all time, place litter trays in quiet places)
- Reduce stress
- Environmental enrichment (regular play time each day)
No comments:
Post a Comment