How do they treat urolithiasis in cats?

Diseases of the urinary tract – a common problem in cats due to their anatomy and physiology. In this article, we look at urolithiasis, a disease of the lower tract. In addition to urolithiasis cystitis, there are other diseases of the urinary system, which can be diagnosed by the veterinarian by examination. A severe complication of urinary retention of any genesis is acute renal failure. Even if the cat has not gone to the toilet for only a day, it can be very dangerous.

Urinary stone disease in cats – its symptoms and treatment.

Urinary stone disease in cats is accompanied by the appearance of deposits of sand and urinary stones in the area of the kidneys, in the bladder. At the same time, these formations can pass or stagnate in the ureter, urethra, all this may be accompanied by the appearance of blood with the urine. So why is there a buildup of deposits in animal kidneys? What can influence it?

Many people think that in cats and cats urolithiasis occurs as a result of excessive consumption of dry food, also, in their opinion, this disease can occur in neutered and spayed animals, but this is not true. This disease is provoked by various internal and external factors.

• Improper diet ;
• metabolic disorders;
• allergic reactions ;
• Overcooling and overheating of the pet's body;
• sand and stones can manifest with a sedentary life;
• the presence of chronic pathological currents in the kidneys and bladder;
• diseases of the genitourinary system of cats and cats;
• genetic predisposition.

Pay attention! Internal factors in the development of urolithiasis may consist of insufficient fluid intake by the cat. It is necessary to control regularly that there is always water in the pet's bowl.

There is a widespread belief that dry food contributes to the development of urolithiasis, but according to statistics, this disease occurs with the same frequency in animals that are constantly consuming natural food.

The cause of urolithiasis in cats can be feeding cats poor-quality food, as well as feeding food from the table – smoked, salty, fried, fatty foods. Genetic factors and hereditary diseases have the greatest influence on the development of this pathological process.

Symptoms of urolithiasis

In the beginning, when the deposits of sand and stones in the kidneys and bladder only begin to appear, it is quite difficult to accurately establish the presence of the disease. But still be sure to watch the condition of the animal, sometimes even at the very beginning you can detect signs of urolithiasis in cats.

After a while the pet becomes less active, it does not move much, it also refuses to eat and its appetite may completely disappear. At the same time during urination the animal may have discomfort. The disease has a slow progression, it gradually develops into a chronic form.

If the disease develops into a complicated form, the formation of stones instead of sand is observed. At this time, clear symptoms of urolithiasis are manifested:

• The pet experiences painful sensations during urination. While on the tray, he meows a lot, the fact is that at this time the stones move and strongly scratch the walls of the urinary tract;
• If you carefully examine the pet's urine, you can find blood spots in it ;
• Cats may have to sit on the tray frequently because they urinate frequently;
• Sometimes the stone may completely block the urethra, and the cat cannot empty;
• the structure of the abdomen becomes dense and hard. When palpating, the cat has an unpleasant painful sensation;
• Cats often urinate on the surface of upholstered furniture, carpets;
• There may be obvious changes in the cat's behavior. The cat may be restless, constantly drawing attention to itself or, conversely, hiding or cowering in corners;
• The cat's breathing may become labored;
• The cat or cat does not eat well and its appetite disappears;
• increase in temperature to 39-40 degrees ;
• complications manifest themselves with trembling throughout the body, convulsive seizures.

Important! If symptoms similar to IBC in cats appear, it is worth immediately contacting a doctor. The slightest delay may cause serious health complications in the animal.

Question 2: What is the most effective method of diagnosing urolithiasis?

Sometimes urolithiasis is asymptomatic, and sometimes the patient is disturbed by pain in the lower back, an admixture of blood in the urine. It is not always possible to make a confident diagnosis on the basis of the examination alone. Therefore, additional examinations are prescribed. The most reliable criterion for the diagnosis is the visualization of the stones by spiral computed tomography (SCT). It allows to determine the localization, size, number and density of stones. Rather high reliability shows also ultrasound of kidneys. It also gives information about the size and location of stones, allows estimating the degree of blockage of the urinary tract. But only CT scan allows to estimate the density, and thus the type of stones, which is a decisive factor in the choice of treatment methods. It is also recommended that all patients undergo AOC and OAM.

It depends on the composition of the stones. This can be determined with a CBCT or pH-metry of the urine. Stones consisting of uric acid, for example, can be dissolved with medication. Stones consisting of sodium or ammonium urate cannot be dissolved. To dissolve the stones special medications are prescribed which alkalize the urine to 7.0-7.2. The patient himself controls the pH with the help of paper test strips.

Question 4: In what cases can we not do without surgery?

The decision about the necessity of surgical intervention is made only on the basis of the results of a face-to-face visit and diagnostic tests. It is necessary when conservative treatment is inefficient, the stones have grown, there is pain, the stone is larger than 1.5 cm and in some other cases.

"Asymptomatic" stones seem harmless until the patient has an acute and intolerable pain in the lower back. This is renal colic. It indicates that a stone has entered the ureter and blocked it. There is no outflow of urine from the kidney, the pressure in the urinary tract and ureter increases. The pain is wavy, accompanied by nausea and fever. The patient feels terrible, the urine is stained with blood. Such a situation requires urgent medical care. It is better not to wait for a renal colic and take action in advance: go to the doctor, take tests, undergo medication therapy or planned surgical intervention. If treatment is not yet needed (for example, the stones can go away on their own), the doctor will schedule you for follow-up visits and monitor the dynamics.

Causes of IBC

There are many factors that contribute to the development of urolithiasis. All causes are divided into external and internal. In this case, a combination of several provoking conditions at once is possible.

Exogenous

External causes are associated with the conditions of life, activity, nutrition of the cat. One of the first places is an irrational diet. An imbalance of proteins-fats-carbohydrates leads to a shift of the urine pH to the acidic or alkaline side. In both cases, solid conglomerates begin to form in the urinary organs. Vitamin deficiencies are also related to nutrition. All biologically active substances are important, but most of all vitamins A and D. Avitaminosis entails metabolic disorders.

Thirdly, there is a lack of water and/or high saturation of fluid with minerals. This factor affects the concentration of urine. In a more saturated fluid, solid inclusions form faster. The need for water increases if the cat lives in a hot home environment.

For some squeamish kitties, the cleanliness of the litter box matters. A dirty litter box makes the animal patient. Urinary retention provokes and accelerates the formation of stones in the urine. Signs of the disease in this case manifest themselves more quickly.

Urolithiasis in cats is more often registered in the very beginning of autumn, as well as in January-April.

Endogenous

Hormonal disorders can lead to the development of IBC in a cat. Internal causes also include diseases of the digestive system. If there are enough nutrients and biologically active compounds in the food, but the cat has intestinal problems, the valuable substances will be poorly absorbed by the body. It is endogenous causes that explain why cats of a particular breed are prone to urolithiasis. A set of genes, changes in their activity or structure affect the occurrence and rate of urolithiasis in cats.

Symptoms of urolithiasis in cats

Problems with the lower excretory system in the earliest stages are manifested in behavioral signs. The cat becomes apathetic, its appetite may change. The more the disease progresses, the more pronounced the symptoms become. In this regard, there are three symptomatic periods: early, acute and critical. In the first stage, when sand and stones are already present in the bladder, urolithiasis in cats can be judged by the following signs:

• The pet goes to the toilet more often, sometimes in inappropriate places.
• Urination occurs in a strenuous posture.
• While in the litter tray, the cat meows because of the pain caused by the stones.
• Because of the presence of blood cells, the urine turns pink.
• The cat takes longer than usual to lick itself under the tail.

During the severe (acute) stage, these symptoms become even more pronounced and are joined by others. The animal has a small amount of urinary incontinence, and the color of the fluid itself becomes more intense. The urine takes on a specific unpleasant odor. Touching the abdomen causes the cat pain. The body temperature jumps to 39-40 degrees.

In a critical state, the signs of urolithiasis worsen even more. The pet hardly ever goes to the toilet, and the urges cause severe attacks of pain. Overfilling of the bladder threatens to rupture and peritonitis. Viscous, frothy saliva is secreted from the mouth and vomiting may occur. The temperature drops to 35-36 degrees. Apathy and lethargy are joined by body trembling and convulsions. In the most severe cases, loss of consciousness is possible.

Symptoms of urolithiasis in cats

It is not easy to detect symptoms of urolithiasis at the initial stage. Sometimes the pathology develops asymptomatically and may not appear for years. Therefore, animals in the risk group need annual preventive examination by a veterinarian.

Below is the symptomatology according to the stages of the disease – from the first attack to the blockage of the urinary tract:

1. Appearance of tags: The animal stops going to the litter box, and begins urinating in inappropriate places.
2. Frequent licking of the external opening Frequent licking of the external opening of the urethra: salt crystals (sand) irritate the mucosa.
3. Painful urination: Accompanied by assuming strenuous postures and meowing.
4. Increased urge to urinate: The urine comes out in small portions.
5. Foreign impurities in the urine: The fluid is stained an unfamiliar color or comes out with blood clots.
6. Increased body temperature Up to 40 degrees.
7. Blockage of the urinary tract: The animal stops urinating.
8. Changes in behavior: Is manifested by lethargy, irritability and refusal to eat or drink.
9. Thickening of the abdomen: The abdomen becomes rounded and dense to the touch.
10. Vomiting: Signals poisoning of the body with metabolic products – uremia.
11. Temperature drop. to 36 to 36 degrees.

If patency of the urinary tract is not restored within 2 days, the animal will die from intoxication or bladder rupture.

Diagnosis of feline urolithiasis

Diagnosis of urolithiasis includes collection of the anamnesis and a number of other sequential actions.

• Palpation of the abdominal organs: This is to see how full the bladder is.
• General clinical and biochemical blood tests: is performed to evaluate the condition of the kidneys;
• Ultrasound examination: Necessary to evaluate the condition of the bladder walls.
• X-ray: Helps assess the size, number and localization of salt formations.

In addition, the doctor may prescribe a radiographic examination with the injection of a contrasting substance, as well as a general clinical and bacteriological examination of the urine. To take a sterile sample, urine is excreted through a puncture of the abdominal wall (cystocentesis) under the control of an ultrasound transducer.

The test results are needed to determine the type of concrements (uroliths) and their localization. As a rule, these are salt crystals with small amounts of epithelium, mucus, and inflamed cells deposited in the bladder.

Most commonly, urolithiasis is characterized by the formation of struvites (tripelphosphates) and calcium oxalates:

Uroliths of the first type (struvites) form in an alkaline environment and are quite solid in structure. Usually the cause of struvite is an excess of phosphorus and magnesium. This happens if the diet consists of fresh fish of fatty varieties. Formation of struvites is common in young animals under 6 years of age. When struvites are detected, a special diet and drugs to break them down are needed. This type of concrements can be removed without surgery.

Type 2 uroliths (calcium oxalates) Are formed in an acidic environment. Their structure is more loose, but is not devoid of sharp angles, which traumatize the walls of the urethra during the natural withdrawal of the stone with the urine. The cause of oxalates is a high concentration of calcium. This happens if the diet is full of chicken eggs, by-products and fermented dairy products: for example, ryazhenka, cottage cheese, whole milk. Oxalate formation is common in adult animals over 6 years of age. If calcium oxalate is detected, surgery is indicated. This type of concrements cannot be treated with conservative methods.

What are the symptoms of urolithiasis in cats?

Symptoms of urolithiasis do not appear immediately. At the beginning of the disease small crystals in the bladder can be detected only accidentally during a routine examination (ultrasound or urinalysis). Then the crystals become larger, or they increase in size and begin to injure the walls of the bladder or urethra. The cat experiences pain and problems with urination.

• The cat goes to the toilet frequently, with the urine coming out in small portions or not coming out at all.
• The urine becomes more concentrated and may smell pungent or have blood mixed in.
• Each urge to urinate is accompanied by pain and meowing.
• The cat will begin to go to the toilet inappropriate places, urinating on the bed or in the middle of the room, even if this behavior was not previously noticed in him. The reason for this is pain.
• The pet becomes lethargic, indifferent, stops eating or eats very little, turns away even from his favorite foods.
• If there is no urination, the bladder increases in size, the pet's abdomen becomes round, dense and painful. Such a condition is very dangerous, because at this time the amount of harmful products of metabolism, normally excreted with urine, increases in the blood. Electrolyte balance is disturbed. This complication is called acute renal failure, in which the pet falls into lethargy, body temperature and blood pressure drop, the animal is on the verge of death. Of course, it is better not to bring the cat to this state, and domestic help in such a situation is useless. The animal must urgently be taken to a clinic.

How to provide first aid to a cat with urolithiasis?

First of all, the animal should be given an anesthetic. Many drugs that are used for pain relief in human medicine are toxic to cats. For example, pills containing paracetamol or ibuprofen. From the home medicine cabinet, nosepa, papaverine or banal analgin may be a good remedy. A medium-sized cat can be given 1/4-1/5 of a tablet.

Herbal remedies such as cystone, kanefron, urolesan or its analogues, stop-cystitis for cats can also be useful in the initial stages of the disease.

If there are several cats in the house, this task can be difficult. If the pet does not urinate for several hours, but goes to the litter tray, experiencing endless urges, go to the veterinary clinic.

To make a diagnosis, the doctor will analyze the history (information from the owner) and examine the animal. Sometimes an ultrasound and urinalysis are sufficient for diagnosis. Blood tests are needed to assess the degree of renal impairment.

Treatment of urolithiasis in cats

First of all, it is important to accept the fact that IBC treatment at home when serious symptoms develop is impossible. If the cat is not taken to a specialist, it may die within 2-3 days. Only a veterinarian is able to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the necessary therapy.

• Elimination of acute symptoms;
• actions to restore the normal flow of urine. Sometimes surgical intervention is required to get rid of the stone;
• Infusion of drugs. IVs are necessary to eliminate the effects of intoxication, as well as to restore the water balance in the body;
• taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
• The use of anti-infective agents.

Conservative treatment of IBC in cats is designed to eliminate the problems by taking medications and a special diet. It is a gentler method than surgery, but in some cases it may not help.

The most appropriate method of treatment is chosen by the veterinarian based on the pet's condition, type of stones, number of stones, etc.

Important: If the owner has identified signs of IBC in his cat, you can take measures to relieve the animal's acute pain even before the visit to the veterinarian. To do this, you need to put a warm heating pad on the cat's abdomen and perineum. Alternatively, you can warm a diaper or blanket with an iron. Nothing else should be done, especially massaging the cat's stomach: this will only provoke complications.

Drugs for cats with urolithiasis

To cure IBC, the cat may be prescribed one of the following medications:

• Stop-cystitis (an analgesic suspension based on natural ingredients, reduces urea crystallization);
• Uro-Ursi (antibiotic booster);
• Urotropin (diuretic);
• Cystocur forte (food supplement in powder form, helps the cat with infections of the urogenital system);
• Furinaid (drops of gel-like consistency, protect the bladder sheath;
• Ipakitine (improves phosphorus-calcium metabolism);
• Cantaren (anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, diuretic effects, promotes excretion of concrements);
• Cotervin (nitrate-releasing and sediment-crushing drug, diuretic and anti-inflammatory);
• Nefroket (bioactive supplement: dissolves stones, removes salts, fights germs);
• Renal Advanced (powdered remedy to normalize metabolism and restore kidney function);
• HIMALAYA Cystone (Indian medicine in pill form to treat cystitis as a complication of ICD);
• Dexamethasone (helps with dysuria, inflammation);
• Nitroxoline (antimicrobial drug);
• Actovegin (in the serious stage, to speed up metabolism).

The cat's diet for IBC

The cat's diet for urolithiasis depends on the type of stones found.

If oxalates are present, it is important to monitor oxalic acid levels. It is contraindicated in this case:

There are also prepared foods for cats with IBC provoked by oxalate stones:

If struvite is present, the alkaline reaction must be replaced by an acidic reaction. Therefore, the cat should not consume:

In addition, there are also ready-made foods for cats with struvite IBC:

Important! Ready-made food, even with the appropriate labeling, can be given to the pet only in consultation with the veterinarian. This is especially true for kittens. In addition, even if the acute stage of IBC has passed, the pet must be on a lifelong diet.

Treatment of IBC in cats: Drug therapy. Diet. Surgical intervention

Treatment of urolithiasis in cats begins after a complete examination. Therapy is chosen individually, depending on the severity of IBC, sex and age of the pet, as well as the presence of concomitant pathologies. In the first few days, as soon as the outflow of urine is normalized, the cat is given IVs to normalize the water-salt metabolism and eliminate intoxication. If the animal is diagnosed with a bacterial lesion and elevated temperature readings, it will be treated with anti-inflammatory and antibiotics.

If the first signs of illness occur, go to the clinic immediately, as the cat may die within three days. Emergency treatment for urolithiasis is to relieve spasm and pain by means of an injection of "No-shpa". Before administering the drug, the veterinarian empties the cat's bladder, if necessary. Depending on the clinical picture, the specialist makes a treatment regimen. Usually the treatment lasts up to two weeks, and if it is necessary to carry out surgical intervention, it takes a month.

The operation is performed only if it is not possible to crush the stones with a laser or to perform catheterization. However, most often a catheter is sufficient. The catheter is inserted into the urinary catheter to force the urine out. If necessary, it is placed for several days. The procedure is performed when the urethra is swollen and there are stones. After the catheter is removed, the animal is given an intravenous infusion and an anti-inflammatory.

Urolithiasis in cats is treated for quite a long time. Therapy consists of the introduction of antispasmodics, painkillers, immunostimulants and antibiotics. In addition, drugs are prescribed to support the work of the heart, gastrointestinal tract and blood vessels.

Prophylactic measures

With the help of timely prevention, it is possible to prevent urolithiasis in a cat predisposed to this pathology. To prevent the pet from getting sick, it is necessary to adhere to the following rules:

• Firstly, the cat's owner should monitor the cat's weight and prevent obesity;
• Secondly, the owner should make sure that the cat always has fresh water and drinks enough of it;
• Thirdly, a neutered cat or spayed cat should have a special diet chosen by a veterinarian.

In addition, the owner should monitor the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of the animal. Also, the owner needs to maintain the optimal temperature in the room where the animal is.

Urinary stone disease in cats is prevented by a specially formulated diet or by feeding the animal prophylactic foods.

The following brands of cat foods for the prevention of urolithiasis are produced:

Only premium or super class cat food should be fed. In doing so, the main thing is to avoid low-quality food belonging to the economy class.

Urolithiasis is an extremely dangerous disease for the animal, which, if not managed in time, can cause serious consequences. At the initial stage, only a veterinarian can detect the pathology. Therefore, in order not to lose your pet at the slightest suspicion of IBC, you should contact the veterinary clinic for diagnosis and selection of the correct therapeutic technique, which will eliminate the disease and avoid complications.