Urinary tract disease is a common disease in cats over the age of 1, although it is not dangerous, but it greatly affects the health of cats. So what is urinary tract disease in cats? What causes the disease and how is it treated?
What is urinary tract disease in cats?
Feline urinary tract disease is the descriptive name for a variety of conditions that affect a cat's bladder and urethra. This disease makes it difficult and painful for cats to urinate, increased frequency of urination, and even blood in the urine. Cats with urinary incontinence often show signs of increased self-licking, excessive self-licking and sudden urge to urinate outside of the litter box. They usually defecate on cool, smooth surfaces like tile floors – stairs or a bathtub.
Causes of urinary tract disease in cats
Urinary tract disease can occur at any age, but is most common in cats over the age of 1, cats that are overweight, inactive, cats that use an indoor litter box, and eat a dry diet. Additionally, a cat's emotional or environmental stressors, such as being around many cats and sudden changes in their daily routine, can also increase the risk of urinary tract disease. in cats.
Signs of urinary disease in cats
Cats with urinary tract disease often show the following signs:
- Urinating more or taking a longer time to urinate
- Crying and grimacing when urinating
- Lick a lot in the genital area.
- Urinating in the wrong place.
- There is blood in the urine, or the urine is pink or darker in color.
- Anorexia, reduced eating
Urinary tract diseases in cats
1, Cats have kidney stones, urinary stones
The presence of foreign bodies in the bladder or urethra causes an internal blockage and mineral deposits in the cat's urinary tract. The most commonly seen foreign bodies are calcium oxalate and struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate).
As a treatment, you can feed your cat a special diet designed to dissolve struvite stones, calcium oxalate stones. More dangerous needs to be removed surgically. If the diet fails, or the stone re-forms, then surgery also becomes necessary for struvite stones.
In female cats, your veterinarian can also help resolve kidney stones in cats by flushing the bladder with sterile liquid or removing small stones directly from the bladder using a cystoscope while the cat is anesthetized.
Inexpensive granular food is exactly the biggest source of risk for Urinary Stones in cats. In particular, an excess of certain minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium commonly found in cheap cat food can cause struvite crystals to form in the urine, starting the process of urinary stones.
Some cats drink little water – cats drink too little water – cats refuse to drink … also cause the process of urinary stones to start, combined with a high-risk granular food source.
3. Cats have urinary tract infections
Certain bacteria, fungi, parasites or even viruses are also responsible for urinary tract infections. If an infection is found, your veterinarian will first look for possible causes that put your cat at risk of infection. For example, urolithiasis and diabetes can increase the risk of urinary tract infections. Or simply because the cat's toilet and living area are too dirty..
In kittens, there is only 5% chance of a bladder infection causing a UTI because the acidity and concentration in their urine also work to prevent infection.
Kidney disease and diabetes are more common in older cats (from 10 years of age). This disease changes the acidity and concentration of the urine, so they have a higher risk of infection. In fact, urinary tract infections are the most common cause of urinary disease in older cats, followed by urinary stones.
Currently, the treatment of UTIs in cats often depends on the severity of the infection and the organism causing the infection, possibly with antibiotics.
4. Urinary tract obstruction in cats
A cat's urethra can be partially or completely blocked and this is a very dangerous disease that can affect their lives. Cats with this disease will have difficulty urinating and have little or no urine, in addition to being constipated.
Male cats have a higher risk of urethral obstruction than female cats because their urethra is longer and narrower. If your cat has a blocked urethra you need to take her to the vet right away, because if the urethra is completely blocked, the kidneys can no longer remove toxins from the blood or maintain fluid and electrolyte balance. solution in the body. This will cause an imbalance leading to heart failure – often in less than 24-48 hours causing the cat to die.
5. Idiopathic cystitis in cats
Cystitis is most common in cats under 10 years of age with urinary tract disease. The disease has no formal diagnostic test, so it is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning the diagnosis is considered after all possible causes of similar symptoms have been ruled out.
Certain factors, such as stress and dietary changes, can increase the risk of cystitis. Up to 40-50% cats will develop another episode of cystitis within a year, but veterinarians cannot predict the likelihood of a recurrence. This is a chronic disease that causes a lot of discomfort for cats and their owners. Treatment is simply behavioral therapy, which involves only eating canned foods (pate) and reducing stress.
6. Other less common diseases
- Diabetes.
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Urinary Tumor.
- Birth defects.
- Urinary Tract or Spinal Cord Injury.
How to prevent and prevent urinary diseases in cats
Urinary tract diseases in cats are often conditions that are likely to recur, so you need to have effective preventive measures at home. Here are some tips from a veterinarian:
- Give your cat frequent small meals.
- Consult your veterinarian about the best diet for cats with urinary incontinence. Should choose 100% canned food.
- Need to provide clean water and change the water regularly for cats
- Change cat litter and clean it regularly. Only use litter or litter trays that your cat likes.
- Leave the litter box/toilet in a quiet, safe, and unobtrusive area of the house.
- Minimize major changes in your cat's routine
- Know how to reduce stress after figuring out the reasons why cats are stressed
Here is some information about urinary tract disease in cats that we want to share with you. Wish you have healthy and lovely cats. If you need to know more about other ways to take care of cats, contact http://vanchuyenchomeo.com/ for advice.
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