Have you encountered an unknown abbreviation ICD as a diagnosis for your pet? This article will tell you what urolithiasis is in a cat, how to treat it, what to feed a sick pet, and how to prevent the disease from occurring. In addition, you will learn about the symptoms of this disease, the regimens used by veterinarians, and how the owner himself can help the pet.

Urolithiasis as a disease

Urolithiasis (UCD) is a chronic disease that can become fatal if left untreated. It lies in the fact that urinary stones form in the cat’s bladder or kidneys or, in best case scenario, sand. It can occur in any animal, including humans, but is most common in felines.

Causes of urolithiasis in cats:

• climate (too hot and dry);
• lack of water in the body - cats by nature do not have a properly developed sense of thirst;
• as a result, increased urine pH;
• urinary retention for any reason, including just a dirty litter tray; cats are very clean animals;
• past infectious diseases;
• obesity;
• genetic predisposition;
• excess protein in the diet;
• excess minerals in the diet;
• vitamin deficiency, especially vitamin A;
• iodine deficiency.

In addition, you need to know that in males, urolithiasis occurs 5 times more often than in females, due to the difference in the diameter of the urethra: in cats it is 3 times narrower. Urolithiasis occurs in 14% of cats! Monitor your pet’s diet, take care of it, inquire about the health of its relatives before purchasing, and minimize the risk of developing urolithiasis.

13 symptoms that may indicate the presence of urolithiasis in cats

Diseases are “getting younger,” and ICD was no exception. There have been cases when it was diagnosed in two- to three-year-old animals. Because of this, the owner of even a young animal must closely monitor whether urolithiasis manifests itself in cats, the symptoms of which are:

1. Refusal to eat can accompany not only this disease, like the next point;
2. Tense stomach;
3. Frequent licking of the cat under the tail;
4. Weight loss;
5. Urinary incontinence;
6. Changes in behavior towards humans, the animal becomes more affectionate;
7. Manifestation of painful urination (dysuria) - for example, meowing;
8. Increased urination (pollakiuria);
9. Blood in the urine (hematuria);
10. Urethral obstruction;
11. Loss of consciousness;
12. Cramps.

If any symptom is noticed, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Without treatment, the animal will die within a few days.

Treatment of urolithiasis in cats

After conducting a series of studies, which necessarily include an ultrasound and two types of x-rays, including contrast, the veterinarian makes a diagnosis and determines the necessary technique. Treatment of urolithiasis in cats can be conservative or surgical.

Conservative treatment of urolithiasis in cats

It is used if sand or small stones can come out without human intervention and do not cause unbearable suffering to the animal. The veterinarian catheterizes the bladder, the urethra dilates, and sand or small urinary stones can pass out in the urine on their own. Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and painkillers are prescribed that can destroy the remaining stones; the animal is placed under IV drips and prescribed a diet. If a relapse of urolithiasis occurs in a cat, surgery is performed.

Urethrostomy

It consists in the fact that veterinarians make a hole in the urethra above the penis, which allows the cat to urinate without using the latter. Since urine does not pass through the S-shaped part of the urethra, there is no problem. Typically, the penis is removed.

Surgical treatment of urolithiasis in cats

It involves removing all the stones and taking them for examination. It is needed in order to determine what caused the problem. If there is only sand in the bladder, your veterinarian may try to flush it out with antibacterial solutions through catheterization. Both of these procedures are performed under general anesthesia and pose a risk to the animal's life.

Cat food for urolithiasis

The owner can reduce the risk of relapse by choosing the right food for cats with urolithiasis from a therapeutic line that is suitable specifically for his pet. Each of them serves its own purpose, so it is worth checking with your veterinarian whether you need to use one or another food. It may also help.

Disease prevention

It is much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it. So, if you feed your pet properly, take care of its health, and treat infectious diseases in a timely manner, you will minimize the risk of urolithiasis.

Sand, and in advanced cases, stones in the kidneys or bladder of an animal are called urolithiasis. Cats that have not only undergone surgery to remove the testicles, but also those that have not been sterilized are several times more susceptible to urolithiasis than cats. It is the ICD that is the most common cause fatal outcome in pets. Knowing the reasons why an animal develops this disease and the main symptoms, the cat owner will be able to quickly guess that there is a problem and contact a veterinarian. The sooner the disease is diagnosed, the easier and more successful the animal’s treatment will be.

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Causes of urolithiasis in cats

Urolithiasis, or otherwise urolithiasis, can occur in cats of different ages, regardless of gender. . However, scientists have found that cats are less susceptible to this disease. This is due to the different structure of the urinary tract. In cats they are narrower and more curved.

Many believe that castration is the cause of the disease. This is far from true. Castration can only complicate the course of the disease. Removal of testicles in too early age(up to six months) contributes to the fact that the urethra remains underdeveloped. As a result, KSD will be very difficult to tolerate in castrated cats. Grains of sand will quickly clog the narrow lumen of the urethra and the pet simply will not be able to go to the toilet normally. With such a pathology, there is a high probability of death.

One of the common causes of urolithiasis is considered to be improper metabolism.

Often, pet owners do not adhere to the nutritional sequence for their pet. Hand-feed your pet fatty or salty foods, which are strictly contraindicated for animals. Such food leads to obesity, and, as a result, urolithiasis occurs. This is especially true for castrati, who already move little.

Factors contributing to the occurrence and development of the disease:

• The presence of too much fresh fish in the diet.
• Feeding the animal with cheap economy class food.
• Including regular food in the animal’s diet along with dry food.
• Insufficient supply of fresh water or poor quality water to the pet.
• Overweight or insufficiently active lifestyle.
• Congenital pathologies of the urinary tract.
• Genetic factors, heredity.
• Presence of infection in the genitourinary system.

Another important factor is the climatic conditions where the cat lives. If the room temperature is too high, urine becomes concentrated and makes it difficult to filter through the kidneys. Most often, urolithiasis occurs in animals aged from one to seven years.





The main symptoms by which you can determine the presence of urolithiasis in a cat

The early stage of the disease is practically invisible to the prying eye. It is difficult to determine that a pet has urolithiasis and not something else. Many animals live with the disease for a long time until it worsens and the owner notices the cat’s poor health. But there are some signs, if you notice them, you need to consult a veterinarian. You should not try to help the animal at home, this can lead to the death of the cat.



Symptoms of urolithiasis:

1. 1. The cat often lies down and stops playing and moving.
2. 2. The pet lost his appetite and began to refuse food and drink.
3. 3. The animal fusses around the tray, then comes and then leaves. Often sits down, but does not urinate. He may scream and seem to be pushing.
4. 4. After using the toilet, he licks his genitals too hard.

As the condition worsens, the following signs appear:

1. 1. The cat may sit in the litter box for a long time, trying to go to the toilet.
2. 2. Urination becomes more frequent.
3. 3. Screams when peeing.
4. 4. Blood clots may be observed in the tray, and the urine itself is pink.
5. 5. The cat stops going to the litter box and urinates in other places.
6. 6. The pet becomes restless, hides in corners, tries to hide out of sight.
7. 7. Temperature may rise. Convulsions begin. The animal often vomits and trembles.

If the last 7 symptoms are present, the animal’s life is at risk. Salt deposits have already begun to move along the urethral ducts. The ducts become clogged and urine begins to accumulate in the bladder. This leads to intoxication.



If urine does not leave the body for more than a day, this is fatal for the animal. You should contact your veterinarian immediately.



Treatment of urolithiasis in cats

The animal will, of course, be treated at home, but under the mandatory supervision of a veterinarian.

Under no circumstances should you give your cat diuretics, this will only worsen the situation. To alleviate the animal’s condition and remove spasms, you can give a no-shpa tablet. If there is blood in the urine, Travmatin pain-relieving injections are acceptable. This homeopathic remedy will relieve pain and promote healing of wounds caused by the movement of stones along the duct. This is where pre-medical care should end. The decision on further treatment should be made by a specialist based on research results.





Diet therapy

When treating ICD, proper nutrition for cats is of great importance. Animals that eat natural and not dry food must follow a diet. Cat owners must adhere to certain feeding rules:

• Follow the regimen recommended by your veterinarian. After the cat has eaten, the food should be removed and not given until next feeding. Exceeding a certain portion of food increases the mineral content in the urine.
• If struvite stones (soluble stones) are found in an animal’s kidney, dairy products and eggs should be excluded from the diet. The urine will need to be acidified. If the cat does not refuse to drink the acidified liquid, you can drip lemon or blackcurrant juice into a container of water.
• If oxalate stones (insoluble stones, their formation occurs due to an excess of calcium in the urine) are found in the animal’s body, acidic vegetables and fruits, liver and foods rich in calcium are excluded from the diet. Boiled meat, fish and dairy products are given with caution.
• Fresh information should always be freely available pure water. It is necessary to soak the food if the cat does not drink.



The doctor should also prescribe medications that help remove stones and sand from the kidneys.

Medicinal feed

Often, specialists insist that the animal eat special factory feed during treatment. But pets do not always agree to this. Owners can try combining natural food and medicinal food.

It is important not to combine natural and medicinal food.

Therapeutic food is selected depending on the type of stones found in the animal’s kidneys:

• Foods such as Hills Prescription Diet Feline S/D and Eukanuba Struvite Urinary Formula help dissolve struvite and remove it from the body.
• If oxalates are detected in the kidneys, pets are fed Hills Prescription Diet Feline X/D or Eukanuba Oxalate Urinary Formula.
• If both types of stones are found in the body, then give Royal Canin Urinary S/O Feline.



Drug therapy

If urolithiasis is detected on time, surgical intervention is not required. But just following a diet and eating regimen cannot solve all problems. The cat needs to be treated with medication. For urolithiasis, the following drugs are usually prescribed:

1. 1. Antibiotics. The doctor prescribes them if there is a concomitant infection in the body. Cats are given cephalosporin antibiotics such as Cefarin or Kefzol. The cat should drink them for 5-7 days, one tablet twice a day.
2. 2. Uroseptics. These drugs act directly on the genitourinary system. Cats can take medications such as 5-NOK or Furagin, 1/4 of a tablet 2 times a day.
3. 3. If the cat is severely dehydrated, Regidron is prescribed. Dilute as recommended by a doctor and pour into the cat in small portions.
4. 4. The homeopathic remedy Kantaren is prescribed in the presence of severe spasms and painful sensations at the cat. Also acts as a diuretic. The course of treatment usually lasts from 7 to 10 days.



You cannot treat a cat without the knowledge of a specialist. Not all human drugs are suitable for animals.

Catheterization

A catheter is placed if the cat is unable to urinate on its own. A special tube is inserted into the urinary canal through which urine exits the bladder. If the bladder stones are excessively large or the urethra is too swollen, the tube may be sutured for several days.



After the procedure, it will be necessary to cure the intoxication that occurred in the cat due to the accumulation of urine. The specialist will prescribe the animal a drip with Detox.

Traditional medicine

Folk remedies can only be used at the initial stage of the disease. Before starting treatment, you should consult a veterinarian.

Folk remedies for cats usually include herbal decoctions that are given to pets to drink. They can be made from plantain, lingonberry, heather, and bearberry. This is also a good prevention of urolithiasis.



Surgical intervention

Cats need surgery in the following cases:

• Stones in the kidneys or bladder are very large and cannot pass on their own.
• Calcium oxalates are found in the body. Since they do not dissolve, they will have to be removed surgically.
• The urinary ducts are blocked.

There are two types of stone removal operations:

• Urethrotomy. A small hole is made in the urinary duct through which the stones are removed. Until the cat's health improves, the hole is not allowed to close.
• Cystotomy. This operation is used only in the most severe cases, when there is little chance of cure. The essence of it is that the cat’s bladder is opened and stones are taken out. Such complex intervention is undertaken only when the stones are very large and cannot be removed in any other way.



Prevention of ICD

Urolithiasis has frequent relapses. Therefore, both recovered and never sick animals require prophylaxis aimed at controlling the acidity of urine:

• From the age of one year, take a urine test every six months.
• Follow dietary dosages.
• Monitor the freshness of the water and change it regularly at least once a day.
• Monitor your urination frequency. The norm is twice a day.
• Play more with the cat so that the metabolism does not slow down.
• Buy special food for the prevention of urolithiasis.

It is important to remember that the disease is easiest to treat in its early stages. It is necessary to observe your pet and notice signs of illness. And, of course, pay attention to preventive measures.

Urolithiasis in cats (UCD) is a urological pathology characterized by the formation of stones (calculi) in various parts of the animal’s urinary system. Stones often form in the bladder and urethral canal, less often in the kidneys and ureters. The pathology is common, diagnosed in 25% of cats.

Causes of urolithiasis in cats

Urolithiasis is a severe pathology that develops for many reasons. Its formation is influenced by both internal and external reasons. The growth of the disease is associated with changes in the living conditions of animals. Pets are not given dry food best quality, limit the space, the predator moves little.

External factors

External causes of urolithiasis:

• Nutrition. The predominance of foods high in magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and sodium in the diet increases the risk of developing the disease. Excess protein foods and water with a high content of calcium salts contribute to an increase in the acidity of urine.
• Climatic conditions. A hot climate affects the formation and excretion of urine, diuresis decreases, and urine becomes more concentrated. Improperly organized drinking regime increases the risk of developing urolithiasis.
• Deficiency of retinol and B vitamins.
• Weak animal activity. Breeders overindulge their ward, the predator becomes lazy. Stagnations form uric acid in the blood entering the urethral system.

New breeds imported from other countries are more susceptible to the disease.

Internal factors

In cats, 45% of uroliths consist entirely or partially of struvite (a salt of phosphorus and magnesium). Most stones form in sterile urine.

Endogenous causes of ICD:

• Infectious diseases. The formation of struvite uroliths (phosphates) is most often associated with urinary tract infections caused by bacteria Stafhylococcus, Proteus. When pathogens enter the body, urease increases the concentration of ammonium in the urine, which leads to an increase in urine pH.
• Idiopathic hypercalcemia– increased calcium levels in the blood. When plasma is filtered in the glomerular apparatus of the kidneys, calcium accumulates in the form of deposits.
• Obesity. At overweight the body's metabolic processes are disrupted, lipid in particular. Your furry friend develops the risk of developing other pathologies that impair diuresis.
• Violation of oxalic acid metabolism. The substance combines with calcium cations to form oxalates. With excessive acid excretion, the poorly soluble salt does not have time to be excreted and accumulates in the form of stones.
• Benign and malignant tumors.
• Developmental defects or acquired anatomical defects.

Pets with a genetic predisposition are at risk.

At what age do male cats get urolithiasis?

When diagnosing ICD, one of the main tasks is determining the type of stones. The choice of therapy largely depends on the composition of the uroliths. Veterinarians have compiled statistics regarding the presence of types of stones at different ages of predators.

Struvite is detected in animals from 2 to 7 years of age, and in females more often than in males. Siamese breeds are more at risk. Less commonly - Persian, Russian blue, Abyssinian.

Oxalate uroliths are more often found in animals aged 8-12 years. Struvite stones are usually detected in Persian, Himalayan, and Burmese breeds. Recurrence of oxalate uroliths is a potential problem.

Signs of urolithiasis in cats

Symptoms of the pathology depend on the location of the stones:

• Disruption of the urination process. The presence of sand in the lower urinary tract obstructs the flow of urine.
• Vomiting is caused by ureteral obstruction.
• Pain in the kidneys - the animal is unable to touch the abdomen; it occurs when the kidney capsule is blocked.
• Pain when urinating – the pet often goes to the litter box, meows during the deurination process. Such manifestations are typical for urethral stones.
• The appearance of blood stains in the tray is associated with damage to the ureteral mucosa by microscopic crystals (sand).
• A swollen, dense abdomen is observed with urocystolitis.

Clinical signs of nephroliths may not appear until 2/3 or more of the renal parenchyma is lost.

Treatment of urolithiasis in cats

Urolithiasis is a multifactorial systemic disease. Treatment involves a complex set of therapeutic measures. They are determined by a veterinarian based on diagnostic results. The method is selected individually depending on the degree of damage, age, and general condition of the pet.

Animals need both conservative and surgical methods of therapy. The success of treatment is largely determined by the timeliness of measures taken.

Medications

The conservative method is used either independently or in combination with the surgical one.

Indications for non-surgical therapy:

• the presence of small uroliths and sand that can come out spontaneously;
• stones do not affect the passage of urine;
• chronic infections;
• rehabilitation after surgery;
• prevention of relapses.

The conservative method includes a set of therapies, each of which involves the use of certain groups of drugs.

Symptomatic (painkiller):

• Spasmalin is administered intramuscularly every 8-12 hours for 3-5 days. dosage 1 ml/10 kg weight;
• Atropine sulfate is used subcutaneously, intravenously or intramuscularly once a day in an amount of 0.02-0.05 mg/kg;
• Metamizole sodium is administered intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously every 24 hours at a dosage of 0.3 mg/kg.

Diuretics:

• Urolex is administered orally one hour before meals at a dosage of 3 drops per kg of body weight;
• Furosemide – orally 5 mg/kg.

Urodynamic correctors: Urorek, Terazonin, Phoenixbenzamine. The treatment regimen is determined by the doctor.

Agents that prevent the formation and promote the dissolution of uroliths:

• Urolin Serco is mixed 3-5 drops into the food for a week. The course is repeated after 3 months.
• Rowatinex 1 capsule daily.

Antibiotics are prescribed depending on the pathogen and sensitivity to the drug.

Folk remedies

Alternative treatments also provide good results. But their use must be agreed with a doctor.

Recipes:

• Infusion of bird knotweed herb. 100 g of dry herb is poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and left until it cools completely. Give 2 tbsp. spoons before feeding three times a day.
• To restore the acidity of urine, give 1 tsp. carrot juice half an hour before meals.
• To restore diuresis, parsley juice is added to a bowl of water.

If side symptoms occur folk remedies cancelled.

What to feed a cat with urolithiasis at home

Organizing proper nutrition is of paramount importance. When selecting a diet, the type of stones is taken into account.

Basic principles of the diet:

• Feed the pet 4-5 times at the same time interval.
• Water is provided filtered or boiled.
• Limit consumption of foods high in calcium (milk, egg whites, salmon).
• If oxalates are detected, by-products (liver, kidneys) are excluded from the diet.
• For struvite, boiled beef, rice, and carrots are recommended.
• If the animal is fed natural food, the products are subjected to heat treatment.
• Vitamin supplements should contain a minimum of calcium.

Surgical treatment of urolithiasis in cats

Surgery is used when conservative therapy is ineffective. indications for surgery:

• The presence of uroliths, the size of which exceeds the diameter of the urethra.
• Stones that are unable to pass on their own.
• ICD is complicated by hematuria.
• Related infection accompanied by high temperature.

In veterinary surgical urology, several types of lithotripsy (stone crushing) are used. The choice of method depends on the location and size of the stones.

Is it possible to castrate a cat with urolithiasis?

Urolithiasis is not a contraindication to sterilization. The procedure is performed in the absence of complications during the period of remission. Before castration, they undergo a series of tests. Based on their results, the veterinarian can perform the operation.

Is urolithiasis dangerous for cats?

KSD is often complicated by urinary tract infections. When the bladder is constantly full, its innervation is disrupted, and subsequently dysfunction. Accumulated urine has a toxic effect on internal organs.

Stones in the kidney parenchyma cause acute pyelonephritis. The disease quickly becomes chronic, followed by nephrosclerosis.

Struvite-type urolithiasis is complicated by metabolic acidosis.

Prevention of urolithiasis in cats

The basis of prevention is the organization of proper nutrition. The pet's diet must be balanced. Avoid monotony and overfeeding. Feed is selected carefully, focusing on the health status of the predator.

They monitor the drinking regime and control deurination. Regularly scheduled medical examinations are carried out. To prevent relapses, 2-4 ml of CotErvin are administered daily for a week.

Conclusion

Urolithiasis is a dangerous urological disease that causes severe complications. At the first signs, your pet should be examined as soon as possible. Timely contact with a veterinarian, adequate therapy and preventive measures will help maintain the health of your furry friend.

Urolithiasis in cats is a common pathology. Many pets suffer from this disease of different ages. The problem is quite serious, accompanied by the formation of sand, and in later stages - stones, in the kidneys and urinary system. In most cases, the disease affects cats.

Timely recognition and contact with a veterinarian can prevent possible complications and consequences.

Due to certain reasons, crystals begin to form in the bladder. Gradually they increase in size and begin to occupy space in the cavity, reducing the capacity of the bladder.

These formations have sharp ends that continuously irritate the cavity. During urination, the crystals are partially excreted in the urine and cause injury to the excretory canal. In such cases, the cat appears to have blood in its urine.

Cats have an S-shaped urethra. Over time, sediment accumulates in it, which provokes complete blockage. In females, such a pathology is not recorded, since their duct is straight and wider, which explains the fact that the crystals are not retained in it.

When an animal's urinary tract is blocked, it cannot empty itself, but urine is constantly produced. Intoxication occurs in the body; due to stretching, the blood vessels of the bladder rupture, and drops of blood appear in the urine.

If medical attention is delayed, the cat may die.

Features of the course of the disease in castrated cats

After removal of the testes, the cat's hormonal levels change. The cat becomes less mobile, and the animal develops an addiction to food. A sedentary lifestyle and obesity contribute to the development of
of this disease. Neutered cats should be fed low-calorie food in small portions.

Male animals should be castrated at the age of 8 months, since a procedure performed at an early age is fraught with the formation of a pathological condition when the urethra stops developing and remains too narrow.

Causes

The main cause of urolithiasis is a lack of fluid in the animal's body. There is an opinion that the manifestation of the disease is facilitated by feeding pets with dry food and castration (in cats). This partly has an impact on provoking the disease, but many pets that are fed natural products are also prone to illness. There are certain factors under the influence of which urolithiasis develops in both cats and female cats.

These include:

1. Metabolic disorders and improper organization of diet;
2. Allergies;
3. Hypothermia or overheating;
4. Pet's sedentary lifestyle;
5. Chronic kidney disease;
6. Pathologies associated with the functioning of the genital organs;
7. Genetic predisposition.

The cause of the disease can also be low-quality economy-class food, as well as food from the owner’s table, especially fatty, salty, smoked dishes.

According to experts, based on statistics, ICD is most often registered in long-haired breeds and in some
short-haired species.

KSD in cats and kittens is often diagnosed between the ages of one and 6 years. In male animals, the specific anatomical structure of the urinary tract organs makes them more susceptible to the disease. An exacerbation of pathology is observed in autumn and spring. The manifestation of the disease is also facilitated by:

• Climatic and geochemical circumstances. Heat air affects the frequency of urges. In hot weather primary urine is formed rarely and is excreted in concentrated form. The general condition of the animal's body is affected by the composition of water and soil. Exceeding the normal level of lime salts provokes a decrease in the acidity of urine - stones are formed from accumulated crystals.
• Diet specifics. The amount of protein consumed affects the concentration of urea. Excessive protein in the diet, along with purine metabolism, leads to the development of KSD. The solution to the problem is to reduce the level of proteins in food.
• A - vitaminosis. Retinol deficiency becomes a stimulus for the development of urolithiasis. The problem can be caused by the gastrointestinal tract, when there is a process of low absorption and the inability of the liver to process beta-carotene into retinol.

A number of reasons include the following factors:

1. Hormonal imbalances;
2. Specifics of the anatomical structure;
3. Pathologies of the digestive system;
4. Infectious diseases.

The disease is accompanied by the formation of three types of stones in the bladder:

• Struvite. These are phosphate stones found in most cases of ICD.
• Oxalates. Characteristic of older animals.
• Cystine and ammonium urate. They are very rare.

Symptoms

A hunched and tense posture is characteristic of a sick animal:

The primary symptoms of ICD are milder, the pet exhibits certain behavior:

• Frequent licking under the tail;
• Frequent and prolonged urination;
• Traces of blood in the urine;
• Difficulty going to the toilet;
• Urine flowing in a thin stream;
• In order to defecate, the cat looks for softer places; it can defecate on upholstered furniture or on carpets.

In severe cases of the disease, the following symptoms are recorded:

• Frequent and painful urge to urinate;
• Urinary incontinence, blood after bowel movement;
• Apathetic state of the cat, weight loss.

Danger signs are:

• The cat does not urinate at all;
• The animal loses consciousness;
• Vomiting and convulsions are observed.

Diagnostics

If you observe the symptoms described above, you should urgently contact a veterinarian. Timely treatment is a guarantee of a quick and complete cure for your beloved pet.

For accurate diagnosis use:

1. X-ray;
2. Urine sediment analysis;
3. Determination of types of salt deposits.

Additional research methods are:

1. X-ray diffraction;
2. Polarized light microscopy.

Treatment with drugs

For this pathology, conservative therapy is prescribed. The course of treatment is aimed at relieving the exacerbation and improving the general condition of the animal. When choosing medicines and the course of treatment, the condition of the pet, the stage of the disease, the sex and age of the cat must be taken into account.

All procedures are used to restore urine flow and eliminate inflammation. For this purpose, antispasmodics and sedatives are prescribed, for example:

1. Baralgin;
2. Neotropin.

Antibiotics and homeopathic remedies are also used:

1. Cantharis;
2. Magnesium.

After the attack stops, the cat begins to feel better. To speed up the healing process, a lumbar novocaine blockade is used.

The pet should be kept warm, provided with plenty of fluids and the right food.

Operation

There are two surgical options.

In the first option, a channel is surgically created to remove salt deposits, and the second is a serious abdominal operation.

In cats, the bladder is opened, cleaned, and a temporary catheter is installed. Then continue treatment by medication. After 15 days, the temporary catheter is removed.

With all types of treatment, it must be taken into account that intoxication is registered with urolithiasis.

If surgery is delayed, the following complications may occur:

1. Acute pyelonephritis;
2. Hematuria;
3. Hydronephrotic transformation;
4. Severe pain syndrome. Depending on certain circumstances, the doctor prescribes urethrotomy or cystoscopy.

Treatment at home

Organize treatment for urolithiasis traditional methods possible at an early stage of pathology.

Herbal decoctions and tinctures are often used.

This method can also be used for prevention purposes for both male and female cats. Depending on the course of the disease, the doctor may also recommend homeopathic remedies.

Treatment at home is permitted after the disease becomes chronic. Appointed special drugs, promoting the crushing and removal of formations from the kidneys.

Diet: how to feed your pet properly after treatment

The animal’s diet after the course of treatment is chosen taking into account the failure salt metabolism. A well-designed diet will help normalize metabolic processes and maintain homeostasis.

When feeding your cat natural food, you need to add vitamins A and B to the food. The food must be freshly prepared. Cats benefit from:

It is forbidden to feed the cat:

1. Pork;
2. Sausage and canned food.

Food should be low-fat and non-spicy.

If the owner has chosen dry food for feeding, then preference should be given to varieties specifically for animals with ICD. They contain the right amount of minerals.

You need to monitor your cat's drinking regime. If your pet drinks little, dry food should be pre-soaked.

It is prohibited to feed the animal with cheap food.

Prevention of urolithiasis in cats

After treatment, you need to adhere to existing rules to eliminate the possibility of relapse. The main requirements include:

We must remember to visit the veterinarian once every six months. During such visits, the doctor prescribes an ultrasound and a urine test.

An active lifestyle is also important in preventing the disease. The owner of the cat should regularly play with it, thereby provoking activity in the animal.

Proper care balanced diet, compliance with hygiene standards, regular examinations by a veterinarian will help prevent serious problems in your beloved pet, allow it to live long, be healthy and delight its owners.

Interesting video:

Urolithiasis in cats manifests itself in the formation of two types of stones: struvite and oxalate. The former are formed in an alkaline environment and have a solid structure. Alkalinization of urine is mainly due to excess phosphorus and magnesium in the cat's food.

The second type occurs if the pH of the urine is highly acidic, which is caused by an increased calcium content. Oxalates are characterized by the presence of sharp edges and a loose structure.

Why do cats get urolithiasis?

Among the causes of urolithiasis (another name for urolithiasis) in cats are:

• errors in the diet (predominance of any substances in food);
• lack of water or its excessive saturation with salts;
• the presence of chronic diseases, foci of inflammation, metabolic disorders in the animal’s body;
• congenital or acquired anatomical features;
• hereditary factor.

How does pathology manifest itself?

Finding out that a pet has urolithiasis at the beginning of its development will not work: he cannot complain of discomfort or problems with urination, so owners learn about the presence of a dangerous pathology when it has gone too far. You need to run to the clinic if the following symptoms of ICD appear:

• the cat goes to the toilet not in its usual place, but anywhere;
• little urine is excreted; grains of sand and blood may be visible in it;
• the urge to urinate, on the contrary, becomes frequent;
• pain and irritation of the urinary tract by sand cause the cat to lick the urethra.

Gradually, the pet’s body temperature rises (up to 40˚C), he refuses food, and moves little. When urine cannot pass through the channels, the cat becomes very anxious, meows, and takes a characteristic pose to facilitate the outflow.

It is especially important to see a veterinarian in time if the cat is in critical condition, which is characterized by the following symptoms of urolithiasis:

• the stomach thickens, its volume becomes noticeably larger;
• since urine can no longer pass out, it stagnates in the bladder, causing severe tissue intoxication;
• the cat hardly moves;
• foamy saliva is released from the mouth;
• the animal’s temperature drops, the pet is trembling;
• vomiting is possible.

In the absence of timely assistance, the animal dies.

Important: intoxication occurs within a day after urination stops!

Is it possible to diagnose urolithiasis in a cat?

ICD in a cat can be diagnosed at the initial stages of the disease if examinations are carried out regularly. Methods such as:

• urine tests (general and microscopic polarized);
• X-ray;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs.

During the diagnosis, the veterinarian will definitely ask the owner about the conditions under which the cat is kept, its physical characteristics, previous diseases and other nuances. It is important to tell when you noticed the first signs of the disease, how often they appear, and so on.

Treatment of urolithiasis in cats

When visiting a veterinarian with an attack of urolithiasis in cats, treatment of the disease must begin with restoring the patency of the urinary tract. A catheter is used to remove urinary stones or clear out accumulated sand. All manipulations are performed under general anesthesia. After the formations are removed, the lumen of the urethra is thoroughly washed with an antiseptic solution.

In difficult situations, doctors must first create an artificial excretory duct - this intervention is called urethrostomy. However, for very large deposits that greatly exceed the diameter of the urethra, abdominal surgery is performed, directly removing the stones.

Further treatment is aimed at normalizing the acid-base balance in the pet’s body and cleansing it of toxic products. At the same time, the inflammatory process is eliminated by prescribing antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. The total duration of therapy can be 14 days or more, depending on the complexity of the intervention, the condition of the animal and other circumstances.

Features of drug therapy

For the treatment of urolithiasis, a mustachioed patient may be prescribed different groups medications:

• painkillers (often Papaverine, Analgin);
• antibiotics (for example, Ceparin);
• medications that eliminate the inflammatory process (Palin, Furagin and others);
• antispasmodic drugs (Baralgin).

If necessary, maintenance therapy is indicated. It can be: vitamin complexes, drugs aimed at normalizing heart function, drugs to restore the digestive tract. All medications are prescribed only by a veterinarian in accordance with the age and gender of the cat.

What to do after treatment

Regardless of the complexity of the treatment (even if a cat’s urolithiasis was detected at an early stage), the pet’s future life should take place under constant preventive measures. The owner will be required to regularly examine the pet: submit urine for analysis and do ultrasound diagnostics of the urinary system.

In addition, the cat should be immediately switched to an appropriate diet that excludes components that provoke the development of the disease. If necessary, your mustachioed friend will need to be periodically given antibiotics and/or diuretics.

What to feed a cat with urolithiasis

Only when proper nutrition A cat diagnosed with ICD can live painlessly for several more years. Since some pets prefer exclusively dry food, while others prefer homemade food, approaches to diet will vary.

Dry food for a cat with ICD: which one to choose

Most dry food is completely unsuitable for feeding a cat with urolithiasis - they contain too many mineral salts. But there are also special mixtures that can be selected depending on the type of urinary stones, for example:

• Oxalates - Royal Cannin Urinary S/O LP34, Hill's PD Feline K/D;
• Struvite – Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR, Hill’s Prescription Diet C/D.

You only need to buy food that belongs to the premium and super-premium class.

How to feed your cat homemade food

Home feeding of a cat with urolithiasis also depends on the type of stones. Since the high acidity of urine is caused by calcium, you need to limit your pet to eggs and milk (and their derivatives). Vegetables rich in this element should also be excluded from the cat's diet. In addition, if you have oxalates, it is extremely undesirable to give your pet offal, since they contain a large number of oxalic acid.

Monotony in food should be avoided. The cat's menu should be based on meat dishes, while adding industrial food of any kind to the food is prohibited.

It is important to provide the animal Free access to the water. Since cats drink little, you need to try to teach your pet to regularly visit the watering hole. The water bowl should not be located next to the food bowl so that the cat does not turn his attention to the food.

Important facts about urolithiasis in cats

There are several important facts about ICD in cats that every owner should know.

• Cats living in hot environmental conditions are at risk because elevated temperature causes thickening of urine and an increase in its concentration.
• It has been noted that most often urolithiasis develops in animals in age period 2-6 years.
• Obese cats that are overweight are also more likely to develop urolithiasis than cats that are thin or normal weight bodies.
• A predisposition to the deposition of stones in the urinary system is observed in cats of long-haired breeds.
• Due to the narrow urethra, the disease affects cats more often than cats.
• The disease is more often noted in cats after castration, as well as in cats whose estrus is “in vain.”
• Experts have noticed that in cats suffering from urolithiasis, relapses are observed more often in the autumn (especially at the beginning) and from the 1st to 4th months of the year.
• The formation of struvite is more often observed in animals under 6 years of age. At the same time, the formation of oxalate stones is more typical for cats older than 6-7 years.

Urolithiasis in neutered cats: true or false

The development of urolithiasis in castrated cats is confirmed by statistical data. However, there is no scientific confirmation of the direct effect of castration on the formation of stones. It turns out that both facts contradict each other. In fact, castration has an indirect effect and leads to ICD indirectly.

A castrated animal experiences a sharp hormonal imbalance. Changes in the activity of the endocrine glands contribute to the appearance of slowness, some passivity in cats (although a young pet can be very active), and calmness in behavior. As a cat ages, it moves more slowly, reacts less to stimuli, including those of the opposite sex, and eats more. All together causes the appearance excess weight, sometimes obesity.

It is known that most animals with overweight, sooner or later develops urolithiasis. Moreover, the slow metabolism of castrates causes rare emptying of the bladder, which leads to congestion. And if the operation was performed too early, the urinary canal remains underdeveloped and narrow, which also provokes the formation of stones. We can conclude that castrated cats are indeed at risk.

How to prevent urolithiasis in cats

Prevention of urolithiasis in cats is as follows:

• monitor the diversity of your pet’s diet, and if the need arises, purchase specialized food;
• avoid the development of obesity by controlling the caloric content of food (for this you can contact a specialist);
• encourage regular water consumption by ensuring its availability and freshness;
• keep the animal active, preventing laziness from developing;
• do an ultrasound every six months, especially if there is a predisposition to urolithiasis;
• regularly submit your cat’s urine to the clinic to test for salts;
• pass full course treatment if sand or stones are found.

Such simple measures will ensure the health of your mustachioed pet for many years. If the cat has already been treated for urolithiasis, then they will help avoid relapse, because it is impossible to completely get rid of this pathology.