A Cat Owner’s Guide to FLUTD
Why do potty-trained felines all of a sudden frequently urinate outside a litter box? Why do they suddenly prefer to pee in other spots like tile floors, kitchen counters, or bathtubs? Don’t get mad at your cat; your cat might be having painful trips to the litter box.
If felines tend to lick themselves exceedingly and show indications of painful peeing, that could be signs that they might be suffering from feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). This affects the bladder and urethra rather than the kidneys of cats.
What is FLUTD?
Feline lower urinary tract disease is the general term for various problems in the bladder and urethra. Another term for FLUTD is feline urologic syndrome (FUS) and feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). This ailment results in tiny crystals and blood in the urine.
Causes
Numerous underlying clinical conditions can contribute to the development of FLUTD, such as urolithiasis (urinary stones), urinary infection, urethral obstruction, and urinary calculi (also called “sand” or “grit”).
FLUTD usually is seen in middle-aged, obese felines with little or no exercise. They usually have no outdoor access, use an indoor litter box, or eat a dry diet. Additional factors such as environmental tension, abrupt changes in everyday routine, and living with several cats in the house might likewise contribute to the development of FLUTD.
Symptoms
- Straining to pee (this can be confused with constipation)
- Urinating small amounts, often outside the litter box
- Crying while urinating
- Frequent licking of the genitalia
- Fetid, bloody, or cloudy pee
Call or schedule a consultation at any Lacey animal clinic promptly if any of these signs and symptoms appear.
Diagnosis.
It is rather challenging to diagnose FLUTD since it has numerous causes. Your veterinarian would physically examine your cat based upon the symptoms appearing. The vet may refer you to laboratory facilities like Olympia Pet Emergency for urinalysis, examining pH concentration and the existence of blood, crystals, or infection.
If the urinalysis can not rule out the disease, additional tests may be recommended, such as urine culture, blood work, and x-rays.
Treatment.
Your specialist veterinarian might suggest therapies according to the signs shown up, given that FLUTD has many causes. Check out their emergency page for inquiries.
If your cat has a blocked urethra, a catheter is passed into the bladder while your cat is sedated. This procedure gets rid of the blockage and flushes the bladder. A hospital stay for a few days is recommended until your pet cat can urinate normally, and when it appears, that blockage will unlikely recur.
Treatment of bladder stones may be a mix of surgical procedures and dietary therapy. Depending on the type of crystals in the urine. Struvite crystals can break down in acidic urine; for this reason, a diet regimen that raises acidity in urine will be prescribed. If the crystal is calcium oxalate, a non-acidified diet will be suggested considering that acidification might cause the reappearance of stones.
If neither urethral blockage nor bladder stones are present, analgesics and antibiotics may be used for pain relief and infection. Diet may also be used to dissolve struvite crystals in the urine.
What can you do to prevent the occurrence of FLUTD?
Consult your vet regarding an ideal diet regimen; a specialized diet regimen may be more appropriate than a commercial one. Small frequent feedings are excellent for FLUTD cases. Keep your pet cat hydrated with clean and fresh water at all times.
Provide enough litter boxes, ideally more than the number of cats in the household. Put these boxes in safe and quiet areas of your home. Always keep the litter boxes disinfected.
Finally, minimize all environmental stress factors to pet cats. Try to reduce significant changes in the usual routine. Regular follow-ups with the vet are necessary to keep track of any signs of recurring issues.
