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Feline
Health Focus
F
eline lower urinary
tract disease (FLUTD)
is a syndrome which
is regularly presented
to vets. It can be very
frustrating for vets
and owners alike, as
repeated consultations
often involve lengthy
investigations.
The outcome in the majority
of cases will be idiopathic,
meaning 'of unknown cause'.
Pedigree cats and male
neutered cats are more
susceptible. Any age cat can
be affected, but there seems
to be more of a tendency in
overweight or indoor cats, and
those in multi cat households.
Clinical signs may include
difficulty urinating, increased
frequency of urination and
blood in the urine. The bladder
has a protective barrier, and it
is thought that some cats have
less of this, which means that
neurotoxins are more likely
to pass through, causing
inflammation. Stress plays
a very big part in this.
Urolithiasis, or stone formation,
is another cause of FLUTD.
Stones can form anywhere
along the urinary tract,
although most commonly in
the bladder. Better diets have
reduced the likelihood of
certain stones forming, but
a type that requires surgical
removal, called oxalate, is still
prevalent. Plugs of mineral
can also form in the urethra,
especially in neutered male
cats, and these cases are often
life threatening, with the cat
being completely unable to
urinate, resulting in the rapid
onset of kidney failure, then
possible death.
The vet will need to make a
swift diagnosis and this will
often require x- rays or an
ultrasound scan, as well as
blood sampling to check for
kidney damage, and urine
sampling to look for evidence
of stones or crystal fragments.
Treatment depends on the
cause of the FLUTD. If there
are uroliths present, the correct
diet will need to be instigated
and surgical removal of the
stones may even be required.
By
Charlotte Matthews
BVet Med MRCVS
Belmont Vets
Lower
Urinary
Tract Disease
The majority of cases are
idiopathic, and so attempts to
identify an underlying cause is
paramount. If stress is a factor,
then finding the cause is
essential. There are many
nutraceuticals that can combat
stress, but simple measures like
ensuring that every cat in the
household has its own litter
tray, as well as minimising the
number of cats in the household
can have a huge effect.
Analgesics are essential, and
many cats require these long
term. Anti-spasmodic drugs are
used where necessary.
FLUTD needs to be managed
correctly right from the start,
and where possible, removing
possible trigger factors would
be the aim.