Urinary stones in cats: symptoms, diagnosis and treatments


Urinary stones in cats, a disorder that often affects the furry pet. Let’s try to understand what it consists of, through which symptoms it manifests itself and what are the best treatments to cure the animal.

The cat, together with the dog, can suffer various ailments during his life. There are diseases that they also have in common with us humans but which have consequences and difficulties, obviously different in him. The feline, in particular, can suffer a lot in the lower urinary tract and it is an increasingly common problem. Let’s see, together, what exactly urinary stones in cats consist of and how to behave about them.


Urinary stones in cats: beware of the many symptoms

This is a common problem in the feline, which can have negative consequences on its lifestyle and general well-being, manifesting various symptoms. Urinary stones in cats are even more frequent than in dogs and humans. We read here in the article.

Any pet can face difficult times sooner or later. It can be a matter of malaise or a mild form of stress, or more serious ailments and diseases. Even the cat can be prone to get sick with common diseases, as also happens to its human owner.

In the feline, in fact, stones can form in the lower urinary tract, bladder and urethra, or urinary stones. Urinary stones in cats can cause the known Lower Urinary Tract Syndrome (FLUTD) or Feline Urinary Syndrome (FUS).

Males are more affected than females. When these stones develop, symptoms common to other diseases appear in the animal. Their formation is mainly due to the feeding of the cat : if this is incorrect and harmful to his body, there will be more chances that he will get sick over time.

In general, in the case of urinary stones in cats, inflammation occurs in the bladder and urethra. Stones cause irritation of the mucous membrane inside the bladder, creating an obstruction that can be partial or total to the urine, blocked by the presence of a kind of plug. In the event of total obstruction, urgent intervention is needed with surgical solutions for the cat.

Typical symptoms of urinary stones in cats

When the cat suffers from urinary stones, some symptoms arise in him that can be perceived as an alarm for his state of health, such as:

  • Difficult and inadequate urination, that is, in places other than the litter box
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Blood in the urine of the cat
  • Stranguria
  • Pollakiuria in cats
  • Aggression
  • Vocalizations
  • Continuous grooming
  • Frequent licking of the genitals and the perianal area

The feline and stones: diagnosis and treatments

The diagnosis of urinary stones in cats should be made by a doctor. With his help, the feline will be examined and it will be decided which treatment he will have to face. Let’s see here specifically.

Once you become aware of the typical symptoms of this pathology, the cat must be immediately examined by your veterinarian. The doctor will subject the cat to a differential diagnosis to trace the cause that caused them in the animal.

In fact, urinary stones in the feline can form due to obstructive causes, that is, due to a decrease in the urinary flow to the outside, and for non-obstructive causes, creating only inflammation. The differential diagnosis for the furry dog ​​consists of a collection of information, such as:

  • Age of the feline
  • Presence or not of congenital malformations or pathologies
  • Diet
  • Castration
  • Lifestyle of the cat
  • Environment in which he lives ( stress factors in cats )
  • Previous administration of drugs

The animal control, which also takes account of his behavior, involves blood teststests of the complete urine, ultrasound, X-ray and, if necessary, endoscopy. After having understood, with the doctor, the cause of the stones, we will evaluate the suitable therapy for him.

In this situation, it is important to follow a correct diet, which can help improve your health, along with drug therapy. Before opting for surgery, catheterization and bladder lavage are performed .


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