Causes and symptoms of urethral obstruction in cats

Urethral blockage in cats is caused by the accumulation of foreign matter in the urethra, resulting in poor urine discharge. The disease can be diagnosed by taking X-rays or B-ultrasound and clinical symptoms. So what are the causes of urethral obstruction in cats? What are the clinical symptoms?

1. Cause

Drinking less water, high salt concentration, long-term consumption of large amounts of sea fish and foods high in minerals; urinary tract infection, urethral injury, congenital and acquired malformations, urethral tumors, etc.

2. Symptoms

Frequent urination, hematuria, difficulty urinating, and dripping urine. Sick cats show pain and restlessness, and in the later stage, uremia and nephritis may develop as a result of anuria, bladder distension, and worsening of the general condition. In severe cases, bladder rupture may occur.

Treatment methods for cat urethra obstruction

Urethral blockage is one of the common urinary tract diseases in cats. The principle of treating this disease is to remove foreign objects that hinder urination from the body. Although the treatment is not difficult, it is very painful for cats. Here’s how to treat cat urethra blockage.

1. Perform urethral flushing to flush away the stones. Method: Place the cat in a supine position, with the head and two forelimbs fixed separately, and the two hind limbs and tail fixed respectively, fully exposing the perineum (for cats that resist restlessness, it can be performed under general anesthesia). Turn the penis out with your left hand, carefully insert a No. 6-7 blunt tip needle into the urethra from the urethral opening, and flush the stones with normal saline repeatedly. After the stones are broken open, extra-abdominal compression of the bladder can be performed to expel urine.

2. For diuresis, take 2 to 4 mg of hydrochlorothiazide per kilogram of body weight orally for 2 days. Or intramuscularly inject 2 mg of furanosine per kilogram of body weight, 1 to 2 days.

3. Anti-inflammatory, penicillin 50,000 units per kilogram of body weight, intramuscular injection twice a day for 3 to 5 consecutive days.

4. Strengthen care, change the food structure, replace sea fish with freshwater fish, and give food with less salt.