Home Audience 12 Prevention for cats against urolithiasis. The best methods for treating urolithiasis in cats. Which cats are at risk?

Prevention for cats against urolithiasis. The best methods for treating urolithiasis in cats. Which cats are at risk?

Urolithiasis, or urolithiasis, affects cats of any age. It manifests itself in the formation of sand, and later stones in the bladder. Cats get sick about 3.5 times more often than cats. There is a genetic tendency to urolithiasis. The breeds most often affected are: especially cream, blue and white; exotic longhair and similar.

The disease appears suddenly. The animal is anxious when urinating and often licks the genitals. The amount of urine gradually decreases. The urine smells stronger than usual and becomes brown or dark. The abdomen is tense; when touched in the lower part, a dense formation the size of an egg or apple is felt. At this stage, he moves reluctantly and eats less than usual. The temperature rises to 39 degrees. After a few hours, the animal urinates anywhere. Within 6 hours, urine comes out drop by drop, with obvious traces of blood. Later, urination stops.

The animal refuses food, and after a few hours refuses water.

Within 24 - 36 hours, the absorption of waste from urine into the cat’s body begins. The animal refuses food, and after a few hours, water. Sometimes swallows, it can accumulate in the corners of the mouth viscous saliva. Breathing heavy. At this stage, the temperature drops to 37 degrees and below.

Urolithiasis in cats - causes and course

The main cause of urolithiasis in cats is considered to be metabolic disorders, primarily proteins. However, the formation of sand in the bladder is influenced by a system of reasons. The appearance of the disease is promoted by: improper feeding; chronic or past before illness kidney, bladder; diseases of the external genitalia; allergies; severe infections; elevated temperature environment; hypothermia; low mobility.

Contrary to popular belief, castration of cats does not affect the occurrence of urolithiasis.

Minerals react with waste products and products of protein metabolism. Regularly dying cells inner surface bladder become centers for crystal formation. The amount of sediment in the bladder increases, and the weight of the crystals increases. Sharp edges and constant weight irritate the walls of the bladder, trying to completely push out the accumulated sediment. The volume of the bladder decreases and the urge to urinate increases.

Crystals moving with urine scratch the excretory canal. Blood appears in the urine. After some time, the crystals accumulate in the S-shaped bend and clog the urethra, first partially and then completely.

In cats, the urethra has no bends and is wider than in cats. Therefore, complete blockage is less common in them.

Urine production in the kidneys continues. The bladder is stretched, part blood vessels It bursts and blood gets into the urine. The absorption of water with dissolved waste begins. Internal poisoning of the body (intoxication) develops.

Without medical care on the third, less often the fourth day, death occurs as a result of rupture of the bladder with bleeding, or poisoning by urine components absorbed into the blood.

Urolithiasis in cats - treatment

Integrated: combines medications and surgeries. A number of manipulations can be performed at home, but specific measures for an individual animal are prescribed by a doctor depending on the animal’s condition. The procedures are aimed at:

restoration of urethral patency;
shift in urine acidity;
dissolution of urine sediment and removal from the body;
elimination of intoxication;
maintaining the functioning of the body's main systems;
prevention of urolithiasis in the future.

A major role in the occurrence of urolithiasis is played by the feature excretory system kidney

Restoration of urethral patency is carried out depending on the condition of the animal and the degree of blockage. Usually a catheter is inserted. In cats, a catheter is inserted through the penis. The manipulation is carried out with anesthesia, according to the rules of surgical operations. Additionally, anti-spasm medications are used, such as no-spa or drotaverine preparations.

If it is impossible to insert a catheter, carry out surgery for removing stones and sand from the bladder. If during the operation it is not possible to restore the patency of the urethra, the penis is amputated and the urethra is removed into the scrotum. The latter is trimmed for ease of urination. Unneutered cats are sterilized during surgery.

The acidity of urine is shifted based on the analysis. Key Points urine tests - study of sediment and determination of acidity. Examination of the sediment reveals the chemical type of crystals formed. The acidity level indicates the rate of formation and indicates the possibility of using drugs. As a rule, cats form crystals of phosphates (phosphorus salts), urates (derivatives of uric acid) and oxalates (calcium salts). Both medicinal foods (Hils and others) and medications, such as cystone, are used.

Dissolution of urine sediment and removal from the body combines medical procedures with diets. Medical procedures most often involve flushing the bladder. Are used special drugs(kotervin and others). To facilitate the dissolution of crystals and removal, tablets are prescribed, for example “healthy kidneys”.

Oxalates are completely insoluble. Surgery is required to remove them from the bladder.

Elimination of intoxication is carried out in two directions. The first is to facilitate liver function. They use drugs that bind toxins (glutargin, 5% glucose solution and others), as well as improve the functioning of liver cells (essentiale).

Maintaining the functioning of the body's main systems requires a set of measures. To stop bleeding in the bladder and urethra, etamsylate or dicinone is used. If vomiting occurs, metoclopramide is used to stop it. The heart often suffers as a result of intoxication. Depending on the condition of the animal, both drugs that support heart function (mildronate, prestarium, cocarboxylase) and stimulants (sulfocamphocaine) may be required.

Intensive treatment takes from several days to a week.

Prevention of urolithiasis is carried out for life. After all, a number of causes of the disease cannot be eliminated. In addition, the probability of recurrence of urolithiasis is about 80%. Then the rate of development of traits and serious condition much higher than at the first appearance of urolithiasis.

The main means of prevention is diet. Animals after urolithiasis are allowed to be given fish once a week (for healthy animals - once every three days), meat and salt are limited. It is advisable to switch to dry or canned food. Once every 3 - 4 months the animal should be given only special feed, created for the prevention of urolithiasis. The duration of the diet is from two weeks to a month. Food is sold in pet stores. A urine test should be performed every 2 to 3 months. The main attention is paid to the study of sediment. If crystals are found in the sediment, medications to dissolve them and special food are prescribed.

Urolithiasis leaves a deep mark on the body of cats. If the animal is anxious, it urinates frequently. If the amount of urine decreases, your pet urgently needs help from a veterinarian.

With urolithiasis, stones and sand form in the kidneys, which cause discomfort and pain in the kidneys and ureters.

Rocks and sand can be different types. In 80% of cases, cats have phosphate stones. Also often found are oxalates - salts of calcium and oxalic acid. Oxalates are more common in older animals. Rarely, but cats also have other types of stones.

Who is susceptible to urolithiasis

All cats can get urolithiasis (12% of pets suffer from it), but some are more prone to it, and some less. One of the risk conditions is castration in cats, unlike cats in which the presence or absence of ovaries does not affect this.

However, castration itself does not affect this in any way. The connection is indirect. Urolithiasis is promoted by reduced physical activity against the background of overeating, resulting in overweight. Castrati are susceptible to this. Therefore, in order to prevent ICD, a castrated animal must not be overfed and forced to move.

The general conditions that contribute to the occurrence of urolithiasis are:

male gender (in cats the disease develops 5 times more often than in cats);
unbalanced diet using salty foods and an excess of proteins in it;
feeding with cheap factory food;
insufficient fluid intake (as a result, the urine becomes too concentrated and sand forms in it);
drinking low quality water saturated with lime salts;
physical inactivity and excess weight;
lack of vitamin A (it strengthens epithelial cells genitourinary system);
hereditary predisposition;
infections urinary tract;
overheating of the animal’s body (urine becomes more concentrated and sand forms);
hormonal imbalance (the level of calcium in the blood, which affects the formation of stones, is regulated by parathyroid hormones);
dysfunction gastrointestinal tract, chronic gastroenteritis and colitis (these diseases change acid-base balance organism);
deliberate retention of urination by a cat due to reluctance to go into a dirty litter box (this is why it is so important to clean the toilet on time).

In addition, some breeds are more prone to urolithiasis than others. At risk are British, Scottish, Persian, Himalayan, Burmese and Siamese cats, as well as Maine Coons.

Symptoms of urolithiasis

How does urolithiasis manifest itself in Scottish cats? Every good cat owner should pay attention to various little things in the pet’s behavior, as well as how he goes to the toilet. Reasons to worry are the following:

the cat (cat) screams and meows in the tray - it’s obvious that he’s feeling bad;
the cat began to walk past the litter box, although everything was fine before;
blood appeared in the urine (sand or stone damaged the mucous membrane);
the cat does not go to the toilet for days (this may indicate a blockage of the urinary tract);
frequent urination in small portions;
the animal intensively licks the genitals;
lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting (in severe cases);
increase and decrease in animal weight;
bloated belly;
tense posture when urinating.

Often, urolithiasis in Scottish cats and other breeds passes without visible symptoms. But this does not mean that the cat does not feel the problem. He may be uncomfortable, but the ancient cat instinct dictates that you cannot show your illness - then other predators may consider you weak and want to kill you. Of course, there are no dangerous predators near your cat, but instinct is instinct.

Owners may not notice that the animal is sick for years. As a result, the disease takes on terrible forms. The logical conclusion is an overflow of the bladder with the impossibility of emptying. As a result, intoxication of the body with its own urine develops, the animal behaves apathetically, it may vomit, and the body temperature quickly drops to 35-36°C. After two or three days, if left untreated, death occurs as a result of poisoning or rupture of the bladder.

First aid

Urolithiasis is not only dangerous to health, it is also painful. Therefore, as soon as the owner notices its signs in the pet, he can provide first aid and relieve the attack. This can be easily done using a warm heating pad, which is placed on the animal's stomach and perineum. You can’t put pressure on your stomach - just gently put a heating pad on it. Heat relieves spasms of the urinary tract - and the pain calms down.

After providing first aid, you need to go to a veterinarian who can make a diagnosis. You can’t delay your visit, because... You can wait for complications.

Diagnosis of urolithiasis

There is an express way to determine the risk level of urolithiasis in a cat. For this purpose, special toilet granules are used, which are poured on top of regular litter. After the cat has peed, you need to look at their color: depending on the color, you can determine the pH of the urine. Based on this, it is concluded that it is necessary to visit a veterinarian.

At the clinic, the veterinarian performs ultrasound, x-rays and a number of tests, after which a diagnosis is made. accurate diagnosis. It is very important to distinguish between urolithiasis and other pathologies of the urinary system. Also, when ICD is diagnosed, you need to find out its causes and the type of stones. Without this further treatment impossible.

Treatment of urolithiasis

The treatment of urolithiasis must be approached comprehensively. First, you need to relieve the symptoms so that the animal does not suffer. Antispasmodics and heat are used for this.

Secondly, you will need to dissolve salts and stones. For this purpose, special drugs and herbal medicine are used. Usually, when fighting urolithiasis, the following drugs are included in the course of treatment: “Stop-cystitis”, “Uro-ursi”, “Urotropin”, “Cystokur”, “Furinide”, “Ipakitine”, “Kantaren”, “Kotervin”, “ Nephrocat", "Renal Advance", "Cyston", "Actovegin". Each medicine should be prescribed in accordance with the symptoms and characteristics of the disease of a particular cat.

Thirdly, the root cause of urolithiasis is determined. If this genetic pathologies urinary tract or stones are too large to pass on their own, surgery is prescribed. This is the most the right way get rid of stones, but first, if there is a chance of dissolving them, they prescribe conservative treatment, which consists in receiving specific drugs to dissolve stones, relieve inflammation, and, if there is an infection, prescribe a course of antibiotics.

Adjustment of nutrition in accordance with the type of stones is also required. It can only be prescribed by a veterinarian after all examinations. Nutrition is a fundamental part of treatment.

Cats, like all mammals, have many specific diseases. They are not unique, and can, for example, occur in dogs, but cats suffer from them most often. These include urolithiasis in cats. These animals (especially old ones) suffer from it “obscenely” often, and the consequences of the disease can be extremely serious.

The essence of the disease is the accumulation of stones in the organs of the urinary system. The general term used to refer to all such formations is “uroliths”. They can form in the kidneys, ureter, bladder or urethra. In the specialized literature they are referred to as nephroliths, ureterolites, urocystolites and uretrolites, respectively. Where do they come from, how does urolithiasis develop in cats? It's simple - minerals gradually precipitate from the urine.

The fact is that when urine contains certain elements, the latter tend to precipitate. When they stick together, they form crystalline formations. They are known by the common name "uroliths", which can be translated as " urinary stones» . They always include uric acid, and its volume fraction rarely exceeds 2-10% of the total weight of the stone. The rest of it is made up of mineral salts, and both the danger of urolith for the health of the animal and therapeutic methods effective in curing the disease largely depend on their properties.

It is believed that in cats with urolithiasis, about a dozen varieties of uroliths can be found, formed by the same number of chemical compounds. Often, classification does not make much sense, since one “cobblestone” may contain several components, and it becomes impossible to unambiguously classify it as one or another type. The type of “minerals” in uroliths can be accurately determined using optical crystallography, infrared spectroscopy and/or radiography (but not always, and more on this below).

It is interesting that a change in the characteristics of urine often leads to the result when several completely different stones appear in the animal’s bladder. There are also frequent cases when on a section of urolith one can find up to a dozen or more (!) layers, each of which is formed by separate compounds.

The main types of stones found in urolithiasis in cats

Mechanisms of urolith formation

The mechanisms responsible for the formation of stones in the urinary system in cats have not yet been fully studied. However, three main operating factors are known:

An inorganic or protein matrix is formed first- like a “skeleton” on which a urolith crystal will subsequently grow.
Crystallization catalysts. Organic and inorganic compounds that can accelerate the process of precipitation of compounds dissolved in urine. The more there are and the more powerful they are, the faster the disease progresses.
Crystallization factors. As in the previous case, these are complex organic and inorganic compounds that can accelerate or slow down the processes of precipitation and crystallization.

Regardless of all the factors described above, if the urine itself contains few elements that, at least theoretically, can precipitate, crystal formation will not occur. In the most unfavorable case for the animal, in such a situation a small amount of fine sand may form, which will not threaten the health of the pet. For “special” stones (for example, struvite, urate) there should be additional promoting conditions for formation (for example, suitable urine pH). Note that in sterilized cats, unlike castrated cats, the disease develops much less frequently. Im a change hormonal levels the body clearly benefits.

Predisposing factors

By the way, what are the causes of ICD? All this can be caused by: infection urinary tract, improper diet, intestinal diseases (do not be surprised - at the same time, something that should not normally be absorbed into the blood begins), a small daily volume of urine excreted, low frequency of urination, and some medications. It is known that in some animals there is genetic predisposition. By the way, it is strongly recommended to exclude them from the reproduction process.

The disease often develops from dry food: pets who sit on it regularly suffer from urolithiasis 70% more often than cats receiving normal nutrition. And one more thing. This pathology is very common in cats whose owners “pamper” their pet with raw fish: it contains a lot of calcium, phosphorus and other elements that can contribute to the development of urolithiasis.

Advice – if you are feeding a cat river fish(this applies to a lesser extent to sea water), be sure to scald it with boiling water!

In addition, urolithiasis is a common consequence of diseases gastrointestinal tract accompanied by poor absorption nutrients. In such cases, Tsamax is indicated, since this drug improves the absorption of nutrients, vitamins and microelements. Finally, let us once again emphasize the role infectious diseases. How do they even contribute to the formation of urolith crystals? It's simple: many bacteria secrete substances that promote “gluing” and sedimentation of compounds contained in urine and normal conditions not prone to forming “sedimentary rocks”.

About the role of calcium

It is known that in some intestinal diseases, as well as increased content of this element in food, develops pathological condition, known as hypercalcemia. For the development of urolithiasis, it is like a nutrient medium for champignons.

It seems like a logical proposal would be to limit the amount of calcium in food. But this is only theoretical. In practice, it has been repeatedly proven that limiting the consumption of this substance, on the contrary, sharply increases the likelihood of the occurrence of stones and sand. Why? As in the urinary tract, calcium and oxalic acid in the intestinal cavity can “combine”, resulting in the formation of an insoluble complex. With a sharp decrease in the level of calcium in food without an adequate reduction in oxalates, quite the expected happens: oxalic acid compounds will not become soluble, but will begin to enter the urine en masse. As a result, oxalates will form there, that is, stones based on salts of oxalic acid.

Thus, along with the calcium level, it is necessary to constantly control oxalic acid levels in the blood and plasma of a sick animal (this, by the way, is an excellent prevention of urolithiasis in cats). Unfortunately, only a few remember (or know) about this. And that’s why, by the way, many neutered cats develop urolithiasis literally within a couple of years: their body does not absorb calcium well, which is why the number of oxalic acid compounds in their body only increases. Thus, it is strongly not recommended to choose a diet for your sick pet on your own: you will probably “mess up”, and this may well cost the cat his life.

Empirical clinical observations suggest that mild hypercalcemia may be present in approximately 1/3 of cats suffering from urolithiasis. And this phenomenon still requires study. Despite the serious increase in serum calcium levels, the functions parathyroid gland were not increased, the intensity of the synthesis of her hormones remained at the same level. It is assumed that the main cause of hypercalcemia in such cases may be primary hyperparathyroidism, hypervitaminosis vitamin D₃ And hypercalcemia developing against the background of cancerous lesions of the glands internal secretion. There are many possibilities, and finding out exactly what is going on with a cat is only possible in a well-equipped veterinary clinic.

Standard clinical picture

The characteristic symptoms associated with urolithiasis are extremely rare if there is only fine sand and small crystals in your pet's urinary tract. But this is not always the case: the exception is cases when the formation of uroliths occurs in lower sections urinary tract. They are constantly in motion (that is, during the act of urination), injuring and wounding the mucous membranes of the urinary tract. This leads to dysuria, hematuria and even stranguria (difficulty, painful urination).

Very often they do not show themselves at all nephroliths(stones located directly in the renal pelvis), but this is only true for those cases when the pathology is not accompanied by pyelonephritis, or when the stones do not “squeeze” into the urinary ducts. The latter situation, by the way, is especially difficult. It is accompanied by vomiting, and the development of lethargy and renal colic is likely. In the case when the stone is large enough and shows a tendency to grow, it begins to literally stretch and tear renal pelvis. The pain is so severe that the animal can die from painful shock. Even if it pain threshold turns out to be high, the pet still risks dying from severe internal bleeding.

The life expectancy of pets with this disease (without any treatment) drops by two to three times. A sick cat is unlikely to live past five or six years, and that's unless she's very lucky. Timely initiation of therapy helps not only to maintain the quality of life, but also to significantly increase its duration.

The problem is that when unilateral urolith(when only one ureter is clogged) there may also be no signs for a long time. Until one of the kidneys, from which urine drainage is difficult, “blooms” with cysts. In addition, this condition is fraught with the development of nephrosclerosis, and with this pathology the organ completely ceases to perform its physiological function. Animals who develop hydronephrosis as a result of blockage of the urinary ducts are also “lucky”. In most cases, nothing can help their kidney; the organ has to be removed surgically. If you already have kidney problems, the appearance of stones in them further aggravates the pathological process.

And one more “unpleasant” feature of the kidneys: they contain millions of nephrons, and the organ ceases to function fully only in those cases when this enormous accumulation of cells remains in best case scenario 1/5 of their initial quantity. Simply put, clinical picture renal failure often becomes obvious only when there is nothing left of at least one kidney. But this is the best case scenario. Most often both fail. Thus, the clinical picture appears relatively quickly only in one of the following three cases:

found themselves clogged both ureters. This situation is especially likely when many small stones form in the urinary system. Sooner or later, at least one of them will “climb” into the urethra.
Already available chronic disease kidney(sometimes homeopathy helps to control it).
TO pathological process added infection urinary organs.

Occlusion of the urethra by uroliths

This type of KSD is rare in cats, since in more than 80% of cases it develops in cats. This is due to the structural features of their genitourinary system, where there is an S-shaped bend of the urethra. Both small pebbles and large fractions of sand often get stuck in this very S. The pathology is extremely dangerous, occurs suddenly and often leads to death. To slow down the process and gain time to deliver the pet to the clinic, Papaverine is sometimes used: it reduces blood pressure, causing urine production to slow down.

First the animal can try to urinate frequently, As a result, he manages to squeeze out a thin stream of red urine. Sometimes drops begin to come out of the urethra pure blood. At the same time, the pet is far from calm: the cat meows terribly and hoarsely and even wheezes from severe pain. Complete blockade causes the development of uremia within 36–48 hours, which is accompanied by depression, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, coma. Death occurs within ~72 hours. So if you see similar signs in your pet, call your veterinarian immediately.

Complications of urolithiasis

If the bladder is not damaged, it will begin to swell when the ureters are blocked. He does this so “gamily” that there are cases of organ ruptures when simply trying to palpate it (iatrogenic rupture of the bladder). The problem is that in these cases you need differential diagnosis: clinical picture gap similar to renal colic, any internal bleeding etc. If you do not quickly help your pet, he will die with 100% probability. Another trouble is that in the first two to three hours after the rupture the cat will feel great: the bladder no longer hurts, and blood loss at this time has not yet reached critical levels. But the improvement does not last long: soon severe uremia develops (urine is perfectly absorbed through the peritoneum), seizures and arrhythmia occur, and it all ends in death.

Unfortunately, even partial blockage of the ureters is extremely dangerous: it can develop ascites: in cats with ICD, however, this happens quite rarely. The fact is that the vessels, compressed by the swollen bubble, begin to “poison”: blood plasma begins to ooze into the abdominal cavity. True, it rarely comes to full-blown ascites: the cat will die sooner either from painful shock, or from a rupture of one of the organs of the urinary system, or from bleeding.

Hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis– other dangerous complications, for which struvite-type ICB is especially “famous”.

Diagnostic techniques

Cases where urethrolytes block only one ureter, and there are no symptoms in the background, on early stages can only be detected by chance during a routine veterinary examination.

If the pathology has gone far, and there are a lot of stones in the urinary organs (or few, but they are large), it is possible to determine urolithiasis by palpation of the walls of the bladder. The wall of the urinary organ will be thickened, and during palpation you will feel a specific “crunching” sensation. Unfortunately, it is not possible to classify this technique as reliable, even if one wants to. Firstly, it is not always possible to palpate the bladder normally. In addition, the “crunching” can be explained by other reasons that have nothing to do with the presence of stones. If there is a suspicion of urolithiasis, the veterinarian can use a catheter: with its help, you can easily determine whether the lumen of the urinary canal is blocked by some foreign object. In addition, the catheter will help remove some sand (if there is any, of course).

Of course, this technique does not belong to the category of particularly accurate ones. Since in severe cases stones can end up in any part of the urinary system, complete X-ray her research. If there is at least one stone whose diameter reaches approximately 3 mm, it will be visible on the x-ray.

As we mentioned above, even X-ray examination does not guarantee 100% results: many types of stones are formed by minerals that are “transparent” to X-rays. They simply pass through the uroliths, resulting in x-rays no threatening signs remain. Much more reliable than ultrasound: Ultrasound cannot pass through solid obstacles in any case.

In addition, it is shown microscopic examination urine: if there are stones in the urinary system, their particles will definitely be in the field of view of the device. If an infectious etiology of the process is suspected, the resulting material must be sown on a nutrient medium.

First aid

Let us immediately warn you that even first aid can only be provided in a normal veterinary clinic, since you cannot do anything at home. So, if there is a suspicion that the urethra is blocked by urolith, it is necessary to remove this obstacle. Very in rare cases This can be done mechanically by gently massaging the area of the S-shaped bend (in males). But more often, the veterinarian uses a sterile catheter: it is inserted into the lumen of the urethra and the “cobblestone” is pushed back into the cavity of the bladder. In “advanced” clinics they can destroy stones with a laser.

Unfortunately, this is not always possible. Firstly, the stones are too big. Secondly, the risk is quite high mechanical damage urethra. And therefore it is used surgical treatment UCD in cats: the lumen of the urethra is opened with simultaneous evacuation of its “foreign” contents. It is strongly recommended that the recovered stones be sent to chemical research, since it will provide important data regarding the chemical nature of the urolith. This will help in further treatment and suitable diet for a pet.

Therapeutic techniques

Since urolithiasis is often caused by bacteria, sick pets are prescribed antibiotics wide range actions. Note that these drugs are prescribed only after testing the sensitivity of a particular strain (this information can only be obtained after growing a culture of the pathogen on nutrient media). Furadonin and other nitrofurans help quite well. True, you can’t give them to cats for a long time, as they can seriously worsen their health. And giving pills to a cat is still “entertainment”.

Most strains of Staphylococcus and Proteus are sensitive to amoxicillin or ampicillin, which are predominantly excreted in the urine. Gentamicin works quite well and is lethal, but it is extremely contraindicated for cats. This drug can cause deafness and blindness, and (ironically) complete failure kidney

What other drugs can be used? Urease inhibitors are used, but the real need for them does not arise in all cases. However, with the bacterial nature of urolithiasis and parallel antibiotic therapy, this medicine will significantly reduce the rate of formation of new stones, as well as promote the resorption of existing uroliths. A good inhibitor is acetohydroxamic acid, which is used at a dosage of 12.5 mg/kg. The injections are given subcutaneously.

But it must be used extremely carefully, as it develops quickly in case of an overdose. hemolytic anemia. How is treatment for urolithiasis in cats monitored?

Control and duration of treatment

After ~4 weeks of treatment it is necessary to repeat the full medical examination, execute biochemical analysis blood, and also repeat x-rays abdominal cavity and/or ultrasound examination areas. It should be taken into account that with a pronounced degree of hypoalbuminemia ( reduced content protein in plasma), the prescription of inhibitors and some other drugs should be suspended. If treatment dynamics are positive, tests should reveal approximately the following: pH factor of urine<6.5, удельная масса мочи <1.025, мочевина сыворотки <10 мг/д³ (это, кстати, хороший тест на мочекаменную болезнь). При рентгенографии выявленные в прошлом камни должны или оставаться того же размера, или же уменьшаться. В противном случае динамику следует признать сомнительной или неблагоприятной.

Testing is carried out every four weeks until the stones completely disappear. This process can take as long as 20 weeks. But! If positive dynamics are not observed after eight weeks of constant therapy, treatment at home should be considered ineffective: only surgical intervention will help. However, it must be taken into account that uroliths located directly in the kidneys disintegrate quite slowly.

It is believed that the probability relapse is about 20-25%. In many ways, this frequency of re-development of the disease is facilitated by the difficulty of completely removing all stones from the organs of the urinary system, even in the case of surgical intervention. Because of this, after surgery, the pet is given medications to help dissolve uroliths for at least four weeks.

And one more thing. Do not try to treat with folk remedies: in mild cases they may help, but in the very early stages it is difficult to identify the disease even in the clinic. That is, in situations where the clinical signs of the disease become obvious, you won’t be able to do anything with “poultices”, but you will delay time and, possibly, deprive your pet of the last chance for recovery.

Diet therapy

If the animal's condition is relatively stable, special feeding may be used. Its goal is to reduce urine pH to<6. Сегодня, кстати, выпускается немало коммерческих кормов (о некоторых из них мы напишем ниже), помогающих быстро решить эту задачу. Нужно снизить ежедневное потребление protein, phosphates, magnesium and sodium. If everything is done correctly, the daily reproduction of urea will sharply decrease, but urine production, on the contrary, will increase. As a result, fine sand and stones will simply be washed out of the urinary system or (over time) dissolved.

There is one “subtlety”. During this time, your cat should not eat anything other than the diet prescribed by your veterinarian. Otherwise, no positive effect will be achieved.

To make your pet’s life more “colorful” and not starve him, you can use any medicinal food from Royal Canin, Purina and others like them.

Such diets are developed specifically for weakened animals and are recommended for use during the period of rehabilitation after serious illnesses, as well as for feeding pets with urolithiasis.

To ensure nutritional appeal for cats with weakened immune systems, when developing food, the taste characteristics of these animals were taken into account; the food is saturated with flavoring compounds that help awaken the pet’s appetite. The products contain easily digestible oligosaccharides and fats. The high nutritional value that they possess allows you to give the animal a smaller amount of feed, but at the same time fully provide its daily need for nutrients, micro and macroelements, and vitamins.

In addition to simple oligosaccharides, beet pulp is used in the production of the product. It is a source of complex carbohydrates and fiber that stimulate intestinal peristaltic activity. What if you don’t have the opportunity to give your pet something similar?

"Home Cooking"

It is necessary to limit the intake of proteins, calcium and oxalic acid. Completely from the pet's diet exclude dairy products. Source of protein - boiled chicken (occasionally), legumes. It is recommended to give your cat cabbage boiled in meat broth and pureed.

If you have the opportunity to occasionally feed your pet with specialized medicinal food, follow a simple rule: should always (!) be given separately from regular food without allowing these products to be mixed.

Urolithiasis affects many cats of different ages; it causes sand to form in the kidneys and urinary system, and in later stages, stones. It most often affects cats. It is important to recognize the onset of the disease in time, show the animal to a veterinarian and begin treatment.

Causes of the disease

The main cause of urolithiasis in cats is lack of fluid.

Many people believe that the occurrence of urolithiasis is promoted by feeding dry food and, but this is not so. There are many reasons for the development of the disease:

unbalanced feeding and metabolic disorders;
allergy;
hypothermia or overheating;
limited movement;
chronic kidney and bladder diseases;
diseases of the genital organs;
genetic predisposition.

First of all, the occurrence of the disease is promoted by a lack of fluid. Make sure your cat has constant access to water. There is an opinion that dry food provokes the development of the disease, but, according to statistics, those animals that ate only natural food also suffer.

The cause of KSD is feeding cats with low-quality food (economy class) or table food (smoked, salted, fried and fatty foods). Genetics and hereditary diseases play a big role.

What breeds of cats are predisposed to this disease?

It is believed that long-haired and some short-haired cat breeds are most prone to developing urolithiasis. These include:

Persian;
Himalayan;
Siamese

When buying a kitten, ask the breeder whether his ancestors suffered from urolithiasis, because it is often inherited.

If your pet has become less active and has lost his appetite, he may have urolithiasis.

At the beginning of the disease, when sand just begins to form in the kidneys, it is difficult to diagnose KSD. The animal becomes less active and loses its appetite. Cats experience discomfort when urinating. The disease develops slowly and gradually becomes chronic.

Owners begin to worry about their pet only in later stages, when stones form instead of sand, and the symptoms are already obvious:

the animal experiences pain when urinating and screams loudly on the tray, as the stones scratch the urinary ducts;
blood appears in the urine;
cats often sit in the litter box due to constant urges;
in some cases, the stone blocks the duct, and the animal does not empty itself even after numerous attempts;
the stomach becomes hard and painful;
cats often urinate on upholstered furniture or carpets;
the animal’s behavior changes (it becomes restless, attracts attention to itself, or, conversely, hides in dark corners);
breathing quickens, cats lose their appetite.

If any of these symptoms appear, take your pet to a veterinarian immediately. Urolithiasis can be successfully treated in the early stages.

Course of the disease

If help is not provided in a timely manner, the cat will die in 3-4 days.

Due to a number of reasons (improper feeding, chronic diseases, etc.) crystals begin to form in the bladder. Over time, they become more and more numerous, they take up space in the cavity and reduce the volume of the bladder.

Crystals have sharp edges that constantly irritate living tissue. During urination, cats try to get rid of all the contents, the crystals partially come out and damage the excretory channel, which leads to the appearance of blood in the urine.

In cats, the urethra has an S-shaped bend, in which sediment gradually accumulates. This eventually leads to complete blockage. This almost never happens in females, since their duct is straight and wider, so the crystals do not linger in it.

Due to the blockage, the animal does not defecate, but urine continues to be produced. Intoxication (poisoning) develops in the body; due to stretching of the bladder, blood vessels burst, and blood enters the urine.

If the animal is not helped, it dies after three to four days due to poisoning or a ruptured bladder.

Types of urinary stones

It is important to determine the type of stones your pet has

There are several types of urinary stones in cats. They differ in mineral composition. The most common are:

struvites;
calcium oxalates.

The most common stones are struvite stones. They are formed from magnesium, phosphate and ammonium ions. Struvite appears in an alkaline environment; their appearance is facilitated by previous diseases of the kidneys and urinary system.

Oxalates are most often formed in the animal's kidneys. They are insoluble and appear as a result of an excess of calcium in the urine; they can only be removed surgically. It is important to correctly identify the type of stones, since diets that help get rid of struvite can promote the formation of oxalates.

The most common treatment methods

Which method to treat a cat depends on the severity of the disease

Treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian after examining the animal, which includes:

ultrasound diagnostics (ultrasound);
blood tests;
urine test;
doctor's examination.

Treatment depends on the severity of the disease, the cat's age and general condition. Urolithiasis is treated in two ways: surgical and conservative; in some cases, catheterization is used (a catheter is inserted into the urethra, through which sand or stones are removed).

With a conservative method of treatment, the animal is prescribed medications that restore the functioning of the urethra and eliminate congestion. These include antibiotics (cantharis, magnesia, apis) and antispasmodics with the addition of sedatives (spasmolitin, baralgin, atropine). The animal is given a novocaine blockade in the lumbar region.

If conservative treatment does not bring results, cats are prescribed surgery. The doctor performs cystotomy or urethrostomy (depending on the severity of the disease). In the second type of surgery, the surgeon artificially creates an excretory channel through which the stones are removed. Cystotomy is a complex abdominal operation in which the doctor removes large stones.

Folk remedies and treatment at home

Bearberry helps well in the early stages of the disease

Treatment of urolithiasis with folk remedies is carried out only at an early stage. Before using them, you should consult a veterinarian so as not to harm your pet.

Folk remedies include drinking decoctions and infusions of herbs (plantain, lingonberry, heather, bearberry). This method serves as an excellent prevention of urolithiasis in cats. In some cases, the veterinarian will recommend the use of homeopathic remedies.

Treatment at home carried out after the disease has become chronic. The doctor prescribes medications that help destroy and remove stones and sand from the kidneys. The main component of treatment at home is the prevention of the formation of new crystals. You should carefully monitor your pet and if there is any deterioration, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Nutrition for urolithiasis and prevention

Buy special food for urolithiasis

Prevention of urolithiasis in cats includes the following activities:

free access to fresh, clean water;
absence of drafts (do not allow the animal to become hypothermic or overheated);
selection medicinal food;
active lifestyle.

Cat food for urolithiasis must be of high quality and must be marked “for the prevention of urolithiasis” or “for sterilized animals” (see more details - and). In the first months after treatment, you should feed your pet with Hills veterinary diet or. Under no circumstances give your cat cheap food (economy class), this will lead to a new development of the disease.

If your cat eats natural food, carefully balance its diet. Animals prone to developing urolithiasis should not be fed fish. The basis of nutrition is meat (beef, lamb, chicken), add vegetables and dairy products to it.

Include quail eggs and cereals in your animal's diet. Don’t forget about vitamins - with natural feeding, the cat should receive them regularly. Exclude milk, pork and fish from your pet's menu.

Veterinarians advise cat owners to pay special attention to feeding. Sterilized and neutered animals should eat specialized food, this will significantly reduce the risk of developing urolithiasis.

It is necessary to closely monitor the condition of your pet. Take blood and urine tests every six months to detect the onset of the disease in time. Do not self-medicate under any circumstances, this will lead to disastrous results.

Urolithiasis in cats is not a death sentence. Animals with this disease will live long and happy lives if you pay special attention to prevention. Take care of your pets and pay attention to any signs of illness. Remember that the disease is easier to treat in the early stages.

Watch the video about urolithiasis in cats.

Urolithiasis in cats is an extremely insidious pathological condition, which until relatively recently was considered incurable and led to the painful death of animals. Currently, this disease is becoming more common. KSD in male cats is often observed even at a young age. If the owners of the animal are responsible for its health and often visit the veterinarian, this pathological condition is detected during diagnostic tests.

In other cases, the deterioration of a pet’s condition comes as a complete surprise to its owners. It will be better for the cat if a violation of the outflow of urine due to blockage of the urinary tract is diagnosed as early as possible. Treatment at home and without consulting a veterinarian is in most cases impossible. In some cases, emergency care and the installation of a catheter to remove urine are required to save the animal’s life. In severe cases, in the absence of targeted therapy, the animal quickly dies.

What is feline urolithiasis?

In terms of prevalence, this disease ranks almost first. Many people believe that kittens are unpretentious, and therefore do not approach the choice of food and general care correctly. Such negligence becomes the reason that relatively young animals acquire serious problems with the kidneys, bladder and excretory tract due to stones forming in them. KSD in adult cats may not show significant symptoms for a long time, so the owners of the animal do not even suspect the development of this life-threatening disease. This pathological condition can have a particularly negative impact during pregnancy or the postpartum period.

An enlarged belly can cause stones to dislodge and develop complications. There are a number of other conditions that can provoke a worsening of this pathology in females. Currently, there are no complete statistics covering the prevalence of this disease, since not all owners turn to veterinarians when it develops. Some veterinarians indicate that every 15 domestic cat, starting at the age of 8 years, has a similar problem. Cats suffer from this disease much more often. This is due to the structure of the urinary system. It is now known that in cats the channel through which urine is removed from the body is 3 times narrower than in cats. Thus, even small stones can block the flow of urine. In cats, characteristic manifestations of this pathology begin to appear during the binge period. This usually happens in the spring. Urolithiasis is less common in castrated cats. Thus, keeping an animal of this sex requires special attention.

Etiology of urolithiasis in cats

The reasons for the development of this pathological condition are rooted in metabolic disorders. Particularly dangerous is the lack of protein production, improper selection of food, including a combination of dry and wet food, as well as the periodic inclusion of human food. If such a negligent approach is systematic, it contributes to the development of such a disease. Improper feeding can cause metabolic disorders in the shortest possible time. Even in young animals, if the diet is incorrectly selected, stones can form. Tap water can cause urolithiasis in cats. Significant danger in regions where it is very severe.

To prevent the occurrence of this pathological condition, it is necessary to give your pet only settled water.

Despite the fact that castration significantly reduces the risk of developing urolithiasis in a cat, in some cases it is this operation that creates the preconditions for the development of this disease. The recommended age of an animal for such a procedure is 8–12 months. If the operation is performed before 6 months, there is a high risk of injury to the not yet formed urethra. This not only can provoke the formation of stones, but also often causes a more severe course. This disease is no more common in sterilized cats than in animals that have not undergone this procedure. However, when performing the procedure on an animal that has not given birth, the risk of infections and then urolithiasis is significantly higher. These are not all the reasons for the development of such a pathological condition. Factors contributing to the occurrence of this disease include:

This disease is not uncommon in animals that are severely obese. Relative inactivity greatly contributes to the disruption of metabolic processes and the formation of Symptoms of urolithiasis in cats may appear due to congenital anomalies in the structure of the urinary tract. Elevated ambient temperatures contribute to the formation of deposits in the pet's kidneys.

Symptoms of urolithiasis in cats

The first manifestation of this pathological condition may be weak and short-lived. Small pebbles can be excreted in urine, but even they cause a lot of discomfort to the pet, since such formations often have sharp edges that can injure the mucous membranes. When urolithiasis develops in cats, symptoms usually increase gradually. Acute signs of the pathological process usually appear only if the outflow of urine is completely blocked. Thus, when urolithiasis develops in cats, the symptoms cannot always be noted in a timely manner by the owner of the animal.

Restless behavior of a pet is considered to be the first warning sign. The cat begins to urinate more often. Often the animal does this outside the established tray. When considering the signs of urolithiasis in a cat, it is especially worth highlighting that if a pet sits for a long time in a tray in a position that is typical for urination, this suggests that it suffers from stones that interfere with the normal outflow of urine. In some cases, painful trips to the toilet are accompanied by moans and plaintive meows of the animal. This is due to the fact that the process of excreting urine causes severe pain in the animal.

The stronger the blockage of the excretory tract, the more intense the signs of urolithiasis in cats.

For example, due to the movement of large stones through the ducts, the mucous membranes can be injured. This often causes the color of urine to change. Urine can become dark, brown and even red. This is the result of blood entering it. When the flow of urine is severely blocked, the symptoms of urolithiasis in cats can be life-threatening. The animal's body temperature rises significantly and signs of intoxication increase. Vomiting may occur. If measures are not taken, signs of urolithiasis in cats become even more noticeable. The pet's belly increases in size. On palpation, a full bladder can be clearly felt. Such manipulations should be carried out very carefully, as it may burst due to pressure. If assistance is not provided at this time, the pet may die due to bladder rupture and peritonitis.

Methods for diagnosing urolithiasis in cats

When the first signs of the disease appear, you should definitely contact a veterinarian, since it is not possible to cure the animal yourself at home. When you first contact a specialist, it is very important to describe all the existing symptoms; this will significantly speed up the diagnosis. Considering that stones in the kidneys and urinary tract can have different structures. Most often cats suffer from:

struvites;
cystines;
calcium oxalates;
Ammonium urate.

Treatment of urolithiasis in cats is carried out only after the chemical composition of the stones. For example, struvite, which is mainly composed of ammonium, magnesium and phosphate, if small in size, may well be dissolved. Calcium oxalates can only be removed by surgery. Thus, only by understanding the chemical composition of stones can the best preparations be selected. To determine this important parameter, blood and urine tests are performed first. Chemical analysis of stones or sand is also advisable. If there is a suspicion of blockage of the urinary ducts, an ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys is immediately prescribed. In some cases, when this diagnostic method is ineffective, radiography is required.

First aid for animals for urolithiasis in cats

When it comes to this disease, symptoms and treatment are interrelated. You should not self-medicate, as this can be fatal for a cat. Painkillers, antispasmodics, and especially diuretics cannot be given to an animal without a doctor’s prescription, as this can aggravate the situation. If the animal’s condition is not critical, special medications are first administered to eliminate pain. Antispasmodics are usually used for this purpose, for example, Papaverine or No-shpa.

A necessary measure is to remove accumulated urine from the bladder.

In case of severe urolithiasis in a cat, catheterization is required to quickly improve the condition. This procedure is not curative. With its help, all accumulated urine is mechanically removed. Catheterization allows you to remove even small stones and sand from the bladder. For this purpose, special solutions and antibiotics are injected into the bladder. The catheter is usually sutured to the skin and left in place for about 3 days.

At this time, the animal is necessarily given sedatives, which help eliminate pain, spasms and reduce motor activity. To improve the condition of cats with urolithiasis after installation of a catheter, detoxification measures are carried out. Special drugs administered by dropper allow you to quickly remove all harmful substances that have accumulated in the animal’s blood due to impaired urine drainage. In some cases, the animal is prescribed hemostatic drugs, antibiotics and drugs that support cardiac activity as part of first aid.

Complex therapy of urolithiasis in cats

Even if the animal’s condition has improved after the measures taken, this is not a reason to stop therapy. For urolithiasis, the method of therapy depends on their chemical composition. Thus, only a qualified veterinarian can determine how to treat urolithiasis in cats. Self-prescribed therapy is dangerous for the animal. In some cases, treatment of urolithiasis in cats is carried out with the help of medications that dissolve existing stones. To eliminate such formations and remove them from the body, means such as

Canephron;
Cyston;
Half fell, etc.

The treatment regimen includes medications designed to relieve the inflammatory process and normalize metabolism. Typically, treatment for urolithiasis in cats is carried out using antibiotics, which can disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. To prevent this, probiotics are prescribed, that is, agents that help restore normal intestinal microflora. The treating veterinarian may recommend the use of drugs such as Vetom, Linex, Lactoferon, etc. Therapy can be supplemented with other drugs.

When urolithiasis develops in cats, treatment cannot always be carried out using conservative methods.

If the stones are too large or cannot be dissolved with special drugs, veterinarians resort to surgery. If urolithiasis occurs in cats, treatment with surgical methods is very traumatic. Surgery may require dissection of the bladder kidney. Such damage then takes a long time to heal, which causes inconvenience to the animal. However, in some cases such therapy is the only way to save a pet’s life.

Diet therapy for urolithiasis in cats

Both conservative and surgical treatment of this pathological condition is always supplemented with special nutrition. What to feed a cat with urolithiasis should be decided by a veterinarian familiar with the chemical composition of stones located in the animal’s kidneys and bladder. Nutrition should be balanced and properly selected. It is advisable to switch the animal to a special food for cats with urolithiasis. Food must be given strictly following the veterinarian's recommendations. Uneaten leftovers must be removed. It is advisable to feed a cat with urolithiasis special dry mixtures on a schedule. However, not all pets are ready to switch to medicated cat food if they have this disease. In this case, the diet for urolithiasis may include various natural products.

With this approach to feeding, it is especially important to remove leftover food so that your pet does not have access to it between meals.

Feeding a cat with urolithiasis accompanied by struvite stones requires the introduction of foods that acidify urine into the diet. These include chicken egg yolk, red currant or lemon juice diluted with plenty of water, dairy products and meat. When oxalate formations form in the animal’s bladder and kidneys, the diet for cats with urolithiasis includes fish in limited quantities, boiled meat and eggs. If the animal has previously consumed sour fruits and vegetables, they must be completely removed from the diet. Liver, dairy products and other foods should also not be given to your cat.

The diet of cats with urolithiasis should be balanced, but at the same time change the acidity of the urine. In addition to a properly formulated diet, your pet should have clean water at all times. Usually, medicated food for cats allows you to remove stones from the animal’s body much faster, so it’s worth switching to them if possible.

Prevention of urolithiasis in cats

Currently, many owners of these animals pay a lot of attention to prevent the development of this disease. Prevention of urolithiasis in cats primarily involves timely castration or sterilization. This can significantly reduce the risk of developing this pathological condition. Prevention of urolithiasis involves examination by a veterinarian and examination of the animal’s urine at least once a year.

This allows you to identify the tendency to form stones in advance and eliminate them in a timely manner.

Even as a kitten, metabolic disorders may already occur in the animal’s body and sand may begin to form. It takes months for stones to grow, so it is very important to start visiting a veterinarian from the first year of life to prevent urolithiasis. It is very important to provide the animal with the opportunity to move. Pet owners need to monitor their diet and fight excess weight in their cats. Prevention of urolithiasis in cats involves providing animals with the required amount of clean filtered water. Simple preventive measures prevent this disease from developing.