Owner's Intuition is the First Step to Getting Life Saving Treatment
The cat’s owner knew something was wrong when he wasn’t eating or purring. Her pudgy cat with big yellow eyes and hair as black as a shadow just hadn’t been right for the past several days. He was hiding under the bed, acting sluggish, and had vomited a few times. Furthermore, he had not urinated that day.
She had owned this cat all of his twelve years and none of this was like him, so she brought him to her regular veterinarian. A bloodwork analysis showed the cat’s kidney function was dangerously compromised. It was recommended that she bring her cat to CARE for hospitalization and intravenous fluids to help combat inevitable kidney failure.
Upon arriving at CARE that afternoon, the emergency doctor discovered the cat was suffering from urinary obstruction. This is a life threatening condition associated with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) in which the urethra becomes blocked by crystals, stones, or plugs of mucous. The cat was literally unable to urinate. In addition to his large painful bladder, his kidneys weren’t able to remove toxins from his blood and maintain a proper balance of fluids and electrolytes in his body. He was in danger of developing serious heart arrhythmias, succumbing to a coma, and dying. All of this can happen within twenty-four to forty-eight hours of obstruction.
The black cat immediately underwent a procedure to unblock his urethra and reestablish urine flow. An indwelling urinary catheter was placed to allow his urine output to be monitored and to prevent re-obstruction. He received fluid therapy to flush his kidneys and regain normal blood values, and medications to limit discomfort. The sweet big cat recovered very well, and was eating enthusiastically within several hours of his procedure! This was encouraging, as it meant he liked the new food he would have to eat from now on. He would need the prescription diet specially designed for cats with urinary tract disease to help prevent the formation of material in his urinary tract that could lead to re-obstruction.
In addition to this change, the cat’s owner was encouraged to take several other measures to help prevent him from blocking again. The cat should be encouraged to drink a lot of water, through constant access to fresh water and feeding of canned food for its increased moisture content. He needs all stress in his environment minimized, as added stress is found to correlate with this syndrome. And, perhaps most difficult for this happy eater, he would have to lose weight. Overweight cats have a greater risk of developing FLUTD. He will soon learn to enjoy playing and interacting with his owner more, in place of overeating.
Urinary obstruction is a common occurrence in male cats of all ages. It is a true medical emergency, and cat owners should be aware of the signs so they can seek immediate treatment for their cat if it ever happens. Any cat that has bloody urine, is straining to urinate (often mistaken for constipation), is urinating more frequently and/or in unusual places, is crying out while trying to urinate or licking excessively at their urinary opening is highly likely to be developing an obstruction. CARE is here every night, all weekend, and all holidays to provide immediate medical care in such situations.
Emily Murray, CVT
