Urethral obstruction due to pseudomembranous cystitis in a domestic shorthair cat

Abstract

AbstractA 2‐year‐old, male, neutered, domestic shorthair cat presented with acute onset lethargy, anorexia, stranguria, dysuria without micturition. Routine blood tests demonstrated hyperkalaemia, azotaemia and metabolic acidosis. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a bi‐compartmentalised urinary bladder, with intravesical mineralised septa. The patient was diagnosed with urethral obstruction secondary to pseudomembranous cystitis. Following initial medical management, an exploratory celiotomy and cystotomy were performed, which revealed a complete fluid‐filled intravesical pseudomembranous sac, which extended via a long thin pedicle into the proximal urethra. The pseudomembranous sac was excised. Cystotomy and abdominal wound closure were routine. Post‐operative stranguria resolved with medical management within 9 days. Bacterial culture of the urinary bladder wall demonstrated no growth. Histopathology confirmed a pseudomembrane, which was composed predominantly of eosinophilic proteinaceous material and extravasated erythrocytes, with some neutrophils and cellular debris. Four months post‐operatively, no recurrence of the clinical signs has been reported.