Urinary Tract Disease In Cats Research Articles

The effectiveness of the use of the drug “Furinaid” in complex therapy in the treatment of idiopathic cystitis in small pets

The disease of the lower urinary tract in cats is clinically significant pathology affecting about 7% of cats. Idiopathic feline cystitis (ICC) is diagnosed in more than half of cases of lower urinary tract disease in cats under the age of ten years. The cat HCC is a diagnosis of exclusion, in other words, urolithiasis and bacterial infections of the urinary tract should be excluded from the diagnosis. There are several reasons leading to the occurrence of diseases of the lower urinary system of cats. However, the idiopathic form of this disease (idiopathic cat cystitis) is one of the most common today. Stress, as it is now known, plays a very important role in the initiation and/or aggravation of the course of HCC. Worldwide, idiopathic cystitis is the most common cause of diseases of the lower urinary tract of cats, both males and females. The development of effective methods for the treatment of idiopathic cystitis in cats is one of the promising areas of veterinary science and practice. The article presents the results of studies obtained in assessing the effectiveness of the use of the drug “Furinaid” in complex therapy in the treatment of idiopathic cystitis in cats. Based on the obtained research results, it was found that 100% of the animals recovered in all the test groups, which indicates that the animals were properly treated, but the scheme using the drug “Furinaid” was therapeutically more effective. Therefore, it can be argued that in pharmacotherapy of idiopathic cystitis in cats, the use of drugs containing glucosaminoglycans is of great importance.

Prevalence of Urinary Tract Conditions and Factors Associated with Urolithiasis in Domestic Cats in Nairobi, Kenya

This was a retrospective study that covered a 10-year period from January 2009 to December 2018. The study had three aims which were to determine prevalence, clinical manifestations and factors associated with urolithiasis in domestic cats in Nairobi County, Kenya. It also considered prevalence of other urinary tract conditions that occurred in domestic cats in the same county. Clinical data of all cases of cats were collected from 5 purposively selected veterinary clinics. Specific data was retrieved, which included breed, sex, age, weight, neuter history, and clinical findings. Univariate and multivariate analysis was done to determine factors associated with urolithiasis. The total number of domestic cat cases in the 10-year period was 4,404. A total of 104 cases had urinary tract conditions, of which 28 had urolithiasis, thus making general overall prevalence of urinary tract conditions to be 2.4% and prevalence of urolithiasis 0.6%. Among cases with urinary tract conditions, prevalence of urolithiasis was 26.9%. Definitive diagnosis of causes of urinary tract disease in cats was recorded in 75 cases. Urolithiasis was the major cause 37.3% followed by idiopathic feline lower urinary tract diseases and idiopathic cystitis both at 22.7%. The results showed that history of dysuria, distended urinary bladder and body weight were significantly associated with urolithiasis in domestic cats. This current study concluded that prevalence of urolithiasis in Nairobi County, Kenya was low, but among cases with urinary tract conditions, it had the highest prevalence. These findings were different from similar literature where idiopathic cystitis is reported to be the major cause of urinary tract disease in cats. The main clinical symptoms of cats suffering from urolithiasis were dysuria, hematuria, stranguria, distended urinary bladder and painful abdomen.

Urolithiasis in cats: Evaluation of trends in urolith composition and risk factors (2005-2018).

BackgroundUrolithiasis is an important upper and lower urinary tract disease in cats that results in morbidity and mortality.ObjectiveTo describe trends in composition of uroliths in cats and evaluate risk factors related to age, breed, sex, urolith location, and bacterial urolith cultures.Sample PopulationA total of 3940 uroliths and the cats from which they were obtained.MethodsThe database of the UC Davis Gerald V. Ling Urinary Stone Analysis Laboratory was searched for all urolith submissions from cats between January 2005 and December 2018. Mineral type, age, breed, sex, and urolith location and culture results were recorded. Trends were evaluated and variables compared to evaluate risk factors.ResultsA significant decrease in the proportion of calcium oxalate (CaOx)‐containing uroliths occurred over time (P = .02), from 50.1% (204/407) of all submissions in 2005 to 37.7% (58/154) in 2018. In contrast, the proportion of struvite‐containing uroliths increased significantly (P = .002), from 41.8% (170/407) in 2005 to 54.5% (84/154) in 2018. The proportion of CaOx‐containing uroliths in the upper urinary tract was significantly higher compared to the proportion of other urolith types in the upper urinary tract. Urate‐containing uroliths were the third most common type (361/3940, 9.2%). Overall, sex and age predispositions were similar to those reported previously.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe decrease in the proportion of CaOx‐containing uroliths and increase in the proportion of struvite‐containing uroliths warrants investigation. Further education regarding the efficacy of medical dissolution of struvite‐containing uroliths is recommended.

The effect of a therapeutic urinary stress diet on the short-term recurrence of feline idiopathic cystitis.

The aim of this cohort study was to evaluate the effect of a therapeutic urinary stress diet on recurrent clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease in cats with idiopathic cystitis. The effects of feeding a therapeutic urinary stress diet were compared with feeding a non‐therapeutic diet for a duration of 5 weeks. The owners selected themselves which food to feed their cat. Of 31 cats with acute non‐obstructive idiopathic cystitis, 17 were fed the test food and 14 the control food. An episode of recurrence was defined as a minimum of one day with at least two clinical signs; i.e. stranguria, periuria, haematuria, dysuria and pollakiuria. The number of cats fed the therapeutic urinary stress diet that had an episode of recurrence (5/17) was significantly lower compared with cats that were fed other commercial diets (11/14). The formulation of the foods fed to the participating cats (dry, moist or a combination of both) was not found significant compared with the recurrence of idiopathic cystitis. Apart from type of diet, no other risk factors affected the short‐term recurrence of FIC. A prospective clinical trial is needed to confirm these findings.

Complications and clinical utility of ultrasonographically guided pyelocentesis and antegrade pyelography in cats and dogs: 49 cases (2007-2015).

To describe the diagnostic utility and clinical safety of ultrasonographically guided percutaneous pyelocentesis and antegrade pyelography in cats and dogs. Retrospective case series. 39 cats and 10 dogs with 55 affected kidneys. Medical records were reviewed to identify cats and dogs that underwent ultrasonographically guided pyelocentesis and antegrade pyelography between June 1, 2007, and December 31, 2015. Data collected included procedure descriptions; results of diagnostic imaging, urine cytologic evaluation, and bacterial culture; and evidence of complications. Animals were assigned to the pyelocentesis group (underwent only pyelocentesis) or to the antegrade pyelography group (underwent pyelocentesis followed immediately by pyelography). The diagnostic rate for pyelography was 94% (31/33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 80.4% to 98.9%). The total, minor, and major complication rates for both treatment groups combined were 25% (95% CI, 15.8% to 38.3%), 24% (95% CI, 14.4% to 36.3%), and 2% (95% CI, 0.09% to 9.6%), respectively. Performing bacterial culture of urine obtained by pyelocentesis did not provide an advantage over performing bacterial culture of urine obtained from the lower urinary tract. Findings indicated that ultrasonographically guided pyelocentesis and antegrade pyelography were well-tolerated techniques for investigating upper urinary tract disease in cats and dogs and that pyelography had a higher diagnostic rate than previously reported; therefore, pyelography should be considered for identification of mechanical and functional ureteral patency abnormalities in cats and dogs.

Intravesical Application of Lidocaine and Sodium Bicarbonate in the Treatment of Obstructive Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease in Cats

In human patients with interstitial cystitis, intravesical instillation of alkalinized lidocaine sometimes is associated with sustained amelioration of symptoms beyond the acute treatment phase. Interstitial cystitis shares many features in common with feline idiopathic cystitis. To evaluate whether intravesical instillation of alkalinized lidocaine decreases recurrence of urethral obstruction and severity of clinical signs in cats with obstructive idiopathic LUTD. Twenty-six cats with obstructive idiopathic LUTD. Twelve cats in case group (treatment with alkalinized lidocaine) and 14 control cats (treatment with placebo or standard treatment). Cats were randomly assigned to treatment (2 or 4 mg/kg lidocaine and sodium bicarbonate) or placebo groups (0.2 mL/kg saline solution and sodium bicarbonate). The intravesical instillation was done once a day for 3 days. Some cats underwent standard treatment only (indwelling urinary catheter for 3 days without intravesical instillations). A 2-week, 1-month, and 2-month follow-up after treatment was made using a questionnaire. The recurrence rate and amelioration scores of clinical signs were assessed and compared. Recurrence of urethral obstruction was 58% (7/12) in the case group and 57% (8/14) in the control group. Amelioration scores were similar between the 2 groups. Intravesical administration of lidocaine for up to 3 consecutive days had no apparent beneficial effect on decreasing recurrence rate and severity of clinical signs in cats with obstructive idiopathic LUTD.

Causes of lower urinary tract disease in Norwegian cats

A study was made on causes of lower urinary tract disease in cats, and to investigate whether demographic data and factors related to husbandry might influence the occurrence of a particular diagnosis. The study was a prospective, descriptive, and analytical study of primary cases of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) in Norway. Only cats sampled by cystocentesis were included in the present study. Of the 119 cats included, 28.6% were diagnosed with obstructive FLUTD. The majority of cats were diagnosed with feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) (55.5%). Urethral plugs were the second most common diagnosis (21.0%), whereas bacterial cystitis and urolithiasis each were diagnosed in 11.8%. Nearly one-third (28.6%) of the cats diagnosed with urolithiasis had significant bacteriuria. Thus, significant bacteriuria was diagnosed in a total of 15.1% of the cats. There were no significant differences in the urine specific gravity, pH and amount of epithelial cells in the urine sediment in the different aetiological categories of FLUTD. There was a higher amount of red blood cells in the urine sediment in cats diagnosed with urethral plugs and urolithiasis, whereas cats with bacterial cystitis and urolithiasis had a higher amount of white blood cells in their sediment. Regarding demographic data and factors related to husbandry, cats diagnosed with FLUTD were more often males and kept strictly indoors, when compared with a 'reference population'.

Prevalence of bacterial species in cats with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease: Recognition of Staphylococcus felis as a possible feline urinary tract pathogen

This study investigated the prevalence of bacterial pathogens of the urinary tract in Australian cats. Urine was collected by cystocentesis and subjected to urinalysis, bacterial culture and susceptibility testing. A total of 126 isolates were obtained from 107 culture-positive cats. Escherichia coli was most commonly isolated (37.3% of isolates) with the majority of isolates showing susceptibility to the 14 antimicrobials tested. Just over a quarter of isolates (27.0%) were Enterococcus faecalis, which showed resistance to cephalosporins and clindamycin. Staphylococcus felis, a previously unreported feline urinary tract pathogen which was susceptible to all antimicrobial agents tested, comprised 19.8% of the isolates. S. felis was significantly associated with urine that had a higher specific gravity ( p = 0.011) and pH ( p = 0.006) and was more likely to contain crystals ( p = 0.002) than urine from which other bacterial species were isolated. This is the first published study that associates the isolation of S. felis with clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease in cats.

Evaluation of the role of lower urinary tract disease in cats with urine-marking behavior.

To determine whether findings of urinalyses could be used to reliably distinguish gonadectomized cats with urine-marking behavior from those with no problem urination. Case control study. 58 gonadectomized cats (47 males and 11 females) with urine-marking behavior (ie, marking of vertical surfaces) and 39 (26 males and 13 females) without problem urination or urinary tract-associated conditions. Urine was collected by cystocentesis from all cats. Findings of urinalyses of cats with urine-marking behavior were analyzed statistically for sex-related differences and differences between cats that marked vertical surfaces only and those that marked both vertical and horizontal surfaces; findings of urinalyses of control cats were compared between sexes. Subsequently, results of urinalyses of cats with urine-marking behavior were compared with those of control cats. With regard to variables measured via urinalysis, there were no differences between male and female cats within either group. Among cats with urine-marking behavior, there were no differences between those that only marked vertically and those that marked vertically and horizontally. Analyses of data from all cats with urine-marking behavior and control cats revealed no differences that could be associated with urine marking. These data suggest that urine-marking behavior by gonadectomized cats is an aspect of normal behavior. Clinicians are advised to focus on behavioral history of house-soiling cats to differentiate between urine-marking behavior and inappropriate urination; for the latter, urinalysis is appropriate to rule out lower urinary tract disorders.

Pet food manufacturer comments on testing of raw food diets . . . . Questions interaction of gender and age on risk of lower urinary tract disease in cats . . . . Disappointed reader honest with editor

Pet food manufacturer comments on testing of raw food diets . . . . Questions interaction of gender and age on risk of lower urinary tract disease in cats . . . . Disappointed reader honest with editor

Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections

Bacterial urinary tract infection rarely is the initial cause of lower urinary tract disease in cats; however, a substantial number of cats with various lower urinary tract disorders develop urinary infections as a complication of the underlying disease or its treatment. Examination of urine sediment for pyuria is a good screening test for urinary tract infection, but results of urine cultures are needed to diagnose such infections reliably, as well as to guide therapeutic decisions. Appropriate antimicrobial drug therapy is the cornerstone of treatment for urinary tract infection. Treatment of the underlying urinary disorder also is important, and follow-up urine cultures should be performed to determine therapeutic outcome.

Lower urinary tract disease in cats: Is diet still a cause?

Lower urinary tract disease in cats: Is diet still a cause?

Lower Urinary Tract Disease in Cats—New Problems, New Paradigms

Companion animal diets may be related to prevention, pathogenesis and/or treatment of diseases of the lower urinary tract. For example, urolithiasis can be either diet induced or nutrient sensitive. One of the most interesting developments in veterinary urolithiasis research has been the recent change in the composition of stones recovered from cats. In 1984, 88% of stones analyzed by quantitative methods were > 70% struvite, whereas < 1% were calcium oxalate. In 1992, the percentage of struvite had dropped to 62, whereas the percentage of calcium oxalate had increased to 24. Another recent development in lower urinary tract disease of cats is the recognition that urolithiasis appears to be a minor cause of the signs of frequency, urgency and hematuria for which patients are presented. This suggests that diet may no longer be involved, or be involved in previously unrecognized ways, in many current cases of this disease. Some of these feline patients may have a disease similar to interstitial cystitis, a disease of humans that appears to be of neuroepithelial origin. Our laboratory has been studying this possibility recently, and many similarities between the two diseases have been found.

Perineal urethrostomy versus dietary management in prevention of recurrent lower urinary tract disease

ABSTRACTThe frequency and cause of recurrent lower urinary tract disease was compared prospectively in three groups of 10 male cats during a one year period following correction of obstructive urethropathy caused by matrix‐crystalline plugs. One group of cats was managed by perineal urethrostomy, one group with a calculolytic diet, and the third group by perineal urethrostomy and the calculolytic diet. Ten episodes of bacterial urinary tract infection developed in five of 10 cats with perineal urethrostomies; six episodes of bacterial urinary tract infection developed in four of 10 cats with perineal urethrostomies and consuming the calculolytic diet. Bacterial urinary tract infections were not observed in cats managed only with the calculolytic diet. Staphylococcal‐induced struvite urocystoliths developed in two cats with perineal urethrostomies. Vesicourachal diverticula detected in nine cats at the time of diagnosis of urethral obstruction healed spontaneously following restoration of urethral patency and remission of clinical signs. Transient microscopic haematuria was observed in approximately 25 per cent of the cats in all three treatment groups during the one year study. Results of this study confirm the effectiveness of dietary management in prevention of recurrent urethral obstruction caused by struvite‐containing urethral precipitates, and verify that recurrent signs of lower urinary tract disease in cats may be caused by agents that are different from those that initiate the problem. They also confirm that perineal urethrostomies predispose cats to recurrent ascending bacterial urinary tract infections.

Urinary Tract Disease in Cats: Water Balance Studies, Urolith and Crystal Analyses, and Necropsy Findings

R YO UR P eT Urinary tract disease • is a very general term used to describe any one of several conditions that can affect any part of the urinary tract. Clinical signs associated with urinary tract disease • vary depending on the exact condition. Some types of urinary tract disease can be reversed • with treatment, while other conditions, such as chronic kidney failure, are irreversible. In the latter case, treatment may help slow the progression of the disease.