Years ago, when I began practice, we would see cats with Feline Urologic Syndrome(FUS) multiple times a month. The cats were always in distress and owners reported multiple trips to the litter box with no urine being produced. These cats are usually males since they have a predisposition to urinary blockages based on the smaller size of their urethra. Females can be diagnosed with FUS but they usually are always able to pee but take multiple trips to litter box with small amounts of urine output.
Panda is a 3-year-old-long haired indoor only cat. He started showing signs of discomfort with frequent trips to the litter box. Owners noted that he was not having any urine output. His diet had been switched about 3 weeks earlier which may have led to the change in urine consistency and pH. In recent years many cat food companies aware of this life-threatening condition have altered the ash content of their cat foods to reduce the incidence of FUS. For some cats this is not enough of a change to prevent FUS. This condition takes into consideration many different factors and reduced ash is only one of them.
At presentation many of these cats are in extreme pain. Some have stopped eating and drinking. Some may be vomiting and lethargic. Abdominal palpation is painful, and the bladder is hard and enlarged. The blood work shows pre-renal azotemia with elevated Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine along with other various changes. Many of the laboratory results will be resolved after the crisis is over.
Anesthesia is required to relieve the blockage by placing a urinary catheter to allow continual drainage as the mineralized crystals are flushed from the bladder. Initially the urine is blood red and gritty in appearance. An intravenous (IV) catheter is placed and Lactated Ringers Solution given in a constant drip to facilitate resolution of the high levels of BUN and creatinine. This also becomes a way to rehydrate the patient. Many of the cats will be vomiting along with not eating or drinking so dehydration is a crucial factor. Panda was hospitalized during this crisis. Many patients can go home within 24-48 hours if the condition is discovered quickly. The tragedy comes when left undiscovered and the bladder ruptures related to the inability to empty. Those cases are complicated and can end in death.
Once Panda was feeling better and had recovered from his anesthesia, he was offered a prescription diet called Royal Canin urinary s/o designed to prevent FUS. There are a few diets commercially available for urinary health as well as multiple veterinary prescription diets. Prescription diets offer other positive aspects for prevention of FUS. What diet you feed your cats can impact them in ways that can lead to medical issues. Researching your cats’ diets is highly encouraged. Keeping the diet the same and not switching is often recommended as those subtle changes can lead to not only weight gain but also other health issues. Talk with your veterinarian about what would be a good diet for your cat. They are knowledgeable about nutrition and the health issues that come with feeding the wrong diets to your cat. As pet owners you can no longer use the cost of food to determine the quality of the diet. Everything that pertains to pets has a price tag since marketers are aware that these furry friends are now family. We will do whatever it takes to make them live longer.
Have a great spring. Get out and enjoy the weather but hang on to your hat! It seems the wind is here to stay!