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FLUTD -
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
What is it?
As the name suggests it is a problem with the lower urinary tract (bladder and urethra)
of cats. Inflammation can occur in one or both of these areas. This will lead to frequent
straining to urinate and the presence of blood in the urine. In some cases there can be
partial or complete obstruction of the urethra.
Complete blockage tends to occur mainly in male cats due to their different anatomy of the
urethra. It seems one of the causes of this inflammation is the formation of microscopic
crystals in the urine.
How do I know if my cat has it?
The signs of FLUTD relate to the irritation occurring in the urethra and/or bladder:
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Cat spends a lot of time straining in the litter tray or garden for very little or no
result
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Cat is going to the litter more often than normal
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Signs of blood or mucous in urine
If obstruction of the urinary tract occurs the following signs may be seen:
If you suspect your cat is completely blocked, this is a potentially fatal situation
and Veterinary attention should be sort immediately
What causes
FLUTD?
FLUTD is an extremely complex disease. There are many factors involved and there is
still a lot that is not known. Some factors studied are:
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Age: can occur at any age
-
Sex: can occur in either sex but potentially more serious in males
-
Obesity: tends to occur more in overweight or obese cats
-
Diet: a diet that is high in particular minerals will contribute to the problem
-
Infection: some studies have suggested viruses to be the cause of
FLUTD, but this is
unproven
How do we diagnose it?
The main presenting sign is a cat that has been straining to urinate. The first thing
we will do is fully examine the cat and palpate the abdomen to see if we can feel a full
and possibly blocked bladder. A urine sample is useful for us to test for: Blood, acidity
and presence of crystals. Occasionally, if the problem is recurrent we will send a sample
of the urine for culture. Another procedure sometimes performed is abdominal Xrays if we
suspect a stone may be present in the bladder.
Treatment
In a cat with FLUTD without bladder blockage the treatment will depend on the case.
Anti-inflammatories, Fluid Therapy and occasionally Antibiotics, may all be used.
A cat that has a blocked bladder is in a life-threatening situation. When bladder
can’t empty the kidneys can’t work which leads to electrolyte abnormalities in
the blood. This inturn leads to heart problems and death. The most important thing to do
in a blocked cat is to relieve the blockage and correct any electrolyte abnormalities.
This is done as follows:
A short anaesthetic is used to relax the cat and a urinary catheter is passed into the
bladder. This is then attached to a collection bag and the bladder emptied. At the same
time fluid therapy is commenced to rehydrate the cat and correct electrolyte imbalances.
The fluids are kept going for a while after the blockage is relieved as the cat will lose
much more urine than it should after a blockage and this can lead to further dangerous
dehydration. At this time antibiotics and other drugs to control inflammation and spasming
of the bladder and urethra are given. When the urine is flowing clear (usually ~24hrs) the catheter is removed. Once the cat is eating and drinking the fluid therapy is
stopped. If the cat can urinate by itself it is usually right to go home with medication.
Prevention
Specific diets seems to be the most effective method to date for preventing FLUTD
recurrence. The crystals that form in the urine are called struvite crystals. Struvite is
a combination of several minerals including phosphorus, ammonium and magnesium. Of these
magnesium is the most significant in that reducing the levels of magnesium in the diet
seems to limit the formation of struvite in the urine. Manipulation of the pH (acidity) of
the urine produced also plays an important role.
There are several prescription diets for controlling crystal formation:
Hills c/d Prescription Diet & s/d Prescription Diet
Walthams ph Control
All of these are available in the wet and dry form
Some supermarket foods have dangerously high levels of magnesium for a cat that may be
prone to FLUTD. You should seek advice from your Vet before any dietary changes in a cat
who has had a bout of FLUTD.
While being modified in certain ways these prescription diets are still balanced and
complete diets and can (and should) be used as the entire diet for your cat. These foods
may appear expensive on a per bag or per carton basis they compare quite favourably to the
food you are already feeding when compared on a per meal basis.
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