Normal kidneys filter the blood, removing wastes and excreting them in
the urine. Kidneys damaged by infection or inflammation lose some
of this filtering ability, and waste products accumulate in the bloodstream.
Continued recirculation of this material results in illness. About
three-fourths of kidney tissue must be damaged before signs of illness
appear. For this reason, kidney disease is often considered chronic
(present a long time) even though the affected pet may not have shown signs
of disease for very long.
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Signs of chronic kidney disease include vomiting, diarrhea, increased
urination, decreased appetite, depression, and bad breath. Continued
illness results in collapse, seizures, coma, and death.
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Though chronic kidney disease is not curable, it is often controllable.
Many pets can live reasonably normal lives when properly managed in a cooperative
effort between owner and veterinarian. In many cases, initial treatment
involves flushing the animal’s blood with intravenous fluids until kidney
function improves. Usually this is done in the hospital. When
the values of the kidney function tests are more normal, treatment can
continue at home. A controlled diet is critical to successful treatment
of chronic kidney disease. Make sure your pet has free access to
clean drinking water at all times. Call your veterinarian if your
pet does not seem to be drinking adequately.
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Notify your veterinarian if any of the following occur:
Your pet is reluctant to eat or seems depressed.
Your pet vomits or has diarrhea.
Your pet faints or acts dazed or confused.
There is a change in your pet’s water intake and/or urination.
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Cystitis
General Information:
Cystitis is an inflammation of the urinary bladder. It is usually
caused by bacteria that enter the bladder though the external urinary opening
(ascending infection). Kidney infections may spread to the bladder
(descending infection). Occasionally, infections in other parts of
the body spread to the bladder through the bloodstream. Prostatic
infection can cause recurring bladder infections in males. Bladder
stones (calculi) are a common cause of chronic cystitis. Females
appear to be more susceptible to bladder infections than males.
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Common signs of bladder infection include frequent licking of the urinary
opening, frequent voiding of small amounts of urine, blood in the urine,
painful urination, and unproductive straining to urinate.
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Treatment consists of medication which must be given as directed.
Make sure your pet has frequent opportunities to urinate during the day,
as prolonged urine retention tends to promote cystitis. Allow ready
access to fresh, clean water at all times.
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Notify your veterinarian if any of the following occur:
Your pet continues to have discomfort while urinating.
Your pet cannot urinate.
Your pet vomits or has diarrhea.
Your pet continues to have bloody urine.
Your pet’s problem recurs after an apparent recovery.
Urine produced in a healthy urinary tract contains a great deal of dissolved
materials. In cats with feline urologic syndrome (FUS), mineral crystals
collect in the urinary tract, especially the bladder and its outflow tract
(urethra). The accumulating crystals irritate the lining of the urinary
tract and may clump together to form "stones" in the bladder or obstruct
the outflow of urine. Obstructions are relatively common in male
cats and may be fatal if not treated promptly.
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Signs of FUS include excessive licking of the genitalia, frequent voiding
of small amounts of urine, urinating in unusual locations, blood in the
urine, straining or evidence of pain during urination, and unproductive
attempts to urinate.
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Despite intense study, no single cause for FUS has been discovered.
We are, however, aware of several factors that may lead to FUS. These
factors include bacterial and viral infections, diet, obesity, reduced
physical activity, low water consumption, and prolonged urine retention.
Surgical neutering does not cause FUS.
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FUS is an emergency and prompt treatment is essential. Many cats
require hospitalization for treatment. Treatment is designed to relieve
the obstruction, flush the crystalline material from the urinary tract,
treat any infections, correct any fluid imbalances, and institute preventative
dietary therapy. Despite treatment, some cats die from irreversible
kidney damage. While most cats respond to prompt treatment, the obstruction
recurs in some cats within a few days or weeks. In some male cats
with recurring disease, surgical enlargement of the urinary tract opening
(perineal urethrostomy) is desirable. Dietary control is essential
to treatment and prevention of FUS. Diets designed to treat or prevent
FUS contain minimum mineral levels and cause increased water consumption
and production of an acidic urine. Acidic urine tends to prevent
formulation of mineral crystals.
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Notify your veterinarian if any of the following occur:
Your cat strains and/or cries when urinating.
Your cat frequently passes small volumes of urine.
Your cat has blood in the urine or urinates in odd places.
Your cat refuses to eat, seems depressed, or vomits.
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Urinary Incontinence
General Information:
Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. The causes vary
and include nerve damage, hormone deficiencies, structural deformities,
infections, obstructions from tumors, bladder stones or an enlarged prostrate
gland, excessive drinking, and certain drugs.
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One of the common types of urinary incontinence occurs in older spayed
female dogs and is caused by a deficiency of the hormone estrogen.
Signs include leakage during sleep or while walking, jumping, etc.
Generally these dogs seem not to realize they are urinating. Estrogen
supplementation is usually successful in these females, but treatment is
usually necessary for the rest of the pet’s life.
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As there are many causes of incontinence, physical examination, laboratory
tests, and radiographic (x-ray) studies are often needed to correctly diagnose
the problem.
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Notify your veterinarian if any of the following occur:
Your pet continues to have "accidents."
Your pet has blood in the urine or around the urinary opening.
