Feline Urethral Obstructions in Baytown, TX
Feline urethral obstructions are relatively common and account for up to 10% of feline cases presented to emergency veterinary clinics. When left untreated, a urethral obstruction can become a potentially life-threatening emergency.
If your cat is suffering from a urethral obstruction, make an appointment immediately with Baytown Animal Hospital, we will make sure your feline family member gets the proper treatment and they’re on their way to recovery in no time.
What Is Feline Urethral Obstruction?
Urine cannot exit the bladder if the urethra is partly or entirely obstructed, which leads to fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalances. The tube that drains urine from the bladder out of the penis in male cats, known as the urethra, can be often obstructed.
Plugs of inflammatory material, crystals, mucus, and tiny stones that have developed in the kidneys and moved down into the bladder can also cause obstructions. These will cause a urethral obstruction that cannot be removed without assistance from the our veterinarians. Urinary tract blockage is no joke and needs to be addressed right away. Before you search for “veterinary feline urethral obstruction service near me”, give us a call right away.
Signs and Symptoms of Feline Urethral Obstruction
- Dehydration
- Bloated belly
- Strained and frequent urination
- Diarrhea
- Presence of blood in the urine
- Anorexia
- Yowling during urination
- Depression
- Vomiting
What Causes Urethral Obstruction?
There is not enough knowledge yet to completely understand the causes of urinary tract obstruction. The blockage may appear abruptly in certain circumstances, but it could also take many days or even weeks to develop. Some partial blockage cases may be resolved in a week. In these circumstances, there is a high probability of recurrence within 6 to 12 months. Some potential causes of urethral obstruction include:
- Stressful environments
- Exclusive dry food diet
- Cat is always indoors
- Multi-cat households
- Cat is middle-aged
- Nervous or anxious temperament
- Anatomical defect in the bladder
- Abnormal urethra structure
- Overweight
Diagnosing A Feline Urethral Obstruction
It's important that you share with us all of your cat's symptoms. Since urinary tract obstruction is a serious condition, we will need all the information you can provide about your cat's diet, the length of the symptoms, and any stressors that could have led to the obstruction in order to make the best treatment decisions.
Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, we will do a blood test to assess kidney function. This will assist us in determining whether any renal diseases may be present in the background and be the source of the obstruction. Additionally, we will collect a urine sample and do a urinalysis on it in order to check for crystals and stones.
What Is The Treatment For Urethral Obstruction in Cats?
The procedure starts with administering anesthesia and placing a catheter into the urethra. The catheter will be kept in place for a couple of days to allow any leftover material to drain with the help of a saline flush and a water-based lubricant. This will cleanse the bladder and force the obstructions back into the bladder.
We will then execute a cystotomy, a surgical operation that opens the bladder, and the stones will be taken out.
Recovery After Urethral Obstruction
Your cat may need to stay with us for a few days to monitor its condition and make sure they are getting better. In order to keep them from biting the surgical area, they will need to wear an Elizabethan collar for approximately two weeks after the procedure.
It's crucial to keep an eye on your cat for the first weeks after the surgery. An obstruction is unlikely to recur as long as the procedure is effective and the healing process is uneventful, so it’s important to keep them from injuring the sutures or the surgical site. Routine follow-up sessions can be scheduled, and Baytown Animal Hospital can be reached at (281) 424-5575 if there’s an emergency after the surgery.
