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Bladder disease in the cat is a frequently recognized
problem. It can occur in both male and females,
but can be more serious of a problem in the male cat.
Causes of bladder disease include simple bacterial infection,
bladder stones and or crystals (minerals which merge
to form bladder stones), infection within the bladder
wall, and cancer or tumors in the bladder itself.
In the majority of cases, infection by itself, or accompanied
by bladder crystals is seen. If crystals are present,
they usually cause irritation and infection in the bladder
before merging into forming bladder stones.
Common symptoms include straining to urinate, frequent
attempts to urinate, spending a long time in the litter
pan, producing small amounts of urine at a time, urinating
outside of the litter pan, and blood in the urine.
Because male cats have a narrower urethra (tube leading
from the bladder to outside the body) than female cats,
bladder crystals in the male cat can often times obstruct
the flow of urine by clogging or blocking the urethra
. Blockage of urine flow is considered a medical
emergency.
If allowed to continue, this blockage of urine flow
backs up toxins in the cat's blood stream normally cleared
by the urine. This accumulation of toxins can
lead to a lack of appetite, vomiting, severe weakness,
abnormalities with the heart rhythm, and ultimately
death.
Treatment in the case of urine blockage, is aimed at
restoring the flow of urine. A catheter inserted
in the urethra acts to "break through" the
blockade of crystals, thus allowing for evacuation of
the urine. Most cats affected with crystals or
stones usually have accompanying infection requiring
antibiotics.
Not all cats develop crystals in the bladder.
Affected cats may have a genetic cause behind the crystal
development. These cats require special diets
and or medications to eliminate their bladder crystals,
and prevent them from recurring.
In some cases of urinary blockage in the male cat,
surgery is required to allow them to urinate freely
again. The surgery acts to widen the urethra,
allowing for crystals to pass rather than to clog the
urethra. Usually the cats requiring surgery, have
not responded to the urinary catheter treatment, and
continue to re-blocked after removal of the catheter.
Surgery is aimed at reducing the chance of urine blockage
but does not alter the development of bladder crystals.
These cats will still require appropriate diets and
medications to prevent crystal formation.
Female cats rarely block, unless stone formation has
occurred. In which case, the stones are wide enough
to clog the urethra, blocking the flow of urine.
Surgical removal of the stones is usually required.
Persistent infection in which there are no crystals
or stones, may have bacteria lodged within the bladder
wall. This is called interstitial cystitis,
and can be difficult to cure. Antibiotics often
times are unable to penetrate the bladder wall to get
at the bacteria. Medical and surgical procedures
are performed to reduce the amount of tissue along the
wall of the bladder that the bacteria have to "hide"
in. This then allows the antibiotics a chance to affect
the bacteria and cure the condition.
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