Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
Detailed information about Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
Species: Cat
Breeds Affected: All breeds (typically adult indoor cats; overweight male cats predisposed)
Overview
A general term for conditions affecting the bladder and urethra. Causes include idiopathic cystitis, urinary stones, mucus plugs, and UTIs. Stress and diet are major factors.
Symptoms
- Difficulty and pain urinating
- straining in the litter box with little output
- vocalizing during urination
- possible blood in the urine
- and inappropriate elimination. In severe cases (eg
- obstruction)
- the cat may vomit
- collapse
- and show signs of acute distress.
Treatments
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Increasing water intake (eg, wet food, water fountains), prescription dissolution diets for struvite stones, stress reduction (environmental enrichment, pheromone diffusers), and prompt catheterization in obstruction cases are key. Post-relief, dietary modification and urinary acidifiers may be used to prevent recurrence.
Medications
Analgesics (eg, buprenorphine) for pain relief; antispasmodics (eg, prazosin) to relax the urethra; antibiotics if a UTI is diagnosed; anti-anxiety medications (eg, amitriptyline) for recurrent idiopathic cystitis; urethral relaxants (eg, diazepam) may be given post-obstruction.
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