Everything You Need to Know About FLUTD

Why do potty-trained cats all of a sudden frequently pee outside a litter box? Why do they suddenly choose to pee in other places like tile floors, countertops, or bathtubs? Do not get mad at your cat; your cat might be having uncomfortable journeys to the litter box.

If cats tend to lick themselves excessively and show signs of painful urinations, that could be signs that they might be experiencing feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). This affects the bladder and urethra rather than the kidneys of cats.

What is FLUTD?

Feline lower urinary tract disease is the general term for various problems in the bladder and urethra. Another term for FLUTD is a feline urologic syndrome (FUS) and feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). This ailment causes tiny crystals and blood in the urine.

Causes

Numerous underlying medical problems can add to the development of FLUTD, such as urolithiasis (urinary stones), urinary infection, urethral obstruction, and urinary calculi (also called “sand” or “grit”).

FLUTD is generally seen in middle-aged, obese cats with little or no exercise. They usually have no outdoor access, use an indoor litter box, or eat a dry diet. Additional aspects such as environmental anxiety, abrupt changes in everyday regimen, and living with several cats in your residence might also contribute to the development of FLUTD.

Symptoms

• Straining to urinate (this can be confused with bowel irregularity).
• Urinating small amounts, usually outside the litter box
• Crying while urinating
• Frequent licking of the genitalia
• Foul-smelling, bloody, or cloudy pee

Call or schedule a visit at any Lacey animal clinic immediately if any symptoms appear.

Diagnosis.

It is rather challenging to diagnose FLUTD since it has numerous causes. Your veterinarian would physically examine your cat based upon the signs and symptoms appearing. The veterinarian might refer you to laboratory facilities for urinalysis, assessing pH concentration and the presence of blood, crystals, or infection. 

If the urinalysis can not rule out the condition, additional examinations such as urine culture, blood works, and x-rays might be advised. Check this for more info about laboratory facilities. 

Treatment.

A specialist veterinarian at facilities like Olympia Pet Emergency might suggest therapies according to the signs and symptoms that showed up, given that FLUTD has many causes.

If your cat has a blocked urethra, a catheter is passed into the bladder while your cat is sedated. This treatment gets rid of the obstruction and purges the bladder. A hospital stay for a few days is advised till your pet cat can urinate normally, and when it appears, that blockage will unlikely recur.

Treatment of bladder stones might be a combination of surgery and dietary therapy. Depending on the sort of crystals in the urine. Struvite crystals can break down in acidic urine; thus, a diet that increases acidity in urine will be suggested. If the crystal is calcium oxalate, a non- acidified diet will be recommended since acidification may cause the recurrence of stones.

Painkillers and antibiotics may be used for pain relief and infection if neither urethral blockage nor bladder stones are present. Diet may also be used to dissolve struvite crystals in the urine.

What can you do to prevent the occurrence of FLUTD?

Consult your vet about a suitable diet regimen; a specialized diet may be more appropriate than a commercial one. Small frequent feedings are optimal for FLUTD cases. Keep your cat hydrated with clean and fresh water at all times.

Provide enough litter boxes, ideally more than the number of cats in the home. Put these boxes in safe and quiet areas of your home. Constantly keep the litter boxes disinfected.

Finally, minimize all environmental stress factors to felines. Try to reduce significant modifications in the usual routine. Regular follow-ups with the vet are essential to monitoring any indications of recurring concerns.