Many animals, such as cats, can suffer from the same diseases as humans, although we often ignore this fact. That is why from our site we recommend you to be attentive to possible symptoms, strange behaviors and behaviors out of the ordinary, since cats are animals of habit, so any change in their habits indicates that there is a problem.
This time we want to talk to you about kidney stones in cats, their symptoms and treatment, since it is a disease that attacks cats more often than you imagine.
What are kidney stones?
Also called uroliths, and popularly known as "kidney stones", it is the excessive accumulation of certain minerals in the urinary tract of cats, affecting your ability to urinate.
In cats, there are two types of minerals that affect the feline most frequently:
- Struvite-type stones, caused by magnesium.
- Calcium-type stones, caused by high levels of acids in the urine.
When your cat tries to urinate, the stones accumulate in its ducts, preventing it from expelling urine no matter how hard the animal tries to do so, causing severe pain. The presence of kidney stones not only causes this type of discomfort and urinary infections, but a late diagnosis or lack of medical attention can cause the death of the animal in a very short time, when kidney failure occurs. The condition can worsen in as little as two weeks.
What factors cause its appearance?
Some items can make your cat prone to kidney stones:
- Genetic predisposition: Himalayans, Persians, and Burmese tend to suffer from this condition more often than other races.
- Gender: More common in males than females.
- Age: its appearance is more likely from the age of five.
- Medications: Prolonged use of some drugs, such as cortisone or tetracycline, among others, can cause kidney and urinary failure.
- Dehydration: Lack of water causes kidney failure and mineral buildup.
- Diet: When your cat's food is high in carbohydrates, magnesium, phosphorous or calcium.
- Infections: some urinary infections can result in the formation of stones in the cat's kidneys.
What are the symptoms of kidney stones in cats?
When it comes to kidney stones, the most important thing is detecting the condition early, so keep an eye out for any changes in your cat's habits, such as:
- Problems urinating, reflected in an effort during urination, which sometimes does not work.
- Pain when urinating.
- Restlessness and nervousness.
- Blood samples in urine.
- You urinate in small quantities and frequently, as you cannot expel everything in one urination.
- Moans of pain when using the litter box.
- The cat licks its genital area more frequently.
- Vomiting.
- Depression.
- Lack of appetite.
How is the diagnosis made?
The vet will need you to describe any unusual signs you have observed in your feline, and will use this and some tests to determine whether or not it is kidney stones in your cat:
- Paste the animal's abdomen for pain and lumps or swelling in the area.
- Perform a x-ray which allows the kidneys, bladder and entire urinary system to be examined for mineral deposits.
- Urinalysis to detect possible infections.
- Laboratory analysis to perform a study with a collected stone sample.
All these studies will serve to discover the urinary obstruction and at the same time determine what type of stone it is.
How is kidney stone treatment performed in cats?
The treatment indicated by the veterinarian will depend on the type of mineral accumulation that is affecting the feline and the level of severity of the disease. The options are varied:
- Diet change: there are dry cat foods specially formulated to treat kidney conditions, but it is best to opt for wet food, since more water helps to dilute the minerals accumulated in the urine.
- Cystotomy: This is a surgical operation applied to remove stones.
- Removal of mineral deposits: A catheter will be used to clear the stones from the bladder area. It is a somewhat uncomfortable procedure for the animal, but it is routine in these cases.
- Ureterotomy: Tiny microscopes are used to assess the condition of the urinary system and remove stones, widening the urethra.
Any of these procedures is usually accompanied by treatments with drugs applicable at home:
- Use of anti-inflammatories, to reduce swelling and relieve pain, improving the mood of the feline.
- Use of antibiotics, necessary in case of a urinary tract infection.
- Increased fresh water intake, both to counteract dehydration and to help dissolve stones. You must do everything possible so that your cat increases its water consumption, about 50 to 100 milliliters of the vital liquid for each kilo of weight is the recommended average.
Is it possible to prevent?
After reviewing the symptoms of kidney stones in cats and their treatment, you should know that you can help your feline prevent their appearance with a few easy-to-follow habits:
- Offer him plenty of fresh, clean water.
- Give him a diet based on dry and wet food, plus low s alt.
- Avoid stressful situations.
- Carry out biannual check-ups to detect any illness in time.
