Urolithiasis in cats is chronic pathology, expressed in the formation of salt deposits in the form of sand (at the beginning of the disease) or stones (at late stages). KSD (urolithiasis) can appear in a cat at any age.

Causes of the disease

According to statistics, cats are more susceptible to urolithiasis than female cats, and neutered cats develop kidney stones more often than non-castrated pets. The reason for this is the underdevelopment of the urethra in the animal, which the owners decided to castrate before reaching 6 months.

This doesn't mean that urolithiasis castrated cats will definitely develop it. But a cat with removed testes has a disorder hormonal levels. His mobility decreases and his appetite increases, which can contribute to obesity.

Factors contributing to ICD include:

• Fish predominates in the pet’s diet;
• fried food;
• low-quality food (economy class);
• mixing natural and dry food;
• small amount of liquid;
• overweight animal;
• lack of activity;
• infections (staphylococci, streptococci);
• manifestations congenital pathologies genitourinary system;
• impaired metabolism;
• heredity.

The opinion that cats eating exclusively dry food are more susceptible to illness is incorrect. Urolithiasis also affects pets who eat so-called natural food.

What is the danger of urolithiasis

In the cat’s urinary canals, there is the appearance of calculi (sand and stones), which can cause enormous harm to the pet’s health:

1. Injures the mucous membrane, causing painful sensations and bleeding.
2. They impede the flow of urine, which provokes acute.
3. Promotes infection and reverse cast urine (reflux) in renal pelvis and tubules, due to which an inflammatory process may appear there.

A cat has urolithiasis in the absence of proper and timely treatment may lead to death.

Which breeds are predisposed to urolithiasis?

Veterinarians believe that long-haired and some short-haired cats are more prone to urolithiasis:

• British;
• Maine Coons;

Since urolithiasis in cats is often transmitted genetically, when purchasing a kitten, it would be useful to ask the breeder whether urolithiasis was observed in your pet’s ancestors.

Signs of urolithiasis in cats

Crystals form in the urinary tract, taking up space in the cavity and reducing the volume bladder. Crystalline deposits have sharp edges that constantly irritate living tissue. During urination, the animal tries to get rid of the contents filling the bladder, while the crystals partially come out and injure the excretory canal.

The next stage of the disease begins, during which salt deposits move through the urinary tract. If in cats the duct is straight and wider, due to which crystals do not remain in it, then in cats the urethra has an S-shaped bend, in which sediment gradually begins to appear. This leads to complete blockage of the ducts. The animal cannot defecate, and urine accumulates in the bladder.

Urolithiasis in cats is serious illness. It is dangerous because if not noticed and diagnosed in time, it can lead to fatal outcome. In cases where the treatment was successful and the disease subsided, there is a possibility of relapse. Your beloved pet must undergo regular medical examinations, and you can feed it only dietary food.

Signs to look out for

At the very beginning of the disease, the symptoms are so mild that you can ignore them. The disease manifests itself in the fact that the cat begins to go to the toilet more often, its appetite has decreased, and there may be weakness and apathy.

Signs can only be noticed when the disease begins to progress:

• visiting the toilet has become frequent, but the amount of urine in the tray has not increased;
• sitting on the tray, the cat meows and fusses;
• the cat ignores the litter box and tries to go somewhere else;
• urine can sometimes be pale pink, there are droplets of blood, sediment, mucus;
• it happens that there is no urine at all after visiting the toilet;
• hard, swollen, painful abdomen;
• If there is no urine within 6-8 hours, you can feel the bladder, which increases to the size of an apple.

If the cat tries to go to the toilet and there is no urine for more than 6 hours, do not expect improvement or deterioration. Contact the veterinary clinic immediately; treatment should be prescribed immediately. You won't be able to help your pet at home. Only a doctor can cure.

What is urolithiasis and why is it dangerous?

Urolithiasis is the deposition of salts in the bladder, less commonly in the kidneys or ureter. Gradually, the salts crystallize into stones and increase in size.

Over time, sand and stones move away from the walls of the organs and begin to move towards the exit. This leads to the formation of mechanical damage, inflammation begins.

The stone may get stuck and block the flow of urine. Acute urinary retention is very dangerous, intoxication of the body occurs, renal failure. If the bladder is overfilled, it may burst and urine will leak into the abdominal cavity, resulting in peritonitis and death of the cat.

If you find signs of the disease, even weak ones, and you are not sure about them, do not hesitate what to do. Your first aid for your pet is to take him and go to the doctor. Timely treatment will save the furry animal’s life.

Causes of ICD

A specific cause has not yet been identified. Two cats from the same litter can live in equal conditions, and one cat will get sick and the other will not. But there are factors that increase the likelihood of the disease:

• genetic predisposition;
• congenital disorders in genitourinary system;
• metabolic disorders;
• inactivity, obesity;
• low-quality cheap food;
• insufficient water intake;
• hard water;
• injuries;
• excess salt in food;
• fatty foods;
• excessive consumption of fish.

Most often, pets aged 1 to 7 years become ill.

Urolithiasis is less common in cats than in cats. This is due to the fact that animals of different sexes have different structures of the urethra. In cats it is narrower and curved.

The idea that this disease is more common in castrated cats has not been proven. The only thing we can say for sure is that neutered cats lead a less active lifestyle, eat more often and, because of this, are overweight. And obesity is one of the causes of ICD.

It is not recommended to perform the castration procedure before one year of age. The urinary canal remains underdeveloped and very narrow. If such a cat gets urolithiasis, it will be more severe, and treatment may not give quick results.

How is the disease diagnosed?

Diagnosis of urolithiasis is carried out taking into account the symptoms indicated by the owner of the animal, using urine analysis, x-rays and ultrasound.

Many people have a question about how to collect cat urine for analysis. If the toilet tray is used without filler, this is not difficult to do. The most important thing is that the tray is washed clean before doing this.

If the cat is accustomed to the litter, then in the store you can purchase special granules for collecting urine, which are poured into the tray and imitate a regular litter. Their difference is that they do not absorb urine, which allows you to carefully drain it into a special container.

The analysis accurately determines the type of stones. This is important in order to correctly prescribe treatment and medications that dissolve stones and remove them painlessly.

How is treatment carried out in a veterinary clinic?

The very first thing they should do at the veterinary clinic is to empty the bladder. To do this, use a catheter, inserting it into the urethra. Sometimes it is necessary to inject saline into the urethra to push small stones back into the bladder.

The next stage is to restore the patency of the ureters. For this purpose, medications such as antispasmodics, which reduce tone and relieve spasms, and antibiotics are prescribed broad action, which treat the inflammatory process in the genitourinary area.

If it is not possible to restore urethral patency, the doctor makes a cystoma. This procedure consists of passing through the front wall abdominal cavity A tube is inserted into the bladder to drain urine. This must be done to prevent acute delay urine.

If you notice the symptoms in time and immediately take action, then such emergency procedures will not be necessary. Urolithiasis, diagnosed at an early stage, is treated with drugs aimed at dissolving the stones.

How to prevent relapse of the disease

No matter what treatment is carried out, urolithiasis is chronic disease. It cannot be completely cured, but the cat can be helped. What needs to be done at home for this?

First of all, it is possible and necessary to exclude possible reasons relapse:

• play with the cat more. If he is unaccustomed to moving a lot and does not want to play, teach him gradually. Balls, rustling toys, winding and squeaking mice - any cat will gradually get involved in these games, but the owner must help him with this;
• Pour only filtered water into his bowl. Hard water is contraindicated for any cat. Change the water regularly, it is better to do this twice a day;
• Don't give him food from your table. No sweets, salty foods, smoked meats. Even if your pet compassionately asks for a tasty treat, you should not make concessions and follow his lead;
• undergo regular medical examinations: have your urine analyzed and have an ultrasound scan;
• If you suddenly notice even minor symptoms of the disease, do not be lazy to go to the doctor for a consultation. Your best help to the cat is to notice it in time and start treatment in a timely manner;
• Following a strict diet is the key to your pet’s long life without repeated relapses and the need to treat him again.

What should a cat's diet be?

When creating a menu for a cat after an illness, you must follow the doctor’s recommendations.

The fact is that when performing a urine test, it becomes clear what type of stones are formed in your pet:

• If salts in the form of phosphorus precipitate in the urine, then phosphate stones form in the bladder. In this case, the urine environment is alkaline;
• If calcium levels are elevated and the urine is acidic, the stones are called oxalates. They are less common and usually occur in long-haired cats.

The cat's menu is designed in such a way as to neutralize the environment, create conditions for dissolving stones and preventing the appearance of new ones. Your attending physician at the veterinary clinic can create a diet for you.

And in order not to make mistakes in preparing the diet, it is better to feed your pet ready-made food. There are special foods designed for cats suffering from urolithiasis. Their composition is balanced and has medicinal properties.

Very often cats suffer from urolithiasis. Stones can form in the kidneys and urinary organs. Urolithiasis in cats may cause the death of the animal. On early stages Urolithiasis in cats is treatable. In the advanced stage, hospitalization and surgery cannot be avoided.

Urolithiasis in cats

Cats are most susceptible to the disease. Urolithiasis occurs more often in castrated cats than in non-sterile cats. Castration is indirectly related to the development of the disease. This is due to anatomical features structure of the male genital area.

The point is that a six-month-old kitten internal organs are underdeveloped and after castration they remain in the same condition. The urinary canal in such animals becomes clogged faster.

The main factors leading to symptoms of urolithiasis in cats are:
• excessive amount of fish in the diet;
• Fat content of food;
• Cheap food;
• Simultaneous consumption of food and food from the “table”;
• Low water consumption, low quality food;
• Overweight, low physical activity;
• Hereditary and genetic pathologies.

Urolithiasis in cats: symptoms and treatment

Determine the onset of the disease, urolithiasis in cats, on early stages not easy. Most owners turn to a veterinary center for help when the disease is at its peak and the situation cannot tolerate delay.

Urolithiasis in cats is characterized by the following: signs And symptoms:
• pain appears;
• the animal cannot go to the toilet;
• the body begins to be poisoned by decay products.

This leads to intoxication and even death, so timely measures must be taken. Urolithiasis is more common in cats, due to the special structure of the urinary system - the diameter of their urethra is 3 times smaller.

Urolithiasis in cats: signs

Urolithiasis in cats is accompanied by a number of signs:
• the animal became sad and joyless, motor activity decreased;
• the cat rarely approaches the food bowl or does not eat at all;
• The cat's litter box has been cleaned less often, and it often remains dry and clean. At the same time, the cat tries to urinate by sitting down in the tray, but nothing happens. He approaches him again and again;
• The cat often licks his genitals.

Signs of urolithiasis in cats appear less frequently, since their urinary canal is straight. Further, more serious symptoms of urolithiasis in cats develop:

• The urge to urinate becomes more frequent, the cat sits in the litter box for a long time;
• It becomes painful to urinate. The cat may scream;
• Urine changes color and becomes cloudy, rich with a reddish tint. Blood clots may appear.

All of the above may indicate the presence of stones or sand in the kidneys. In cases where the stones have moved and begun to move, blood may appear. Stones scratch urinary tract sharp edges, which leads to the appearance of blood impurities and causes severe pain in the animal. Renal colic is considered to be the most severe. The worst thing is when, with urolithiasis, a stone gets stuck in the urethra and prevents urine from coming out. The bladder becomes full, which also leads to abdominal pain and a feeling of fullness. The body is poisoned and the animal’s well-being deteriorates. Urolithiasis in cats is so pronounced that even the owner himself can guess about it.

How is urolithiasis diagnosed in cats?

There are stones of different origins. It all depends on the chemical composition. Highlight:

• Struvite are soluble stones. They consist of magnesium, phosphate, ammonium;
• Calcium oxalates are insoluble stones. Their removal requires surgical intervention;
• Cystines;
• Ammonium urates.

Mostly struvite is found, but it often happens that one animal has stones of different types.

For correct diagnosis diseases, the veterinarian will definitely prescribe:
• General blood test;
• General urine test;
• X-ray of the abdominal cavity;

You definitely need to find out chemical composition stones This is done in the laboratory of the veterinary center.

Urolithiasis in cats: treatment

If urolithiasis appears in cats, you can provide first aid, but you must first call the YA-VET veterinary center and find out how to do this. Most likely, your veterinarian will advise you to take No-Spa as an antispasmodic. The use of homeopathic injections “Travmatin” is recommended. But if you don’t know how to make them, it’s better not to experiment. The injections are performed by specialists. A professional will decide how to treat the animal. During the treatment period you need to adhere to a diet. At this stage, certain nutrition plays a role important role. What rules exist:

• The portion of food should be small - three times a day;
• Avoid snacking between meals;
• When overeating, volume minerals increases and the risk of stone formation appears.

If struvite stones are detected, then the diet should contain foods that increase the acidic environment of urine. Milk, dairy products, and eggs should be excluded. Give more meat products. You can offer to drink sour water. Add lemon, cranberry, and currant juice there.

If oxalates are detected, on the contrary, meat, fish and other meat products are used in the animal’s diet. Vegetables and fruits with sour taste exclude. Give your pet plenty of water to drink. The water should be fresh and not boiled. If the animal laps up little water, try to make the food liquid.

Use of medications. Urolithiasis in cats

Urolithiasis in cats is not always required surgery. The stones dissolve medicines and diet. Struvite, cystine and urate may dissolve and be excreted in urine. The following drugs help to more effectively cope with this problem:

• Antibiotics. For treatment, doctors prescribe drugs such as: “Lincomycin”, “Kefzol”, “Tseporin”. The veterinarian will definitely prescribe a dosage regimen. Any medications should be taken under medical supervision.
• Uroseptics. Used to treat the genitourinary system. Prescribed: “5-NOK”, “Palin”, “Furagin”. Take as prescribed by a doctor and under his supervision.
• Against dehydration - "Regidron". Give in small portions every 30 minutes.
• Cantaren is an antispasmodic diuretic. It can be injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly into veterinary center within 7 days.

In severe cases, a catheter is inserted into the urethra - this is a tube for passing urine. A catheter is inserted to ensure the flow of urine through the urethra to prevent stones from getting stuck there. Additionally, a system is installed to relieve intoxication resulting from accumulation and retention of urine.

Urolithiasis in cats. When is the operation performed?

In some cases, surgical intervention is not possible.

Surgery is needed if urolithiasis in cats:
• Stones that are too large and do not come out on their own;
• For oxalate stones;
• The urethra is too clogged.

There are two types of operations:

Urethrostomy- stones are removed through the opening of the urethra;

Cystotomy- stones are removed from the bladder. This is done if there are large stones.

Urolithiasis in cats: prevention

Urolithiasis in cats has a recurrent nature. It will not disappear once and for all, so control over the animal is needed. As a preventative measure, the following can be recommended:

• Get tested regularly. It is best to do this twice a year;
• Follow the diet;
• Maintain fresh water in the cat's cup;
• Constantly observe how often the cat urinates. If it is rare, the urine will be cloudy. Normally, a cat should go to the toilet 2 times a day;
• Make an effort to get the animal to move more - this leads to a more intense metabolism;
• Feed a cat with a predisposition to the disease with special food to prevent the disease;
• Maintain a comfortable and constant temperature indoors. Avoid drafts and hypothermia. Overheating your pet can be just as dangerous;
• Don't buy cheap cat food.

How to feed a cat after surgery - Urolithiasis in cats

After surgical treatment The cat should eat from its bowl in its usual place. Changing the place of feeding should not be an unnecessary psychological stress for the animal. You should analyze in advance the new diet that the animal will eat. Food should be complete, high quality and balanced. Decide on the choice of food.

Many people feed their animals homemade food, which is called “from your table.” Moreover, many cats, according to the stories of their owners, love such, at first glance, indigestible foods as: chocolate, pickles, bones, and small beef bones.
There are specialized animal feeds. Urolithiasis in cats requires special nutrition. They are sold in pet stores. You can purchase them in packages of the weight you need. You can buy small portions so that you can ultimately choose the food that your pet will love most. If the cat loves and is used to eating homemade food, then try to add vitamins and supplements there. Many cats prefer fish, but excessive love for it brings many problems. Fish contains a lot of phosphorus and magnesium, and this contributes to the formation of stones in the urinary organs.

The meat should be lean. Great option will be used chicken breast and boiled beef. Offer your cat to eat vegetables. Maybe she will like their taste and enjoy eating cabbage or carrots.
By-products should be fed along with side dishes: rice, wheat, corn. Some cats don't like milk, but... fermented milk products eat with pleasure. For example: yogurt, curdled milk, kefir, fermented baked milk, sour cream.
Stores sell special cat grass. It can be fed to animals, especially domestic ones. If a cat goes outside, she will find the grass she needs and nibble on it.

Urolithiasis in cats. Treatment with folk remedies

Herbal decoctions and infusions have a healing effect. You can use the leaves of plantain, lingonberry, heather, and bearberry. Prevention of urolithiasis using this method will be very successful. It would be useful to use homeopathic remedies if cats have urolithiasis.
In the chronic form, urolithiasis can be treated at home. The veterinarian will prescribe the required amount of drugs that will destroy and remove sand and stones from the kidneys. Preventive measures mainly aimed at preventing the formation of subsequent stones.

This disease is very dangerous for the animal, the causes of which must be identified by a specialist. Taking any action on your own without the advice of a veterinarian is very risky. If you don't seek help in time, you may lose your pet. Determining the type of stones in an animal will help to effectively select a treatment regimen and save it from suffering. Only highly specialized specialists at the veterinary center can do this.

Urolithiasis in cats was discovered in the 70s of the 20th century. Initially, scientists assumed that the disease was caused by a virus. This assumption has not been proven. There was also a version that urolithiasis appears from dry food. And there was not enough evidence for this statement. Veterinarians now claim that low water intake and increased pH levels lead to the disease. This is due to the fact that cats have a weakened sense of thirst. Statistics show that this is the problem most often addressed to veterinary clinics.

Causes of urolithiasis in cats

Urolithiasis in cats (urolithiasis) is associated with metabolic disorders, which leads to the appearance of sand and stones. At proper operation The body's breakdown products must be completely excreted in the urine. What becomes dangerous is the fact that the pet may already have urolithiasis, but the owner will not notice the symptoms for several years.

But for cats the disease is more complicated than for cats. The diameter of the male urethra is three times smaller than that of females. Predisposed to cat disease Persian breed and her mestizos. Siamese, Burmese, and Carthusian cats also often get sick. Between the ages of one and six years, urolithiasis most often develops in cats. Veterinarians explain the reasons for this.

Symptoms of the disease

Urolithiasis causes a lot of problems in cats. Symptoms of the disease are very difficult to recognize at the beginning of its onset. During the first stage of the disease, the cat behaves as usual. She eats well, looks great and doesn't change her personality. usual behavior. If urolithiasis could be diagnosed at the first stages of its appearance, it would greatly facilitate the treatment of cats. Signs of urolithiasis in cats become clearly visible when the situation may threaten the life of the pet.

Symptoms manifest in different ways. It depends on the shape, size and location of the stones. Acute uroliths cause discomfort to pets. It hurts the cat to go to the toilet.

She spends longer than usual on a boat or under a bush. This is due to the fact that the stones, moving, injure the surface of the mucous membrane with sharp edges.

Urolithiasis in cats begins with the appearance of a small sediment in the urine.

Symptoms have 4 degrees.

First degree:

The cat begins to form crystals in urinary tract. Owners cannot see this degree.

Second degree:

The first symptoms appear that an attentive owner can notice. This includes frequent urination, the appearance of blood in the discharge, and frequent washing of the genitals.

Third degree:

The symptoms are pronounced. The cat often goes to the toilet, cats constantly sit down, the urine comes out with blood, when urinating the pet meows, lies down heavily, is lethargic, the bladder is tight.

Fourth degree:

Dangerous for the cat's life. The cat stops going to the toilet, does not eat, convulsions and vomiting begin.

Signs of urolithiasis in cats at an early stage can only be determined by a specialist. veterinary clinic. Treatment should begin as soon as at least one of the above symptoms is noticed. Veterinarians recommend not to self-medicate, but to consult a specialist.

For staging correct diagnosis The clinic must have a laboratory. Its presence will help you get results of blood and urine tests faster. It is also necessary to go to the veterinary hospital where they can do an X-ray and ultrasound.

Urolithiasis. Medicines

In cats, urolithiasis is treated using various methods.

The basic principles of treatment are based on three points.

1. Relieve acute condition and restore urine flow. For this there are various ways. Measures will depend on the complexity of the pet’s situation.
2. Carrying out antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy.
3. Preventive measures: diet, herbal medicine, testing regularly once a month, ultrasound examination organs of the genitourinary system.

Treatment of urolithiasis in cats is carried out based on the degree of its development at the time of treatment. The doctor chooses the method of treatment or surgical intervention. The main goal at any stage of the disease is to remove stones and sand from the animal’s body. The animal must free itself from particles that prevent it from freely carrying out its affairs. In this case, the veterinarian always prescribes a strict diet. A cat should eat food that does not provoke the formation of stones and sand.

Medications that may be prescribed are aimed at relieving inflammation, spasm and pain. In such cases, the veterinarian prescribes the drugs “Baralgin”, “Spazmolitin”, “Atropine”, “Platifillin”, “Novocaine” and other drugs.

Treatment methods for urolithiasis in cats

Among the methods used to treat urolithiasis in cats, the simplest is catheterization. A catheter is inserted into the urinary canal. Veterinarians also perform urethrostomy. This is an operation to create an opening in the urethra. Stones are taken out through it and they are not allowed to overgrow until the animal’s condition stabilizes. The cystotomy method is used when stones cannot pass out on their own. The doctor opens the bladder cavity and removes stones from it. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

1. Catheterization is the insertion of a special tube into the canal for forced drainage of urine. The veterinarian does this. The catheter is sometimes sutured. The animal should walk with it for 2-3 days. This procedure is carried out if stones are found, the urethra is swollen and re-blockage of the canal is possible. After the catheter is removed, the pet is put on an IV and prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs.

2. Urethrostomy is used in cases where urethra gets clogged regularly. The operation consists of removing the cat's scrotum, testes, penis and part of the urethra. The urethra is opened and sutured open to the skin. After surgery, you must carefully monitor the cleanliness of the wound to avoid getting an infection of the genitourinary system. After this procedure, the animal loses its appetite, becomes depressed and is in a depressed state.

3. Cystotomy is the removal of stones from the animal’s bladder. The operation is considered more effective when large stones are detected in the bladder. Recovery occurs within two weeks.

Folk remedies

Is it possible to use unconventional methods When is urolithiasis detected in cats? Treatment with folk remedies, such as herbs, spells and lotions, is not recommended without consulting a veterinarian. A doctor may recommend the use of herbal infusions and homeopathy only in the early stages of the disease and for prevention. Self-treatment urolithiasis in cats may not only not help, but also cause harm.

To prevent the appearance of stones in the genitourinary system, it is necessary to brew medicinal herbs and give the resulting decoction to your pet to consume. Among the herbs that can be used for these purposes, it is necessary to highlight the following: heather, lingonberry, plantain, bearberry and many others.

A decoction of lingonberry leaves is made in the following way. Dilute a handful of herbs with 3 glasses of water and boil for 10 minutes. Heather in the amount of 1 tablespoon is infused overnight in half a liter of boiling water in a thermos.

The veterinarian may prescribe folk remedies from urolithiasis after treatment. During treatment it is prescribed homeopathic remedies. These are the drugs “Cantaris”, “Apis”, “Capsicum”, “Magnesia”, “Kotervin”, “ Healthy kidneys"and many others.

When to treat at home

The disease can easily take over chronic form. How should owners behave when going home with a recovered pet who has been diagnosed with urolithiasis in cats? Treatment at home is prescribed by a doctor, based on the degree of development of the disease at the time of contacting the clinic.

If the disease has taken a chronic form, then the animal must be special attention. Prevention of urolithiasis in cats consists of several main points:

1. Constant presence of water in the bowl.
2. Protecting your pet from drafts and hypothermia.
3. Selection of special food.
4. Pet's active lifestyle.
5. Constant use of vitamins.

It has already been noticed that cats and cats with overweight are more susceptible to this disease. Therefore, it needs to be reduced by mandatory. Food for cats with urolithiasis must be selected with the label “for neutered cats” or “for the prevention of urolithiasis.” Some foods may contain recommendations for use if cats have urolithiasis. Diet is also necessary.

Types of urinary stones

To choose the right diet, you need to know what type urinary stones at the pet's.

For urolithiasis, after procedures to remove sand and stones, cats are prescribed treatment at home. The owner's main concern is diet. Stones come from different origins, so the diet for urolithiasis in cats varies.

If the stones are of a phosphate nature of formation, then when creating a diet, it is necessary to focus on the fact that the products should increase the acidity of the urine. The basis of the diet should be meat. Dairy products should not be consumed. Vegetables can be given in limited quantities low content calcium and alkali. It could be pumpkin, Brussels sprouts. Add a few drops to drinking water lemon juice, currant, cranberry, apple and any other. The main thing is that the juice consumed is sour.

When oxalate stones form, it is necessary to exclude from the diet those foods that contain oxalic acid. These are sour vegetables that cats don’t eat anyway. Such stones help remove infusions of grape leaves, black currants, and pears. It is useful to eat white and black bread, vegetable oil, cereals, animal fats. You can give meat, fish and eggs in small portions.

If the stones arose from salts uric acid, broths, liver sausage, and offal are excluded from the menu. Products that contain purine must be boiled, then some of the harmful components will go into the broth. The nutrition of cats with urolithiasis must be agreed with a veterinarian.

Nutritional Features

It is beneficial for animals to eat raw meat with blood. This will help activate your metabolism. It is better to use lamb for these purposes. Fish is strictly prohibited for animals predisposed to urolithiasis. It is also necessary to exclude cheap food. You can give lactic acid products. They help normalize microflora. Meals need to be varied as much as possible. Mix feed and natural food. The best natural food for cats and cats with early childhood There will be meat, dairy products, vegetables and cereals. If you prefer food, you can only use dietary food. Experts recommend mixing natural nutrition with high quality feed.

Be sure to give your cats extra vitamins. For natural feeding the owner can prepare small portions in reserve for some time. They can be put in the freezer. When you need to feed your pet, you need to take out a portion and defrost it. Cats are allowed to eat beef, chicken, lamb, vegetables, quail eggs, cereals. Meat is mixed with vegetables and cereals. Pass through a meat grinder until the mass becomes homogeneous. Any meat should be frozen for 3-4 days before consumption. Give to the cat after treating it with boiling water. Fish can only be given boiled and in small quantities.

Prohibited for consumption: pork, raw fish, oatmeal, wheat, legumes and milk.

Disadvantages of natural nutrition

Many experts believe that homemade food may not be sufficiently balanced. The quality of products purchased for animals does not always meet the requirements that must be met to prevent the disease. Vitamins must be added to such food. Vitamin supplements on sale are presented in such a variety that some of them cause mistrust. For selection vitamin complex it is necessary to consult a veterinarian. It is recommended to purchase the additive from the same manufacturer, without mixing everything together possible options. At different ages and conditions of the pet, he needs a certain set of vitamins and microelements, which only a specialist can properly balance. If you have the desire and time to properly organize feeding natural food, then such an initiative can only be welcomed. More often it happens quite the opposite.

For those who do not have time to organize feeding the cat natural products, food manufacturers offer a large selection of food for cats with urolithiasis. It can be given for prevention by mixing with other types of feed.

Ready-made cat food

Food is presented in dry form and in cans or bags with juicy pieces. Don't buy the first cat food you see. Urolithiasis requires serious consideration of its selection.

There is a huge selection of dry food on the market now. Cheap economy class mixtures do not have necessary elements For full development pet. The protein contained in this type of food is not digestible. Therefore, it is necessary to take products high class without putting your pet's health at risk. You need to choose food that will always be available for purchase. You should not switch your cat from premium or super premium food to a budget option. This can lead to gastrointestinal disease.

Most best option balanced nutrition can be written by the formula:

100% food = 75% dry food + 25% canned food.

Drinking water for your pet should always be available, fresh and clean. It will be better if it is passed through a filter. Boiled water Not recommended for cats. It has a bad effect on the condition of teeth and can destroy them due to the reduced content of calcium salts in it. Cats drink fewer dogs because of its origin. The first cats appeared in northern Africa where drought most often prevails. They may wake up at night to drink. Therefore, when they have a desire to quench their thirst, they should do so without hindrance.

For cats of different ages and nutritional status should be selected individually. Ready-made food is made for kittens, pregnant cats, neutered cats, aging and overweight pets. Therefore, many experts consider nutrition from ready-made packages to be more correct.

Most often, urolithiasis occurs due to metabolic disorders in animals, which are accompanied by the formation of stones in the bladder or kidneys. Sometimes small stones can get stuck in the animal's urethra. According to statistics, about 70% of cats with overweight, suffer from ICD.

The main causes of urolithiasis in cats

There is no consensus among veterinary experts about the causes of urolithiasis in cats. However, today it is known for certain what factors can influence the development of insoluble compounds in the kidneys. These factors include:

Cat diet (milk and plant food causes alkalization of urine, and meat, on the contrary, increases its acidity);

Genetic predisposition (the most vulnerable in this regard are long-haired cat breeds);

Hereditary diseases (for example, ensiopathy, which is caused by the lack of enzymes in the cat’s body that are responsible for metabolism);

Dysfunction digestive tract(involves a change acid-base balance, and also provokes the removal of calcium from the body);

Infectious diseases;

Anatomical features of the urethral canal in males;

Sedentary lifestyle;

Lack of vitamins A and D.

Symptoms of urolithiasis

Symptoms of urolithiasis depend on the location of the stones, their size and shape. As a rule, the disease does not manifest itself externally until urinary stones block the lumen of the urethral canal. If the stones have sharp edges, they can injure the mucous membrane of the bladder, causing anxiety in the animal.

The main signs of urinary tract infection are pain during urination, the presence of blood in the urine, urethral obstruction in males, and frequent urination with false urges. The pain can be either constant or temporary in the form of colic. A cat's body temperature with urolithiasis usually increases by 1°C.

Due to the inability to empty the bladder, urine stagnation occurs. The animal's kidneys lose their filtration properties. As a result, the cat may experience general weakness, vomiting and loss of appetite.

If measures are not taken in time, the death of the animal will follow due to a ruptured bladder or intoxication of the body.

So if you notice the slightest symptoms Your pet has urolithiasis, immediately seek help from veterinarian. He will put accurate diagnosis based on clinical signs And laboratory tests urine, and will also prescribe the necessary course of treatment.

Sources:

• Urolithiasis in cats
• URILOSIS DISEASE OF CATS

Urolithiasis in cats is one of the most complex and common diseases. It is important to recognize the symptoms in time and begin treatment, otherwise the consequences can be disastrous.

Instructions

As soon as the cat begins to behave restlessly, suffer from a lack of appetite and go to the toilet, while experiencing pain, it is necessary to immediately visit the veterinarian. If this is not done, the disease will begin to progress, blood will appear in the urine, vomiting will begin, and the cat may die from dehydration.

Independent choice treatment of the disease may lead to negative consequences, since only a doctor can prescribe medications based on what type of stones are present in the animal’s body - struvite or oxalate. And this can only be done after a urine test.

Treatment of this disease individually and aimed at stopping pain, renal colic and withdrawal inflammatory process. Usually prescribed antispasmodics and antibiotics (“Gentamicin”, “Disparkam” and others). If there is no urination, catheterization is performed. Homeopathic remedies are also used, for example, Apis, Magnesia, Cantharis and others. It is useful to give your cat decoctions of herbs such as plantain, lingonberry (leaves), and bearberry.

In the treatment of urolithiasis, much attention is paid to diet, which consists of consuming feed plant origin(porridge) and dairy products. Veterinarians often recommend excluding dry food, meat and fish from the animal’s diet.
treatment . Last of the reception special drugs and conducting medical procedures(for example, pumping urine out of a cat’s bladder every day until the disease subsides and the animal begins to go to the toilet on its own). After treatment is completed, your pet will need to be given water twice a year (usually in the fall) prophylactic drug of plant origin. These medications usually have a similar odor, allowing cats to drink them without much resistance. Preventive measures, first of all, provide for the preparation correct mode nutrition and daily diet pet. It is important that the food is fresh. It is best to change it in the bowl twice a day: morning and evening. Eliminate raw fish, lamb, turkey and pork, as well as eggs from your cat’s diet, as these products contain large number mineral substances that provoke. In addition, you should exclude everything sour, salty, spicy, sweet and fatty. Make sure there is a bowl of fresh water at all times.