How to palpate a cat’s bladder: where it is, location, photo, massage, puncture, volume, sanitation, empty, squeeze out urine

According to statistics, tumor lesions of the bladder in cats are rare. In most cases, carcinoma (cancer) of the transitional cell type develops. Older animals are at risk. But the development of benign neoplasms, such as polyps, is possible. The first stages of cancer pathology are asymptomatic, and when the tumor reaches a significant size, only palliative treatment is possible. The operation is performed for benign formations. Chemotherapy can reduce tumor size and relieve symptoms. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective.

Why do neoplasms grow in a pet’s bladder?

The exact causes of tumors in the bladder in cats have not been established. But veterinarians identify risk groups. These are animals that are found to have:

trauma, contusion of the abdominal organs as a result of an accident, unsuccessful games;
atony of the bladder in a cat;
advanced cystitis, when necrosis is observed;
urolithiasis disease;
obesity.

Unsuccessful operations to remove a ruptured bladder can serve as a trigger for the appearance of a tumor, for example, with active tissue adhesions.

Veterinary specialists note that triggers can be:

The composition of an animal's diet significantly influences the development of pathological processes.

age, sex and breed of the animal;
sterilization or castration;
exposure to repellents and herbicides;
incorrect nutrition.

Some oncogenic viruses can provoke a cancerous tumor in a cat, in particular, immunodeficiency viruses that cause leukemia and lymphoma. A benign neoplasm can also become malignant. The mechanism of degeneration is not fully understood. One thing is clear: as a result of a failure in regulatory processes, cells begin to divide uncontrollably, destroying the organ to which they belong. The surrounding tissues are gradually involved in the process.

Causes of the disease

Cystitis in cats often occurs as a result of hypothermia. Walking in cold weather (especially in the rain) or sleeping on concrete or tiles can lead to bladder inflammation. This is especially true for animals with reduced immunity. If a cat has ever had cystitis, he should avoid drafts and hypothermia, since under these circumstances the disease is likely to return. Other causes of inflammation in the urinary tract include:

Infectious diseases. The inflammatory process occurs as a result of the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the bladder itself or neighboring organs (kidneys, urethra, ureters), from where the infection spreads. Often the disease occurs even against the background of a cold due to weakened immunity and the growth of pathogenic microflora. That is why it is important to promptly treat any illnesses that occur in your pet.
Urolithiasis disease. If there are stones or sand in the kidneys or bladder, they injure the walls of the organs, causing inflammation.
Fungal diseases. Spores of microscopic fungi spread through the bloodstream, causing inflammation in various organs, including the excretory system.
Metabolic disease. This problem occurs as a result of the cat’s poor nutrition and insufficient consumption of clean water. It is important to monitor your pet’s diet and feed it high-quality food in small portions.

Bladder injuries (including those received during castration) and severe stress (caused by sterilization, vaccination, being in a confined space, jealousy of another pet, etc.) can also lead to the inflammatory process. Keeping a cat under stress for a long time negatively affects the body as a whole and can cause cystitis. There is an assumption that it is the pet’s depressive mood that provokes idiopathic cystitis in cats.

The cause of the disease can be external and internal factors. The first group includes hypothermia, infection, helminthic infestation, trauma, stress, etc., and the second group includes hormonal imbalance (metabolic disorders, problems with the genitourinary system, the presence of chronic foci of infection in the animal’s body).

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Cats are susceptible to inflammation of the bladder mucosa, regardless of age, gender and breed. This is due to the peculiarities of the drinking regime and the high risk of hypothermia and urinary tract injury.

Hypothermia. Hypothermia is one of the most common causes of cystitis. If your cat walks outside, sleeps in a drafty room, or has a habit of lying under an air conditioner, in a bathtub, on tiles or on a windowsill, she is at increased risk.
Infectious diseases. The penetration of a bacterial, viral, fungal or other infection is the main cause of cystitis in animals. Hypothermia, decreased immunity and endocrine disorders only create favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogens. The infection can enter the bladder through ascending, descending and hematological routes (from the urethra, kidneys and other foci of inflammation, respectively).
Chronic cystitis in cats. Chronic cystitis is often a complication of untreated acute inflammation or other diseases of the urinary tract. Inflammation and damage to the walls of the bladder can occur with kidney failure and urolithiasis. The genitourinary system also suffers from pathologies of the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts.
Metabolic disease. Disruption of metabolic processes in the body and hormonal imbalance can cause decreased immunity and stagnation of urine. This facilitates the development of infection and prevents the rapid removal of microbes from the urinary tract. An animal's hormonal levels may change after sterilization or castration. After removal of the testicles, cats are at increased risk of developing urolithiasis (UKD), so they need to undergo regular preventive examinations with a veterinarian and undergo a urine test.

In addition to the above factors, the following phenomena can cause the development of cystitis:

Non-compliance with drinking regime. Many cats do not drink enough fluids, resulting in salt crystals and microbes becoming trapped in the bladder and kidneys. An additional risk factor is the consumption of dry food. The amount of water cats need corresponds to three times the daily food requirement.
Rare urination. If the litter box is frequently untimely cleaned or the cat does not trust the new place to urinate, urinary retention may occur, which will lead to the growth of bacteria in the favorable environment of urine.
Stress. The negative impact of stress is due to the fact that excited cats often refuse to eat, drink or go to the toilet, and their immunity decreases due to changes in hormonal levels.
Back or abdominal injury. A bruise or penetrating wound to the back and abdomen can cause extensive damage to the urinary organs. Severe injuries occur mainly from a direct blow, a fall from a height, or an unsuccessful landing on a protruding object.
Tumor processes. When neoplasia grows into the wall of the bladder, hemorrhagic cystitis can develop.

The causes of cystitis in cats are very diverse. And all because inflammation in the bladder (namely, it is called cystitis) can be either a primary (independent) or a secondary disease (a symptom of another, for example, infectious). The problem is that if a cat has had cystitis at least once, it will return at the slightest draft or decreased immunity. So let's figure out where this sore comes from so that your pet never suffers from it.

Hypothermia

The most common cause of cystitis in cats is hypothermia. It's the same with people. You just sit somewhere in the cold, lie down, walk in cold weather (especially in the rain) - and that’s it. Inflammation is “guaranteed.” And if your pet’s immune system is weakened, then the risk is even greater. Therefore, you should not allow the mustache to sleep or just lie/sit on a cold floor (for example, on tiles, concrete).

Cystitis often develops in a cat due to excessive proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the bladder itself. Sometimes the inflammation “descends” from the kidneys or “rises” from the urethra. Inflammatory processes of the organs of the genitourinary system very quickly, as if in a chain, affect everything: the kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra. It is necessary to start treating your cat for cystitis on time, otherwise there will be a lot of health problems later.

Many diseases (viral, bacterial) lead to inflammation in the bladder, although at first glance the animal only has a cough or lacrimation. It is necessary to diagnose cystitis in a cat in time and begin complex treatment immediately (using traditional methods and always medication).

Chronic diseases

Some owners don’t even realize that their animal has health problems. They do not visit the veterinarian for the purpose of medical examination of the pet, so inflammation occurs latently in the body for a long time. And they have the “property” of “moving” from one organ to another (bacteria are spread throughout the body through the bloodstream). Therefore, you should not leave your mustache without treatment. No matter how trivial an illness or cold may seem to you. Complications can be serious.

This reason may include urolithiasis and obesity resulting from metabolic disorders. Also, poor quality of food and water can cause the development of cystitis in cats. Underfeeding and overfeeding also greatly change metabolism, and not for the better. What causes urolithiasis to develop? Urine does not pass well and stagnates. The bladder becomes inflamed, and pathogenic microorganisms in stagnant urine multiply very quickly.

All this leads to cystitis. Restricting access to water will only make the situation worse. Water helps cleanse the bladder and reduces the concentration of bacteria. The more often the cat runs around, the greater the chances of his speedy recovery (of course, if you use medications prescribed by the veterinarian).

This may include stress, abdominal/back injury.

Varieties

According to the International Histological Classification, all tumors and oncological processes occurring in the bladder in cats are divided into types, as shown in the table:

Neoplasm	Subspecies
Epithelial	Transitional cell, including inverted
	Squamous cell papillomas or cancer
	Adenocarcinoma
	Undifferentiated oncology
Mesenchial	Rhabdomyosarcoma
	Leiomyoma
	Fibroma
Secondary	Lymphoma
Tumor-like benign	Polyp
Tumor-like benign	Polypoid cystitis

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How to palpate a cat's bladder: where is the bladder located?

The bladder, whose Latin name is vesica urinaria, is a very elastic organ that is pear-shaped. It consists of a body - corpus vesicae and apex - vertex vesicae.

Location of the cat's bladder

The location of the bladder does not depend on its fullness - it is always in the lower part of the peritoneum, in the lumen of the small pelvis, immediately in front of the crest of the pubis.

The cat's urinary system.

At the exit, the bubble narrows and forms a neck - cervix vesicae. Easily accessible for surgical intervention and simply palpable due to its convenient location and the fact that it is not covered by the omentum. If the cavity is full, it reaches all the way to the navel, so palpation if urine stagnation is suspected should be more than careful due to the severe thinning of the walls.

Depending on the degree of fullness, it can move slightly in the pelvic cavity, but remain relatively stable in its original physiological orientation due to the fact that it is held by ligaments.

Functionality

In terms of functionality, it serves as a bag for temporarily holding urine until it is removed from the body.

The presence of urine in the body is a temporary process; it is later excreted.

Structure

The outer side consists of fibrous connective tissue, underneath is the detrusor - a layer of muscle tissue, the smooth muscles of which move and help push out urea.
Next is submucosal tissue , which is a membrane of elastic fibers that performs a supporting function for the mucous membrane to keep it inside the bladder.
The mucous membrane itself contains transitional epithelium , consisting of special cells that subsequently form folds. These folds are formed in the absence of fluid in the cavity of the organ and allow it to subsequently expand to large volumes.
The serous membrane covers the apex and the body of the bladder itself.
In the lower part of the body it transforms into the umbilical fold - plica vesicoumbilicalis media and passes further towards the bone of the womb, and then to the navel itself. The difference in the genitourinary system of females and males is insignificant.

In males, the sac is located under the womb, in females - under the uterus, but in both of them it is accessible for palpation and can be easily felt.

The bladder in cats is accessible to palpation.

Determining the degree of bladder fullness

The cat's nervousness will indicate the presence of pain.

You can determine the degree of filling of the bag yourself.

To do this, you need to put the cat on all fours, slightly supporting it under its belly.
The animal should be with its hind limbs closer to the owner.
Hands should be placed on the cat's back so that both thumbs are on the animal's rump, and the rest should be palpated on the stomach closer to the urinary canal.

Nervousness and attempts by the cat to escape will indicate the presence of pain, which means immediately contacting a doctor.

Feeling the bladder

To more specifically determine the topographic location of the organ, you should place your palm closer to the base of the tail, perpendicular to the ridge.

The projection of the upper border of the organ will be the side of the palm opposite to the tail.

Normally, in the absence of urine, a soft, insignificant fluctuation should be felt under the fingers, evenly distributed within the boundaries of the organ, while the boundaries themselves are not felt.

Normally, in the absence of urine, the boundaries of the organ are not felt.

Daily urea retention

The presence of daily urea retention will be indicated by a compaction of soft consistency the size of a walnut.

The feeling of liquid will roll freely under your fingers. A delay of more than two days will be felt under the fingers by a compaction, the size of a tennis ball, with a consistency reminiscent of soft rubber, with a slight fluctuation.

If a larger lump with a harder consistency is felt, consult a doctor immediately . Your cat will most likely need to empty his bladder using a catheter.

If upon palpation there is a seal, the bladder should be emptied using a catheter.

about urine drainage in a cat

Source: https://mykoshka.ru/proshhupyvam-mochevoj-puzyr-u-kota/

How to understand: general symptoms

The clinical picture of the first stages, when the tumor is small, is hardly noticeable. The cat can only go to the toilet more often and meow when emptying its bladder. As the cat grows and develops, depending on the type of formation, the following symptoms appear:

Frequent urination to the point of urinary incontinence. The cat begins to walk past the litter box in unexpected places.
A pitiful meow during bowel movement, which indicates a painful process.
Blood in the urine.
Tense stomach. Usually, upon palpation, the cat begins to show aggression, demonstrating severe discomfort from touch.
Deterioration in the general condition of the animal:

refusal to eat;
apathy and drowsiness;
dulling of fur, severe shedding;
vomiting, diarrhea.

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Features of growth and development of cancer

Cancer often forms in the bladder cavity. Such formations are called exophytic papillary. As a result of the growth, the outflow of urine is disrupted. If the growth is non-papillary, then the walls of the bladder thicken with damage to the muscle fibers. Cancer often grows beyond the organ with the development of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Oncology is complicated by bilateral hydronephrosis due to impaired urinary drainage. As it develops, metastases appear in nearby (lymph nodes) and distant (liver, lungs, pelvic bones) organs. These are cancer cells that spread throughout the body with lymph and blood.

Experts in the field of oncology note that invasive cancer with metastases in the lymph nodes is diagnosed in 45-65% of cases, and with superficial cancer - 5%.

Symptoms of cystitis in a cat

When cystitis develops in a cat, the following phenomena may become symptoms of the pathology:

Unusual pet behavior. A sick animal is anxious, often licks its belly and genitals, and meows loudly when going to the toilet. The cat becomes less playful; due to pain in the lower abdomen, he tries to move less and looks for a secluded place.
Changes in the nature, intensity and frequency of urination. Due to spasms of the bladder, the animal begins to frequently go to the tray, and the amount of urine released decreases. Urine comes out in an uneven stream and in small portions, in the most severe cases - in drops. In the process of urinating, a sick cat arches its back, strains and strains, meowing loudly. Due to pain in the urethra, the animal may avoid the tray and urinate in places not intended for this.
The presence of foreign impurities in urine. Due to the large number of leukocytes and epithelium, urine with cystitis becomes cloudy, and waste products of pathogenic microorganisms give it a sharp, unpleasant odor. In some cases, there may be traces of blood or pus in the discharge. The cause of the appearance of blood in the urine during cystitis can also be the presence of a primary disease - oncology or urolithiasis.
Signs of intoxication. With a descending route of infection or a complication of cystitis with pyelonephritis, the cat’s body is poisoned by waste products of pathogens. Against the background of inflammation, lethargy, weakness of the animal, loss of appetite and interest in treats, diarrhea and periodic vomiting occur.

With cystitis in cats, the symptoms are no different.

Some manifestations of the disease are difficult to track due to an erased picture of the pathology or extraneous factors (for example, the use of wood and scented litter for the tray). In order not to miss the onset of inflammation, you need to pay attention to your pet’s behavior.

A method for determining illness in a cat by its posture.

The first signs of pathology most often are: nervousness, causeless restlessness of the cat, tense posture when going to the toilet and plaintive meowing.

It is difficult to make a correct diagnosis on your own, because... the clinical picture of cystitis is similar to the symptoms of pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, nephrosis and other pathologies.

For differential diagnosis, an in-person examination of the animal by a veterinarian, general urine and blood tests, and ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder are required. In some cases, additional studies are carried out: blood biochemistry analysis (renal and liver tests), radiography of the urinary organs and cystoscopy.

At the very beginning of the disease, the most frequently recorded symptoms of cystitis in a cat are increased urination, and thirst may increase. The stomach is extremely painful, the pet simply does not give in to hands, but tries to rub against the owner, meow, and attract attention to itself. As you can see, these symptoms are not so easy to immediately notice in cats on your own.

Obvious symptoms of cystitis in a cat include:

Frequent running to the litter box. Sometimes the cat doesn’t even make it to the litter box and pees wherever he feels like it. Therefore, cat owners often notice that their previously litter-trained mustache has begun to empty its bladder in all corners of the apartment, even in the center of the room on the carpet.
No matter how “small” the cat walks, he meows loudly. He's in a lot of pain. Those who have had a urinary cold at least once know first-hand how wildly painful it is to squeeze out even a drop of urine. Therefore, frequent runs to the tray are accompanied by loud yelling.
Due to the fact that urine is highly concentrated (since it is retained in the bladder), it darkens. Not just yellow, but maybe deep amber.
Often with drops of blood. What can cause urine to turn brown? Blood in the urine is a clinical sign of cystitis and many other diseases of the genitourinary system.
There may be pus in the urine. The smell is "heavy". It’s easy to guess that the cat has problems; just look at what’s going on in the litter box after visiting it. The smell and color of the filler can tell you a lot.
Body temperature rises. Any inflammation leads to fever. Although the temperature rise may be small, almost unnoticeable. The cat is lethargic.
The stomach is very painful. It often becomes like a drum. The animal hardly lies on its tummy. And he constantly tosses and turns from side to side.

Cystitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the urinary tract. It can be either primary or secondary (as a consequence of another disease). The disease occurs more often in females due to the specific structure of the urethra.

In the acute form of cystitis, the animal often goes to the toilet, and does not always have time to reach it. During urination, he takes a tense posture, meows pitifully or even screams. Due to the sharp pain, the pet does not go into arms, does not allow the belly to be touched, but tries to rub against the owner in order to attract attention to itself.

The urine becomes dark in color and may contain blood or mucus. If there are impurities of pus, the urine acquires a specific heavy smell. In this case, we have to talk about a severe course of the disease - the cat (and even more so, the kitten) must be shown to the veterinarian as quickly as possible.

Pregnant cats may also experience increased urination and incontinence. However, these symptoms do not always indicate the presence of an inflammatory process. In the later stages of pregnancy, the uterus begins to put pressure on the bladder, which is the reason for frequent (but painless!) trips to the toilet.

Diagnostics

Only a doctor can make a diagnosis and determine the type of disease using the resources of a veterinary clinic. The following studies are carried out on cats:

Cytology of sediment from daytime urine.
Ultrasound with a full bladder. Allows you to determine metastases, hydronephrosis, characteristics and location of the primary tumor.
Chest X-ray to exclude secondary lesions.
Urinary cystography with contrast or air, urethrocystoscopy with full-color image, fluorescence cytoscopy. They allow us to clarify the extent of damage to the entire genitourinary system and the characteristics of the neoplasm.
Cystotomy or full-wall biopsy of the urinary wall. The degree of invasion is assessed and the morphology of the tumor is determined.

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Diagnosis of feline cystitis

The following procedures help make a diagnosis:

Veterinary examination. The doctor assesses the general condition of the animal and collects anamnesis. Palpation of the lower abdomen is mandatory.
General blood analysis. The veterinarian should pay attention to the level of white blood cells and hemoglobin. Changes in these indicators are indirect signs of feline cystitis.
General urine analysis. Aimed at identifying leukocytes, casts and epithelial cells. The presence of red blood cells indicates the presence of a hemorrhagic form of cystitis.
Urine culture. Helps determine the type of infectious agent and its sensitivity to antibacterial agents.
Blood chemistry. Aimed at identifying metabolic disorders that can provoke inflammation of the bladder.
Ultrasound. Helps determine the type of inflammatory process and the severity of pathological changes in the mucous membranes. Ultrasound is also used to identify tumors in the organs of the excretory system.

Treatment: which method to choose?

Petrov I.B., a clinic specialist at the VEGA Network of Multidisciplinary Veterinary Clinics, clarifies that treatment in the early stages is carried out surgically, followed by chemotherapy and a course of anti-inflammatory drugs - Piroxicam, Meloxicam. In a number of trials, the following chemotherapy drugs showed a positive antitumor effect:

"Doxirubicin";
"Cyclophosphamide";
"Mitoxantrone";
"Vinblastine";
"Cisplatin";
"Carboplastin";
"Gemcitabine."

The extent of the operation is determined by the nature and size of the tumor. Partial removal of the bladder is possible in case of a voluminous lesion, and in case of small tumors a cystotomy is performed, that is, dissection of the walls of the bladder to remove the source of pathology. Sometimes it is necessary to insert a urethral catheter. It is important to understand that cancer therapy must be comprehensive, and benign tumors are either observed or surgically removed, followed by histological analysis of the tissue. This is necessary to confirm the absence of cancer.

Methods for diagnosing urocystitis

The most common clinical sign is hematuria (ie, blood in the urine). Urocystitis causes discomfort and pain. Cats can spend almost hours squatting and straining to urinate (the urine being released in a “drip” pattern). On the contrary, in other cases, a sick animal urinates frequently and profusely, at one time excreting a volume of urine several times greater than the normal value.

Bacterial infections usually cause hematuria and dysuria (the appearance of blood in the urine when there is a small amount of the latter). Another thing is urocystitis, which appears against the background of stones in the urethra and bladder. Uroliths have sharp edges and their surface is far from smooth. All this causes not only inflammation of the organs, but also a severe pain reaction.

Treatment

The most important thing is to remove the blockage and restore normal urine flow. The veterinarian will feel the bladder and try to force the animal to urinate by applying gentle pressure to the bladder. Sometimes this can eliminate urinary retention, but most often a more serious intervention is necessary - the installation of a urinary catheter. In this case, the plug in the urethra is usually washed out into the bladder.

The procedure for inserting a urinary catheter is often painful and requires prior sedation and sometimes general anesthesia. Most cats are successfully catheterized and the catheter is left in place for a couple of days. In rare cases, catheterization cannot be performed, in which case an emergency operation is required - perineal urethrostomy.

But urethral blockage and its removal are not the only problems that the doctor has to deal with. Cats with urinary retention quickly become dehydrated and toxins accumulate in their blood, leading to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and general weakness. In addition, life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances may occur due to changes in the electrolyte composition of the blood.

It is necessary to understand that urinary retention lasting more than 1-2 days is a very dangerous condition that threatens the life of the animal. Most cats, after a long (more than a day) urinary retention, are best left for several days in a hospital hospital with a catheter installed for infusion and antibacterial therapy, monitoring of general condition and urine formation.

The main work in the recovery phase is done by the cat’s kidneys, which, due to blockage, stopped their production. Urine formation is monitored immediately after restoration of its outflow, and longer if the amount of urine produced per hour is lower or exceeds normal values (2-4 ml/kg/hour).

Fluid is injected intravenously or subcutaneously to eliminate dehydration, drugs are administered to eliminate pain and relax the inflamed urethra, and antibacterial drugs to prevent the development of bacteria on the damaged mucous membrane of the urethra and bladder.

After two days, the catheter is removed and the cat is observed to urinate. For most cats, urination is initially difficult and painful, but most often this is a temporary problem. A cat with normal urination can be sent home.

To treat diseases that cause symptoms of USK, long courses of antibiotics are used to eliminate inflammation, a special diet that prevents the formation of stones and sand, reduces the density and increases the volume of urine. Antispasmodics, such as no-spa, are used to relax the muscles of the urethra and facilitate the passage of urine. In addition, your doctor may recommend urine tests at regular intervals.

If blockage of the urethra in a cat is repeated several times, this is an indication for surgical intervention, in which a urethral opening is formed, similar to that of females - shorter and wider. The operation is called "perineal urethrostomy", during which the penis and testes are removed and a new urethral opening is formed.

The operation is performed only to prevent blockage of the urethra; it does not prevent or cure diseases of the lower urinary system. This means that the formation of salts in the urine, inflammation, and painful urination may continue. Cats with a urethrostomy are predisposed to infection in the bladder and the development of infections associated with bladder stones.

Metabolic disorders that arise during the blockage should, if possible, be eliminated before surgery. This can be monitored by a biochemical blood test (creatinine and urea) and an analysis of blood gases and electrolytes. In some emergency cases this is not possible - not all cats can have a urinary catheter installed and a new urethral opening must be formed immediately. In this case, the risk of anesthesia is especially high.

The animal must be kept warm. Cats are prescribed alternating warm compresses on the perineum with cool baths. Drinking is excluded for a while. A good effect can be achieved by blockades: visceral, epipleural or perinephric novocaine.

It should be remembered that delaying urination for more than 1-2 days can lead to irreversible consequences for the health of the animal and even lead to death. In severe cases, experts recommend leaving the pet in the hospital for several days. A catheter is inserted into the animal, and the general condition and functioning of the excretory system are monitored.

To prevent dehydration, the cat is given fluid subcutaneously or intravenously. They give medications to eliminate pain and relax muscles, and prevent inflammation.

After two days, the catheter is removed. If the animal empties its bladder normally, it is returned to its owners.

CYSTOTOMY AND URETHROSTOMY IN THE TREATMENT OF URINOLOGICAL DISEASE IN CATS.

The article presents data on the incidence of urolithiasis in cats, as well as a comparative analysis of cystotomy and preanal urethrostomy.

In cats, pathology of the urinary system occupies one of the first places in terms of frequency of occurrence and number of deaths, along with diseases of the cardiovascular system, tumors and traumatic lesions.

In recent years, the interest of veterinarians treating small animals in the problem of urolithiasis has increased significantly. This is explained by both an increase in the registration of cases of urolithiasis in cats and frequent relapses of the disease with an increase in mortality. In this regard, the tasks of improving existing diagnostic and treatment and preventive measures seem very relevant.

The main goal of our work was to study the effectiveness of preanal urethrostomy and cystotomy in the treatment of urolithiasis in cats.

Materials and methods of research. The studies were carried out from May 2007 to May 2008 at the clinic of the Department of Surgery and Obstetrics of the Law Firm "KATU" NAU, veterinary medicine clinics in Simferopol, as well as the private veterinary clinic "Zoovetcenter" in Dnepropetrovsk. The objects of experimental and clinical studies were cats of various age and breed groups that had clinical signs characteristic of urolithiasis.

The diagnosis of urolithiasis was established on the basis of anamnesis (impaired or absent diuresis), clinical signs (bladder fullness, abdominal wall tenderness on palpation, dysuria, ischuria, hematuria), laboratory tests (general urine analysis), and to clarify the location of uroliths Ultrasound diagnostics was used.

To treat domestic cats that had partial urethral obstruction, complex conservative therapy was used. Smooth muscle spasm and pain were prevented by intramuscular administration of a 0.1% solution of baralgin, a 2% solution of papaverine hydrochloride and no-shpa. To prevent ascending infection, ceftriaxone was prescribed at a dose of 0.05–0.1 g/kg once a day; orally – nitroxoline ½ tablet. The course was at least 5–7 days.

In more severe cases, maintenance and detoxification therapy was carried out, which consisted of intravenous or subcutaneous administration of a 0.9% sodium chloride solution, a 5% glucose solution in combination with vitamins (B1, B6, B12 and ascorbic acid).

To enhance diuresis, subject to normal urine outflow, furosemide and veroshpiron were used in standard doses.

In case of complete obstruction of the urethra and acute urinary retention, catheterization was performed to restore its outflow.

In cases of frequently recurrent obstructions of the urethra, surgical treatment was performed. When stones were localized in the bladder cavity, a cystotomy was performed, and when they were localized in the urethra, a urethrostomy was performed.

For general anesthesia, xylazine was used at a dose of 0.1 ml/kg in combination with ketamine at a dose of 0.1 ml/kg.

Before the operation, a catheter was inserted into the bladder, a 10% solution of lidocaine in the form of an aerosol was used for local anesthesia, and as the catheter advanced into the urethra, a 2% solution of novocaine was used.

The animal was fixed on the operating table in the dorsal position with the pelvic limbs extended backwards.

Surgical access for cystotomy was performed along the white line, and urethrostomy - in the preanal area.

In the postoperative period, along with antimicrobial therapy, the use of antispasmodics, painkillers and treatment of the postoperative wound, the bladder cavity was sanitized with a 0.1% solution of chlorhexidine 1:4 with 0.9% sodium chloride solution.

Based on the analysis of urinary stones and depending on the pH of the urine, the animals were prescribed a special diet using medicinal feeds Urinary s/o and Renal s/o Royal Canin, Feline s/d Hills.

Observations of the operated animals were carried out until clinical recovery.

Results of our own research. During the period from May 2007 to May 2008, 127 cats with diseases of the urinary system were adopted, of which 89 animals were diagnosed with urolithiasis, which amounted to 71%.

An analysis of the age dynamics of the manifestation of urolithiasis showed that this pathology is observed in all age groups, but was most often recorded at the age of two to six years, 56% of the total number of animals diagnosed with urolithiasis. In animals aged nine years and older, the disease was observed in isolated cases (8%).

Of the number of examined animals, 70 were outbred (79%). The remaining 19 are represented by various breeds, of which the disease was most often recorded in Persian (62%) and Siamese (27%) cats.

pumpkin seeds;

sage;

clubmoss and horsetail;

shepherd's purse.

age factor;

Internal factors

External causes of urolithiasis:

Nutrition. The predominance of foods high in magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and sodium in the diet increases the risk of developing the disease. Excess protein foods and water with a high content of calcium salts contribute to an increase in the acidity of urine.
Climatic conditions. A hot climate affects the formation and excretion of urine, diuresis decreases, and urine becomes more concentrated. Improperly organized drinking regime increases the risk of developing urolithiasis.
Deficiency of retinol and B vitamins.
Weak animal activity. Breeders overindulge their ward, the predator becomes lazy. Stagnation of uric acid forms in the blood entering the urethral system.

New breeds imported from other countries are more susceptible to the disease.

In cats, 45% of uroliths consist entirely or partially of struvite (a salt of phosphorus and magnesium). Most stones form in sterile urine.

Endogenous causes of ICD:

Infectious diseases. The formation of struvite uroliths (phosphates) is most often associated with urinary tract infections caused by bacteria Stafhylococcus, Proteus. When pathogens enter the body, urease increases the concentration of ammonium in the urine, which leads to an increase in urine pH.
Idiopathic hypercalcemia is an increased level of calcium in the blood. When plasma is filtered in the glomerular apparatus of the kidneys, calcium accumulates in the form of deposits.
Obesity. With excess body weight, metabolic processes are disrupted, lipid processes in particular. Your furry friend develops the risk of developing other pathologies that impair diuresis.
Violation of oxalic acid metabolism. The substance combines with calcium cations to form oxalates. With excessive acid excretion, the poorly soluble salt does not have time to be excreted and accumulates in the form of stones.
Benign and malignant tumors.
Developmental defects or acquired anatomical defects.

Instructions for use of Ipakitine for cats: composition, analogues, dosage

Pets with a genetic predisposition are at risk.

Signs of urolithiasis in cats

Symptoms of the pathology depend on the location of the stones:

Disruption of the urination process. The presence of sand in the lower urinary tract obstructs the flow of urine.
Vomiting is caused by ureteral obstruction.
Pain in the kidneys - the animal cannot touch the abdomen; it occurs when the kidney capsule is blocked.
Pain when urinating – the pet often goes to the litter box, meows during the deurination process. Such manifestations are typical for urethral stones.
The appearance of blood stains in the tray is associated with damage to the ureteral mucosa by microscopic crystals (sand).
A swollen, dense abdomen is observed with urocystolitis.

Clinical signs of nephroliths may not appear until 2/3 or more of the renal parenchyma is lost.

Where is a cat's bladder located and how to feel it

The bladder in all animals is considered a special organ, which surprises with its elasticity and is second only to the uterus in its general stretching function.

Every person should know how to palpate a cat’s bladder, since situations arise when, in order to urgently determine the pet’s condition at home, it is necessary to palpate this organ.

Location

Many people wonder where the bladder is located. The location of the bladder does not depend on any factors - it is always in the lower region of the peritoneum, in the lumen of the small pelvis, near the crest of the womb. At the exit, the organ narrows and forms a neck - cervix vesicae.

The bladder is easily accessible for surgical manipulation and is easily palpated due to its convenient location and the fact that it is not covered by an omentum. If the cavity is full and reaches the navel itself, then palpation if fluid stagnation is suspected should be very careful due to serious thinning of the walls.

Depending on the level of fullness and volume, it can move slightly in the pelvic region, but remain relatively stable in its initial physiological orientation due to the fact that it is held by ligaments. To better understand the location, you should look at the photo on the Internet.

Structure of the bladder

The bag is designed quite unusually. This can be explained not only by its elasticity, but also by its connection with the urethra and ureters. The internal part of the organ is lined with mucous membrane, which saves the body from various bacteria entering it through the bladder. The structure of the organ is as follows:

Outer shell . It is formed from connective tissue, under which there is a layer of smooth muscle, which performs the timely expulsion of the contents of the organ and the urge to urinate, which begins to appear even before the bladder is completely full.
Mucous tissues . This is a complex membrane formed from special elastic fibers, which provides proper support to the walls of the bladder, even when completely filled. It also supports the mucous membrane of the inner surface of the organ, preventing it from moving.
The mucous membrane is located in the organ cavity . Thanks to this tissue, the bladder can collect after urination and stretch to a huge size when overfilled. The secret that the cells of this layer of the bladder produce helps suppress the development of dangerous bacteria in the cat’s body, but only if he has excellent immunity.

Like any organ, the bladder has its own diseases and has nerve endings, which is why the animal experiences pain when it is ill. You should not think that since the bladder, in general terms, is considered a temporary bag for collecting fluid before excreting it from the body, then it cannot get sick, like other organs that are distinguished by the complexity of their functioning.

ATTENTION! When an animal has a tendency to develop diseases of the genitourinary system, it is unacceptable to leave this process and do nothing, since the reasons for this can be completely different, including life-threatening ones.

Checking the degree of fullness

How to check the fullness? You can find out the filling level of the organ yourself:

To do this, you need to put the pet on all fours, slightly supporting it under its belly.
The cat should be positioned with its hind limbs closer to the person.
Hands should be placed on the animal’s back so that both thumbs are located on the cat’s rump, and with the rest, palpate the tummy closer to the urinary canal.

The cat's nervousness and attempts to escape will indicate the presence of pain, which indicates that a veterinarian should be called.

We palpate the organ

To more accurately determine the location of the organ, you should place your palm closer to the base of the tail, perpendicular to the ridge. The projection of the upper border of the bag will be the side of the palm opposite to the tail.

In a normal state, in the absence of urine, a soft, weak fluctuation should be felt under the fingers, spread evenly within the boundaries of the bladder; at this moment the boundaries themselves are not felt.

Why is it necessary to eliminate the cause of the disease?

One of the symptoms of bladder or kidney disease is fluid retention . Mostly cats suffer from such phenomena. For example, urolithiasis mainly occurs in cats, since the urethra in cats is much wider than in cats. Neutered pets suffer from these ailments more than others.

They don't get all the hormones, and without quality nutrition and vitamins, they become weaker. Be sure to limit neutered animals from fish products, as they can cause an exacerbation.

ATTENTION! If your cat has kidney stones, give him the medicine "CatErvin". Thanks to the pleasant smell, animals will happily absorb these drops. According to the recommendation, the product should be given to the cat for prevention once every 3-4 months. It has diuretic properties, destroys small stones and sand itself.

To rid your pet of kidney stones, buy food for neutered cats that is specially marked. Infectious and cold pathologies can also cause fluid retention. Cats, especially those accustomed to a warm home, should not become overcooled.

To avoid such difficulties, you need high-quality care, proper nutrition and preventive measures. When you see that your pet cannot urinate, try to understand how long it has been since he urinated. Healthy animals walk three times a day, kittens up to four times. Cats can “accumulate” liquid in themselves, so concentrated urine is considered normal.

If a cat cannot defecate for several days, this is a very dangerous problem, since the body can be poisoned by urea. Manifestations of poisoning: lethargy, apathetic mood, lack of appetite.

How can you tell if your cat's bladder is full? This can be done quickly. Place the animal on its paws, clasp it with both hands so that your thumbs are located on the cat's rump, and use the remaining fingers to feel and palpate the belly. If your cat is constantly running to the toilet and squeezing out little things all the time, this may be enough to get rid of the poisoning.

Therapeutic manipulations to combat cystitis

Even if the owner has at least a little knowledge about medicine and is confident in himself, you should not treat your pet at home. It is better to spend a couple of hours and money on professionals so that the cat feels great and lives for a very long time. After all, the treatment of each ailment has individual characteristics, which take into account various points.

To get rid of some types of disease, you just need to change the food and give your pet plenty of herbal tinctures, washing out the inflammatory process from the body. In more difficult situations, treatment with antiseptics, antispasmodics and sulfonamides will be required, and in the presence of dangerous flora, antibiotics and antibacterial agents are added.

IMPORTANT! In case of acute pathology, prompt and high-quality treatment for cats involves washing the bag. First aid for problems with going to the toilet is to install a catheter to empty the organ. If symptoms include an increase in body temperature, you need to put in IVs to eliminate the discharge.

Consequences of improper care of a sick animal

In general, the procedure of manual squeezing and massage of the bladder raises concerns - the effort required for this is quite large, and people may feel that they are injuring the cat’s organ. But in real life, with a timely start of squeezing and quality care, the cat will feel much better.

If for a long time the animal empties the bag only when it is full, atony of the organ walls develops, so you need to carefully monitor your pets. Don’t take things to extremes, treat your cat on time; the sooner the doctor detects the disease, the better.

The veterinarian can perform a puncture, and then sanitation, at the same time help the cat and determine why she has urinary retention. It’s better to see a doctor right away than to suffer and wonder what happened.

Source: https://koteiki.net/zdorove-koshek/kak-proshhupat-mochevoj-puzyr-u-kota.html

Medications

The conservative method is used either independently or in combination with the surgical one.

What to feed a cat with urolithiasis: diet and selection of food at home

Indications for non-surgical therapy:

the presence of small uroliths and sand that can come out spontaneously;
stones do not affect the passage of urine;
chronic infections;
rehabilitation after surgery;
prevention of relapses.

The conservative method includes a set of therapies, each of which involves the use of certain groups of drugs.

Spasmalin is administered intramuscularly every 8-12 hours for 3-5 days. dosage 1 ml/10 kg weight;
Atropine sulfate is used subcutaneously, intravenously or intramuscularly once a day in an amount of 0.02-0.05 mg/kg;
Metamizole sodium is administered intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously every 24 hours at a dosage of 0.3 mg/kg.

Urolex is administered orally one hour before meals at a dosage of 3 drops per kg of body weight;
Furosemide – orally 5 mg/kg.

Urodynamic correctors: Urorek, Terazonin, Phoenixbenzamine. The treatment regimen is determined by the doctor.

Agents that prevent the formation and promote the dissolution of uroliths:

Urolin Serco is mixed 3-5 drops into the food for a week. The course is repeated after 3 months.
Rowatinex 1 capsule daily.

Antibiotics are prescribed depending on the pathogen and sensitivity to the drug.

Treatment of a sick pet

Cystitis in cats can have several types, differing in the intensity and duration of symptoms. The initial phase of cystitis is best treated; in the chronic form, it is quite difficult to get rid of the disease for good. There are also forms of bladder inflammation such as hemorrhagic and idiopathic.

The acute form of the disease is characterized by the rapid development of an inflammatory process, in which the cat becomes irritable, experiences pain in the bladder or urethra, and does not have time to reach the litter box. Signs appear within a few hours after the infection enters the urinary tract.

Chronic cystitis is characterized by a sluggish nature. It is formed in the absence or insufficiency of therapy for the acute stage of the inflammatory process. Chronic disease reduces the pet’s immunity and negatively affects its condition even in the absence of symptoms.

Idiopathic cystitis is a rare form of the disease in which the causes of its occurrence are unclear. Symptoms may be severe or virtually absent. Intensive therapy for this form of cystitis may not bring any results. Idiopathic inflammation of the bladder is not fully understood, so there is no data on the treatment and prevention of this disease.

This type of cystitis can be either acute or chronic. It is characterized by damage to the mucous membrane of the bladder, accompanied by destruction of the walls of blood vessels. Often the cause of hemorrhagic cystitis is urolithiasis, in which stones damage the urinary tract when moving. With this form of the disease, blood appears in the cat's urine, and the hemoglobin level drops.

The disease is dangerous because a blood clot can block the urethra, which can lead to rupture of its walls. If your cat's urine turns pink or red, you should immediately take your cat to the veterinarian.

When the first symptoms of cystitis appear in a cat, you should immediately call a veterinarian at home or take your pet to the clinic. Before the cat is examined by a specialist, you should provide her with peace by placing her bed in a warm, dark place. You should not touch your pet’s belly, so as not to further cause him discomfort and stretch the walls of the bladder.

We suggest you read: Staphylococcus in urine treatment. What to do if your cat has cocci in his urine

Treatment of cystitis in cats involves the use of antibacterial drugs. The most effective are the following:

Ceftriaxone. An antibiotic given by injection when there is mucus in the urine. Injections are given in the thigh. The course of treatment is up to 10 days.
Enroflosacin. It is administered subcutaneously and has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibacterial effects. For moderate to mild severity of the disease, the therapeutic course is about a week.
Erythromycin. The injection is given subcutaneously, the course of treatment is up to 2 weeks.

To relieve pain at home, medications in the form of injections are indicated that relax smooth muscles and eliminate spasms (No-Shpa, Papaverine). Medicines are administered twice a day, morning and evening, for a week. A single dose averages 0.5 ml, but the veterinarian can adjust the dosage depending on the individual characteristics of the animal.

In case of urolithiasis, a cat may be prescribed the drug “Kotervin”, which helps remove salts, dissolve stones, and reduce inflammation. The drug is administered orally. It contains natural ingredients: knotweed, horsetail, and steelhead root. Kotervin is not only a therapeutic, but also a preventive drug.

You can treat cystitis in an animal at home using folk remedies, but they can only be used after consultation with a veterinarian. There are the following herbal recipes for bladder inflammation:

Lingonberry leaves (1 tbsp) are poured into 200 ml of boiling water. Simmer in a water bath for 30 minutes, filter. Give the cat 4 times a day in a dosage of 1.5 ml of infusion for each kg of weight.
Take the herb cinquefoil, horsetail and plantain in a ratio of 1:1:2. 1 tbsp. l. pour a glass of boiling water over the collection, simmer in a water bath for 25 minutes, strain. Add boiled water, bringing the volume to 200 ml. How many times should you give your pet this infusion? Optimally – 3 times a day, half an hour before feeding, 10 ml.

You cannot combine drug treatment with folk remedies on your own, as this can lead to complications and even anaphylactic shock. The compatibility of drugs and herbs should be checked by a veterinarian. With proper and timely treatment, the symptoms of the disease disappear within 7–10 days.

Treatment of cystitis in cats at home is possible only after all the necessary diagnostic tests have been carried out and drug therapy has been prescribed.

The course of treatment includes:

symptomatic therapy (antispasmodics, analgesics);
antimicrobial drugs and herbal uroseptics;
medicines for the correction and treatment of the underlying pathology;
diet and proper drinking regimen.

Before contacting a veterinarian, no medications should be given to a sick pet. If the pain is severe, you can administer a dose of antispasmodic to the cat, calculated according to the weight of the animal. You should inform your doctor about this at your appointment.

Injections for a cat

The preferred form of administration of painkillers and antimicrobial drugs is injections. Parenteral administration ensures the required concentration of active substances in the body, a quick effect and the absence of complications from the gastrointestinal tract.

At home, you can only perform subcutaneous and intramuscular injections.

Brief instructions for giving an injection to a cat.

The following medications are administered to cats in the form of injections:

antispasmodics (No-shpa, Papaverine);
analgesics (Baralgin, Analgin, Revalgin);
antibiotics (Gentamicin, Amoxiclav, Levomycetin);
immunostimulants (IBS).

Antimicrobial agents should be given in a course, without stopping therapy at the first signs of relief in the cat’s condition.

The following medications may be prescribed for oral administration:

Salol;
CatErwin;
Stop cystitis;
Canephron;
Cyston;
Cantaren;
probiotics (Lactovit, Bifitrilak).

Treating a cat without the advice of a veterinarian is very dangerous, because... this can lead to chronicity of the disease and the development of complications in the kidneys.

Step-by-step treatment plan.
With the permission of the doctor, symptomatic therapy can be supplemented with infusions and decoctions of the following plants:

plantain, bearberry, birch, lingonberry, nettle (leaves);
cinquefoil;
horsetail;
chamomile (flowers), etc.

KotErwin are anti-inflammatory and mild diuretic drops that contain extracts of knotweed (field and kidney), horsetail and steelhead root. This drug is best suited for the prevention of urolithiasis and urological syndrome.

Stop-cystitis contains both herbal components (extracts of juniper, lingonberry and birch leaves, nettle, knotweed and licorice root) and medicinal preparations (antibiotic nitroxoline and antispasmodic drotaverine). It comes in tablet form and is suitable for the treatment of bladder inflammation.

Stop Cystitis Bio contains only herbal ingredients and is suitable for the prevention of cystitis in cats.

Folk remedies

Alternative treatments also provide good results. But their use must be agreed with a doctor.

Infusion of bird knotweed herb. 100 g of dry herb is poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and left until it cools completely. Give 2 tbsp. spoons before feeding three times a day.
To restore the acidity of urine, give 1 tsp. carrot juice half an hour before meals.
To restore diuresis, parsley juice is added to a bowl of water.

If side symptoms occur, folk remedies are canceled.

What to feed a cat with urolithiasis at home

Organizing proper nutrition is of paramount importance. When selecting a diet, the type of stones is taken into account.

Basic principles of the diet:

Feed the pet 4-5 times at the same time interval.
Water is provided filtered or boiled.
Limit consumption of foods high in calcium (milk, egg whites, salmon).
If oxalates are detected, by-products (liver, kidneys) are excluded from the diet.
For struvite, boiled beef, rice, and carrots are recommended.
If the animal is fed natural food, the products are subjected to heat treatment.
Vitamin supplements should contain a minimum of calcium.

Ketosteril for cats: instructions for use, price, reviews, analogues

It is highly recommended that you give your furry friend medicated food.

Unfortunately, not all owners have the useful habit of closely observing the behavior of their pets for several minutes a day. Please note that this habit can be extremely useful and, ultimately, save the life of your pet. The problem is that not everyone can notice in time the first clinical manifestations of “intimate” diseases of the genitourinary system (which include urocystitis in cats), but they are very dangerous not only for the health, but also for the life of your beloved cat!

How to depress your bladder

The procedure can be carried out either on a lying animal or on its paws and supported. Run your hands over your pet's belly from where the ribs end to the tail. The bladder feels like an inflated balloon sliding between your fingers. Apply gentle pressure to the bladder on either side of your abdomen, using your entire palm to maintain equal pressure. You can try squeezing from both sides with two palms, find the most convenient way for you. The flow of urine should be steady.

This procedure is sometimes called bladder massage. However, the word massage here is not entirely correct - to properly empty the bladder, it is pressure that is required, and not stimulation of the walls; independent urination will still not happen.

You can ask a specialist at your veterinary clinic to show you how to properly carry out this procedure.

To better imagine the sensations, fill a balloon with water - a little, and put it under the blanket, and then try to feel and squeeze it from the outside.

It is necessary to squeeze out urine 2-4 times a day, according to the doctor’s recommendations. At first, cats may be very disapproving of pressure on the abdomen, but remember that the health, quality and life expectancy of a cat with paralysis depends on how fully the procedure is carried out.

In some cases, drug therapy is indicated - only as prescribed by a doctor!

Manual squeezing of the bladder is a fairly simple procedure, and unless the cat has an advanced case, caring for it will be only slightly more difficult than for a healthy animal, and life with such a pet can be absolutely comfortable for the owner.

What it is?

Many people know that cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. Accordingly, urocystitis is a “combined” inflammatory process that involves damage not only to the bladder, but also to the urethra, that is, the urinary duct through which urine is released into the external environment during the act of urination. To be fair, let’s say that in nature “pure” cystitis is generally quite rare, since the reason for which the bladder turned out to be inflamed will almost certainly have a negative effect on the urethra.

What are the main reasons for the development of pathology? Many infectious diseases and pathological conditions, including poisoning with heavy metal salts, can cause combined inflammation of the bladder and urethra. The most common cause of cystitis in cats is some kind of bacterial pathology , in which pathogenic microflora begins to develop directly in the bladder. Other common causes include: bladder stones, tumors or polyps in the bladder, as well as pathologies of the anatomical structure of the genitourinary system (especially in females). Some animals are diagnosed with interstitial or “sterile urocystitis.” In this case, inflammation develops without external influence on the body. Veterinarians suggest that some kind of autoimmune process is to blame in this case. Let's look at some of these predisposing factors in more detail.

Consequences of improper care of a sick animal

The veterinarian can perform a puncture, and then sanitation, at the same time help the cat and determine why she has urinary retention. It’s better to see a doctor right away than to suffer and wonder what happened.

Clinical picture of urocystitis

The most common clinical sign is hematuria (that is, blood in the urine). Urocystitis causes discomfort and pain. Cats can spend almost hours squatting and straining to urinate (the urine being released in a “drip” pattern). On the contrary, in other cases, a sick animal urinates frequently and profusely, at one time excreting a volume of urine several times greater than the normal value. In addition, the pet owner may notice the appearance of small spots of urine throughout the house: a sick cat can no longer control the process of urination, emptying itself at any “appropriate” moment, as this gives him relief. What other symptoms develop?

Indications for use

Massage can be prescribed in case of problems with urination due to the following reasons:

lesions of the nerves of the hind limbs (paralysis, paresis, etc.), often resulting from injuries;
infectious or inflammatory diseases of the urinary system (urolithiasis, cystitis);
congenital abnormalities in the development of the urinary tract;
overexcitation in uncastrated cats, when significantly enlarged gonads clog the urethra.

For neurological damage to the limbs, the veterinarian usually prescribes constant manual emptying of the bladder; for other cases when the pet is unable to urinate on its own (for example, in the case of urolithiasis), the cause of this phenomenon should first be identified and eliminated.

Problems with urination become immediately noticeable. They manifest themselves in the form of the following symptoms:

the animal spends a lot of time in the tray, but no urine is released at all or only a small amount is released, and the cat behaves restlessly at this time, sometimes meowing;
the cat may try to urinate in different places in the house;
appetite noticeably decreases or disappears;
the pet becomes lethargic or, conversely, restless, and tends to limit any movements.

To determine the degree of bladder filling you need:

Place the cat on a hard surface on all fours, gently holding it under the belly so that the hind limbs are closer to the owner.
Place your hands on the back so that the thumbs are on the pet's croup, and the rest are palpating the abdomen in the area of the urinary canal.
If during the procedure the pet tries to escape and becomes nervous, this indicates the presence of unpleasant sensations.
Detection during palpation of a soft compaction the size of a walnut, in which liquid rolls freely under the fingers, indicates daily urinary retention, while a more elastic compaction the size of a tennis ball is a sign of absence of urination for more than two days. If the lump is larger and hard to the touch, this is a signal to urgently contact the veterinarian, since in this case you will most likely have to use a catheter for emptying.

Methods for diagnosing urocystitis

The appearance of hematuria, dysuria and pollakiuria are convincing evidence of some forms of urocystitis. If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, you should immediately take him to the vet. He will conduct several standard diagnostic tests.

The first group of tests includes: urine analysis, bacteriological examination and palpation of the bladder and urethra. The latter, of course, is only possible in cats. When analyzing urine, special attention is paid to the presence of sediment in it. It is formed by exfoliated epithelium and tiny uroliths. The problem is that the presence of sediment almost certainly indicates inflammation, but does not say anything about its nature. To do this, a bacteriological study of urine is carried out, simultaneously growing a culture of the pathogen on nutrient media. This is necessary not only to determine the exact type of “pest”, but also to select an antibacterial agent that best deals with it.

Palpation of the bladder is also very important, since if there are stones in its cavity, an experienced specialist will be able to palpate them. But! If the animal shows signs of severe pain when urinating, you should not use palpation - there is a considerable chance of damaging the wall of the organ, which can lead to quick death from internal bleeding (or slow death from diffuse peritonitis).

How to treat a pet

Injections for a cat

how to treat a cat for cystitis? Some people immediately begin to study forums in search of traditional methods of treating a cat for cystitis, others ask neighbors and friends. Most people start treatment with the drug stop cystitis, but the fact is that the drug only relieves symptoms, but does not eliminate the root cause.

Antibiotics are most often prescribed. Even if bacteria are not the culprit, sooner or later pathogenic microorganisms attack the inflamed area. Without them, it is unlikely that it will be possible to achieve a full recovery. Ask your veterinarian to test the sensitivity of bacteria in the urine to antibiotics to avoid giving your pet medications that will not help him.
To prevent antibiotics from leading to dysbiosis, a qualified veterinarian will prescribe probiotics (drugs that restore intestinal microflora). Only they should not be given immediately after or before the administration of antibiotics. Otherwise, probiotics will be of no use.

Antispasmodics. They will help the animal “relax” a little. Firstly, the cat will be able to pee (it won’t hurt as much, and the inflammation will decrease a little). Secondly, this will allow the cat to excrete more urine at one time, it will not stagnate.
Be sure to eliminate the cause! If this is a metabolic disorder, then completely review your diet and be sure to filter the water. If ICD has already developed, then you need to deal with it. If other chronic diseases are the cause, then they are eliminated.
If a cat has idiopathic cystitis, then it is very difficult to treat. The whole problem is that, as stated above, the reasons for its occurrence have not yet been discovered. Therefore, the veterinarian has to prescribe symptomatic treatment (for example, stop cystitis, diuretics, antibiotics).

We invite you to read: The important question is what to do if your cat has bloody urine

Additional diagnostics

What to do if urocystitis is present, but neither the pathogen nor the stones could be found? This scenario occurs in approximately 20% of cases. In such situations, the veterinarian is forced to use more complex research methods.

The easiest way is to take an x-ray of the bladder : this way you can determine the presence of stones or tumors in its cavity. The problem is that some types of uroliths are formed by compounds that are transparent to x-rays, and therefore cannot be seen on x-rays (if a contrast agent has not been injected). This is why plain radiographs rarely show bladder tumors, polyps or diverticula. However, x-rays can be taken without prior sedation or general anesthesia in most cats.

Ultrasound examination is also a fairly simple, but much more effective method. Using ultrasound, you can not only detect the presence of tumors or stones in the bladder and/or urethra: the method even allows you to determine the thickness of the walls of these organs, which helps to accurately determine the localization of the inflammatory process (which is extremely useful when prescribing surgery). As in the previous case, sedatives or anesthesia are not needed here (however, this does not apply to particularly large and aggressive cats).

Contrast radiographs of the bladder and urethra are indicated when conventional x-rays and/or ultrasound also do not provide an accurate diagnosis. To do this, a catheter is carefully inserted into the urethra, after which the urine is completely removed from the organ, and a special contrast solution is injected in its place. But sometimes urocystitis is just a sign of a much more serious pathology. In doubtful cases, a complete biochemical blood test is indicated, as this method helps to identify serious pathologies of internal organs. In particular, the disease may indicate Cushing's disease or nephritis.

Therapeutic manipulations to combat cystitis

IMPORTANT! In case of acute pathology, prompt and high-quality treatment for cats involves washing the bag. First aid for problems with going to the toilet is to install a catheter to empty the organ. If symptoms include an increase in body temperature, you need to put in IVs to eliminate the discharge.

Therapeutic techniques

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Bacterial infections are usually treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Alas, in most cases stones can only be removed surgically - therapeutic diets help little. Benign polyps of the bladder and urethra can also be removed surgically, but malignant tumors are extremely difficult to treat (radiation and chemical therapy). A bladder diverticulum must be removed surgically.

In the initial stages of treatment, it is necessary to facilitate the outflow of urine (using a catheter or diuretics), and also relieve the cat of pain by prescribing sedatives. Once the discomfort is resolved, keep your pet hydrated as much as possible, as increased urine output can help completely cure mild cases of bacterial infections.