BLADDER OBSTRUCTION IN CATS
Please make a appointment immediately if your cat is straining to urinate and only produces a few drops of urine or none at all. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. Sometimes, crystals or stones can cause a blockage in the urethra. Male cats are more likely to be affected as their urethras are narrower and longer than in a female. Urine can then build up in the bladder and can quickly cause kidney damage. The cause of the blockage can result from a combination of poor diet, abnormal urine pH and infections.
Signs of a blockage include depression, weakness, vomiting, lack of appetite, dehydration, collapse and of course trying to urinate frequently. Bladder obstruction is an emergency and can be fatal. Our vets at Southern Cross will try to unblock the bladder by applying pressure. If this is unsuccessful, our vets will insert a catheter into the bladder under anaesthetic and then the bladder can be unblocked and flushed. Our vets will prescribe a diet. Try to keep litter trays clean (especially during wet weather), offer plenty of water and feed a premium cat food.
back to Pet Info
back to Home
Please make a appointment immediately if your cat is straining to urinate and only produces a few drops of urine or none at all. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. Sometimes, crystals or stones can cause a blockage in the urethra. Male cats are more likely to be affected as their urethras are narrower and longer than in a female. Urine can then build up in the bladder and can quickly cause kidney damage. The cause of the blockage can result from a combination of poor diet, abnormal urine pH and infections.
Signs of a blockage include depression, weakness, vomiting, lack of appetite, dehydration, collapse and of course trying to urinate frequently. Bladder obstruction is an emergency and can be fatal. Our vets at Southern Cross will try to unblock the bladder by applying pressure. If this is unsuccessful, our vets will insert a catheter into the bladder under anaesthetic and then the bladder can be unblocked and flushed. Our vets will prescribe a diet. Try to keep litter trays clean (especially during wet weather), offer plenty of water and feed a premium cat food.
back to Pet Info
back to Home
