Bladder Stones in Cats: Causes, Treatment and Prevention
The blood of the cat is filtered in the kidneys and freed from harmful substances, which are then excreted in the urine. During this process, salts from the blood also enter the urine. If these salts exceed a certain concentration, urinary crystals can form, which then eventually join together to form solid bladder or urinary stones.
What causes bladder stones in cats and the different types of bladder stones are explained below. We also explain the symptoms of urinary stones in your cat and how you can help your pet.
Causes of urinary stones in cats
In many cases the causes of urinary stones in cats are not clear. Some animals, for example, have a certain predisposition from birth and are therefore more prone to get bladder stones.
It’s very likely that several factors play a role in the formation of urinary stones. In addition to hereditary factors, these include the pH in the urine and the amount of minerals a cat absorbs through its food.
It’s mainly older cats that are affected by bladder stones.
Different types of bladder stones in cats
If a cat suffers from urinary stones, these are in most cases either so-called struvite stones or calcium oxalate stones. Struvite stones consist of ammonium magnesium phosphate, while calcium oxalate stones are formed from calcium and oxalate.
Other compositions are also possible. However, they are rather the exception. The exact type of bladder stones can be determined by chemical analysis.
Symptoms of urinary stones in cats
Urinary stones can manifest themselves in cats in different ways. If the stones are very small, there are usually no noticeable symptoms in the beginning. But this changes at the latest when the urinary stones get bigger and their number increases.
Then regular cystitis is one of the typical symptoms. Depending on the severity of your cat's bladder infection, it can sometimes lead to the quadruped suddenly relieving itself outside the litter tray.
In many cases cats with bladder stones can also be observed to have blood in their urine. In addition, the urinary stones can become lodged in the renal pelvis or even in the ureter, partially or even completely blocking the flow of urine.
This is extremely painful, which is why your four-legged friend is likely to make a lot of noise when he urinates. If the blockage is complete, your cat could, in the worst case, suffer fatal kidney failure due to urinary stones.
Diagnosis of urinary stones in the cat
If your cat shows symptoms of urinary stones, a timely visit to the vet is highly recommended. The veterinarian can examine the urine sample and check whether there are urinary crystals in it.
This provides information about the composition of the urinary stones and enables the veterinarian to assess whether treatment with medication is promising.
The vet can also use x-rays and ultrasound to identify the bladder stones in your cat. In some cases an MRI scan may also be necessary.
Treat cats with bladder stones
There are several ways to treat a cat with bladder stones. Which of these is the right one depends, among other things, on the size of the stones and the symptoms that occur.
In most cases struvite stones that are largely free of symptoms can be dissolved quite well by a change in diet or the administration of appropriate medication. However, if the bladder stones lead to regular cystitis in your cat, surgical removal may be advisable.
Of course, this also applies if the bladder stones have settled and are blocking the flow of urine. This is a serious emergency and if left untreated it can lead to death.
In female cats, bladder stones can be shattered and removed relatively easily during a cystoscopy. In cats, however, this is not possible because of the delicate urethra. In these cats the abdomen has to be opened instead to reach the bladder and remove the bladder stones.
Unlike struvite stones, calcium oxalate stones cannot be dissolved. They can only be removed surgically or hopefully without causing problems for the cat.
Prognosis for cats with urinary stones
How good the prognosis is for a cat with urinary stones depends, among other things, on the number of stones and their size. The duration of the symptoms and the exact location of the stones also play a role.
In addition, any existing renal insufficiency of the cat may also have an influence on the chances of recovery.
However, the earlier your cat's urinary stones are detected and treated, the better the prognosis. If in doubt, it is always advisable to consult a vet immediately if symptoms occur, so that he can examine the cat and treat it if necessary.
Prevent urinary stones in cats
To reduce the risk of bladder stones in your cat, it is important that you follow a proper diet. With high-quality cat food, such as you find in the I love my cat range, you can provide your four-legged friend with the ideal amount of minerals.
Also try to ensure that your cat drinks enough fluids. Even though cats are by nature rather poor drinkers, this can help to flush the kidneys and bladder and thus counteract the formation of urinary stones.
In addition, we recommend regular detoxification of your pet's kidneys. Use I love my cat kidney power for this purpose. The special herbal mixture promotes the functionality of the kidneys and supports them in removing harmful substances.
This not only helps to reduce the risk of bladder stones in your cat, but also counteracts the development of kidney insufficiency.
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