Urology/Nephrology

Lower urinary tract disease in cats was described as early as 1925. Over the years, the terms "feline urologic syndrome" (FUS) and "feline lower urinary tract disease" (FLUTD) have been used to describe the group of clinical signs related to problems voiding. However, these descriptive terms do not identify the underlying etiology.

Urinary tract infection is the most common infectious disease of dogs, affecting as many as 14% of dogs over the course of their lifetime. The majority of these urinary tract infections (UTIs) are benign and respond readily to antimicrobial therapy.

Struvite and calcium oxalate (CaOx) uroliths are the most commonly reported uroliths in cats. In the last 25 years, dramatic change in the prevalence of different urolith types has occurred. Until the mid-1980s, struvite uroliths made up 78% of submissions to the Minnesota Urolith Center (MUC).

Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is a sterile, inflammatory process causing signs of lower urinary tract disease (LUTD). It affects 1.5% of cats presented to primary care veterinarians.21 It is the most common diagnosis for young cats with LUTD (the second most common being urolithiasis).

Micturition is the act of urination and includes both a storage phase and a voiding phase. Animals presenting with urinary incontinence typically have one or more problems with the storage phase of micturition, which can usually be categorized as; insufficient urethral closure pressure; failure of the bladder to relax and accommodate urine; or abnormal anatomy of the bladder, ureter(s) and/or urethra.

Investigating the changes in composition over the last couple of decades.

A closer look at genetics is offering new insight into disease conditions.

In the last three decades, the composition of uroliths in cats has been variable, while the composition of feline urethral plugs has remained consistent.

An approximately 2-year-old feral female domestic shorthaired cat weighing 6.1 lb (2.8 kg) was presented to a spay and neuter clinic for a routine ovariohysterectomy.

Urolithiasis can cause 15 percent to 21 percent of lower urinary tract problems.

Crystalluria can occur in animals with normal uinary tracts without any clinical signs of lower urinary tract disease.

Nephrotic syndrome is an uncommon to rare complication of protein-losing nephropathies. Diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome requires the concurrent presence of proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, third-space accumulation of fluid, (such as ascites) and hyperlipidemia; when present, this diagnosis is pathognomonic for glomerular disease.

Conventional urine dipsticks are the standard initial screening test for detection of proteinuria. Urine albumin concentration must be approximately 30 mg/dl or greater to be detected by this method.

Crystalluria: Struvite crystalluria occurs in greater than 50% of healthy dogs, including animals without urinary tract infections; these crystals are also common in healthy cats. Incidental struvite crystalluria occurs because the mineral components of these crystals (magnesium, ammonia, phosphate) are normally excreted in large amounts into urine, and supersaturation leads to precipitation.

In addition to the CBC and chemistry panel, the urinalysis is the third component of the minimum database. In addition to helping in the evaluation and monitoring of diseases of the kidneys and the lower urinary tract, a urinalysis provides information on the function of a number of other organs.

Urine sediment examination is an essential part of the urinalysis. As discussed in the previous lecture, a urinalysis should be performed whenever blood is collected for a 'metabolic screen' or 'healthy animal exam,' or a clinician is investigating any systemic disease.

The reasons why proteinuria is directly associated with progression of renal disease are multifactorial.

New research concludes that monitoring urine protein-to-creatinine ratio should be part of the geriatric screening process in cats.

The trials of diagnosing neurologic disorders.

We use the caps from syringe casings as a false litter for cats that we need to collect urine from.

This urine collection method makes it easy for clients to obtain a sample at home.

These tips-two for dogs and one for cats-are easy to implement and will improve patient care.

Caring for young can trigger development of new neurons.

A typical cat with idiopathic cystitis is 1 to 10 years old, lives indoors with people, uses a litter box, and consumes 75% or more of its diet in dry food.

This on-demand AVMA course by Dr. Jodi Westropp will focus on the most common reasons that dogs present for urinary incontinence. (1 CE credit)

Chronic kidney disease and failure is invariably progressive; however, stable disease and a reasonable quality of life can be obtained for some time in most cats.

Ethylene glycol (EG) is the primary component of antifreeze (95% EG), but is also found in paints, lacquers, pharmaceuticals, polishes and cosmetics.

Proteinuria can be pre-glomerular, glomerular, or post-glomerular in origin. Pathologic proteinuria is a persistent problem from glomerular damage, whereas functional proteinuria is generally transient.

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging disease worldwide.

A guide to managing refractory inflammatory feline lower urinary tract disease