Urolithiasis in pets

The number of visits to veterinary clinics by cat and dog owners with suspected urolithiasis is increasing every year. The disease is very insidious and dangerous, it is very important to detect it in its early stages and immediately begin treatment of the animal. Without urgent assistance, pathology can lead to the death of the pet.

ICD and the causes of its development in cats and dogs

Urolithiasis (or urolithiasis) refers to systemic diseases. Urolithiasis is the result of metabolic disorders that cause the formation of sand or stones (uroliths, concretions) consisting of urine components in the kidneys, urinary tubules or bladder.

The main reason for the development of urolithiasis is improper nutrition (e.g. consumption of low-quality economy class feed). Such feeding causes metabolic failures, acid-alkaline imbalance in the composition of urine.

Among other provoking factors:

- lack of fluid;

- inflammatory process;

- low motor activity;

- infection of the urogenital organs;

- early (up to 7 months) castration of cats;

- urinary stasis due to infrequent walking in dogs.

Urolithiasis can occur in any animal, but some have a breed-specific genetic predisposition to the disease. Among cats, Persian breeds, long-haired "exotas" and other similar breeds are at risk for Urolithiasis. In dogs, urolithiasis is susceptible to:

- Schnauzers;

- bassets;

- yorkies;

- Dalmatians;

- Shih Tzu;

- dachshunds;

- Pekinese;

- English bulldogs.

Another cause of pathology is the peculiarities of the structure of the urinary tract. Thus, females are less likely to suffer from urolithiasis than males. Cats suffer from ICD more than others, because they have a narrow, curved urethra, which makes it difficult to remove sand, contributes to the formation of large concretions.

Symptoms and diagnostic methods

Manifestations of urolithiasis depend on the degree of its development. For the first, subclinical stage is characterised by an asymptomatic course. At this time, crystals are already beginning to form in the bladder.

At the second stage, the first obvious signs of the disease appear: the pet begins to urinate more often, constantly licks the perineum, shows restlessness. Cats sit in the litter box for a long time, flecks of blood are observed in the urine.

The third stage of ICD development is characterised by severe symptoms:

Pollakiuria - cats constantly sit in the litter box, try to squat in any part of the flat, in dogs there is incontinence of urine droplets;

blood is clearly visible in the urine;

due to severe pain, cats meow long when urinating, dogs howl;

depressed state;

weight loss;

stiffness in movement;

thickening of the bladder on palpation;

animals adopt strange postures when trying to urinate: cats lift up on their hind legs, male dogs sit down (like bitches).

Fourth degree urolithiasis is a life-threatening condition. At this stage, there is a complete cessation of urination (anuria). To the clinical picture are added:

refusal to eat;

repeated vomiting against the background of general intoxication with decomposition products;

convulsions;

signs of dehydration;

severe muscle weakness;

coma;

the bladder is either not palpable (if burst or there is no fluid in it) or feels like a dense substance.
In the last stage of ICH, the animal requires emergency care. If it is not immediately taken to a veterinary clinic, urinary stagnation can provoke cerebral oedema, cardiac arrest, death from general poisoning of the body.

Urolithiasis is diagnosed by a doctor based on clinical signs, examination, palpation, urinalysis,
 radiographic and ultrasound examinations.

Treatment of urolithiasis

In the late stages of urolithiasis, surgery in combination with subsequent drug therapy is required. If the owners noticed the disease in the early stages, in time to seek help from a veterinarian, conservative treatment can be effective.

The animal will have to follow a strict diet, depending on the type of IBC. For the period of therapy, a diet of special feeds is prescribed. In addition, drugs are used to dissolve stones, relieve the main symptomatology, improve the work of the urinary system.

In the complex treatment is well demonstrated by the drug from the company Apicenna - Stop-cystitis. It is available in the form of tablets and suspension. The active ingredients of the drug are medicinal herbs. Stop-cystitis has a pronounced anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic, diuretic, antispasmodic action. It reduces crystallisation of uroliths, prevents their reappearance.
Attention: any medicines and veterinary food should be given to a pet with ICH only after a doctor's prescription!

It is very difficult to completely cure urolithiasis, it recurs in 80% of cases. Therefore, a cat or dog should be observed by a veterinarian for life, so that in time to stop the development of urolithiasis. The study of urine for dogs is carried out every six months, cats - once every three months. Observe all the doctor's recommendations is extremely important, because in the case of repeated manifestation of ICD, severe symptomatology develops much faster. Self-treatment is inadmissible! Rash actions of the owner can lead to the death of the pet.