Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
comfortable as soon as possible,
surgical removal is recommended.
The procedure is called a cystoto-
my and involves abdominal surgery
and an incision into the bladder.
Stones are removed, and the blad-
der and urethra are flushed out.
The bladder is an organ that
heals incredibly well, so although it
seems traumatic at the time, cats
have excellent recoveries from cystotomies.The key to success with the
surgery is thorough removal of all stones and follow-up with an X ray.
In certain situations, urohydropropulsion can be used to remove
stones. Urohydropropulsion is a technique that forces small uroliths out
of the body, and is an option for female cats with small stones.
If your cat is found to have stones that cannot be prevented with
diet, there is a good chance they will recur.There are usually some steps
that can be taken to decrease risk, but the cat should be monitored with
urinalyses and X rays about every six months.
This bladder stone has been surgically
removed. It is almost one centimeter across.
WHAT ABOUT DIET?
It is normal for cats to have some crystals in their urine. To determine
whether crystals are a problem or not, the number of crystals, the pres-
ence of other cells and the pH of the urine should all be taken into
consideration. Your veterinarian may recommend a special diet if she
feels crystals in the urine are a problem.
Most cat foods are now low in magnesium and are formulated to
mildly acidify the urine (remember,
higher
acid is the same as
lower
pH).
This is because research has shown these dietary changes can help
reduce the likelihood that a cat will form struvite crystals. A carnivore
like the cat would naturally have slightly acidic urine, so this makes
sense.
The incidence of struvite formation in cats has declined since cat
food makers began reformulating their food. However, only about 15
to 25 percent of all cases of LUTD are caused by struvite stones. And a
mildly acidifying diet has increased in incidence of cats with calcium
oxalate stones, which form more easily in acid urine.
There are prescription brands and grocery store cat foods that are for-
mulated to improve urinary tract health.The grocery store brands usually
