Why are male cats more susceptible to urethral blockages?
Repeated Urethral Blockage in Male Cats: There’s a Surgery for That Male cats are more susceptible to urethral blockages than female cats. Whether the blockage is from urinary crystals or bladder stones. This is because a male cat’s urethra is much longer and more narrow. The common term used for a urethral blockage is “blocked”.
Is there surgery to cure urethral blockage in male cats?
A new opening, like a female cat’s, is created in it’s place which should prevent further blockage. We used to call this the “sex change” surgery at work. According to AAHA, “Perineal urethrostomy will permanently cure urethral obstruction in 90% of male cats.”.
Can a cat have a stone in the urethra?
Cases associated with uroliths (stones in the urethra and bladder) will need to be managed with special diets to reduce the risk of their recurrence (see: FLUTD – treatment ). Most cats with urethral spasm or urethral plugs are thought to have underlying feline idiopathic cystitis.
What are the symptoms of urethral obstruction in cats?
These poor kitties will develop systemic symptoms like the ones listed below: 1 Decreased appetite 2 Lethargy 3 Vomiting 4 Weakness 5 Dull mentation More …
What causes a male cat’s urethra to be blocked?
A male cat’s urethra can also become blocked by small urinary stones or by urethral plugs: a mixture of cells that are used to line the bladder, mucus and crystals formed from minerals in the urine.
Cases associated with uroliths (stones in the urethra and bladder) will need to be managed with special diets to reduce the risk of their recurrence (see: FLUTD – treatment ). Most cats with urethral spasm or urethral plugs are thought to have underlying feline idiopathic cystitis.
What should I do if my cat has an urethral obstruction?
Unfortunately, cats that have had one urethral obstruction, are at risk for recurrence, so preventative measures are needed at home. A prescription urinary diet is often advised to prevent the formation of urinary crystals or stones and to encourage water intake.
Can a bladder stone cause an urethral obstruction?
The presence of calculi can make it much more difficult to use a urinary catheter to remove the obstruction and can result in additional urethral trauma. If bladder stones are present, a cystotomy should be performed after the urethral obstruction has been removed and the patient is stable enough to undergo anesthesia.
