Case Histories: ICD In Cats And Cats

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 22:49

As a doctor, I am often approached by owners of cats and cats, bringing their critically ill pets to the clinic. In this case, the most common and acute are cases of urolithiasis. Unfortunately, not all animals can be saved., especially if they come to us on the 2-3 day of blockage of the urethra. It is hard when the animal cannot be helped, and it is sad to see its owners in tears and despair. But even this is not what saddens me the most. The saddest thing is that over the years of practice, I constantly come across the same stories. Every day, year after year, our veterinarians have to deal with the results of pet owners' poor awareness of how to feed, maintain, and how to determine the onset of the disease. I even started keeping a diary, excerpts from which I am now giving you. If you have a cat or a cat at home, be sure to read these "case histories" so that you will never hear a sad phrase from a doctor in a clinic: "What have you been waiting for so long?"

The first story. Mixed meals

A 5-year-old cat was admitted in critical condition. ICD. As it turned out during a conversation with its owner, after surgical treatment, the main cause of urolithiasis was inconsistent feeding. For a long time, the hostess could not decide on the nutrition strategy for her pet - what to prefer, ready-made food or natural food? And under the influence of conflicting advice from the outside, she periodically inclined to either one or the other. This is a common mistake of pet owners, which almost inevitably leads to metabolic disorders, and in particular to stones in the urinary system.

The fact is that it is categorically impossible to combine feeding with ready-made feed with natural food (from the table or bought specially). As practice shows, most of the sick animals received just such a mixed diet, which leads to an excess of protein and minerals in the body. Therefore, first of all, decide - what you will feed your pet: regular food or ready-made food, and stick to the outlined strategy. There are no unequivocal data in favor of fresh food or dry food - ICD can happen in either case, but with a mixed diet, the risk increases by about 4 times. Choose a food option that suits your pet and do not change it.

The second story. A neutered cat and a lot of food

Another typical story associated with eating disorders. The owner, obviously with the best intentions, did not limit her cat in food: in fact, the animal had a full bowl of ready-made dry food all day. This, as a result, led to obesity and other metabolic disorders, in particular, to urolithiasis.

Several risk factors come together here: first of all, cats, in principle, have a weakened feeling of thirst, so they do not always compensate for the excessive consumption of dry food with a sufficient amount of liquid. Further, neutered cats are especially prone to metabolic disorders, so they need to be given special foods that take into account the increased risk of stone formation. And finally, the finished animal feed is created according to the dosage, and depending on this, the necessary vitamins and minerals are added to it. Imagine what would happen if you start eating a handful of vitamins? The same is the case with pets. Therefore, rule number 2 - observe the nutritional dosage. This is really important.

Third story. Wait position

The causes of ICD can be very different, but the chain of development of the disease is usually of the same type. When I talk to pet owners, I hear the same story almost every time. First, the cat (less often the cat) begins to urinate in the wrong places, the owners pay little attention to this, or write off everything on the "bad behavior" of their pet. Then the discomfort of the animal during urination becomes noticeable, it becomes more frequent, becomes scarce, blood may appear in the tray.

Similar symptoms - various kinds of urinary disorders - occur with cystitis and some other diseases. In any case, this is a reason to see a doctor. If this is not done, or if the moment is missed, complete blockage of the urethra with sand or small stones may occur. The emptying of the bladder stops. This is already a deadly situation. Literally 2-3 days of inactivity, and the animal dies. Unfortunately, cats and cats that are brought to our clinic at this stage cannot always be saved. Therefore, keep in mind - any violation of the urination of a cat is a reason to consult a doctor.

What advice do I give to the owners of cats and cats

First of all, you need to keep in mind that urolithiasis is a very common phenomenon, about 10% of all cats and cats are susceptible to it, while cats get sick 5 times more often, which is due to their physiological characteristics. The most common reason is improper feeding, which I have already mentioned, but the provoking factors may be different. The important thing is that, as a rule, ICD is a chronic condition. Therefore, a pet with a tendency to urolithiasis needs regular examination - I recommend repeating it every six months. And, in addition, preventive measures are needed to help avoid relapses.

When the animal enters the clinic, the doctor relieves the acute condition and tries to remove the stone (the animal must be under anesthesia). In especially severe cases, it is required to create an artificial excretory duct from the bladder. In any case, after stabilization of the condition, lifelong prophylaxis is mandatory: the use of medicinal feed, herbal medicine, and regular visits to the doctor with a urine test, ultrasound of the urinary system, etc.

After surgical treatment in the clinic, where patients are usually delivered in a rather serious condition, I recommend taking a course of herbal medicine. There are various urological drugs and herbal teas, in particular, I have long and successfully used in the practice German herbal medicines Kanefron ^® N. You may be familiar with it on his own experience as a popular remedy for urologic people. Kanefron ^® N acts in a complex way - it relieves spasms, treats inflammation, has a bactericidal effect, and also flushes the entire urinary system well. This is extremely important, since not completely cured inflammation can provoke a new relapse over time.

And, of course, the most important thing is to be more attentive to your pets. Animals cannot tell us about their problems, about their pain, but we, as caring owners, should be sensitive to those who trust us.

Veterinarian Plotnikov V. A. (as advertising)