Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

FLUTD - Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease – is a complex disease and a common sight in the veterinary setting. Although FLUTD excluding urethral obstruction may be discomforting for the cat and its owner due to symptoms such as periuria, stranguria, hematuria, dysuria and pollakiuria, obstruction presents an acute and potentially lethal form of the disease as a result of uremia and disturbances in fluids, electrolytes and acid-base balances.

A study of literature has been performed to investigate the causes of FLUTD with urethral obstruction and the actions available to the owner to avert them. Potential causes of obstructive and non-obstructive FLUTD have been found to include infections, uroliths, urethral plugs, neoplasia, anatomic abnormalities, trauma, neurogenic or iatrogenic causes. Most commonly a cause cannot be identified and the terms idiopathic FLUTD or feline idiopathic cystitis are used.

As the mortality rate due to urethral obstruction likely is somewhere around 5.8-8.9% and FLUTD including and excluding urethral obstruction constitute great inconveniences, precautionary measures are warranted. The main factors of prevention stated in the literature were increased water intake, use of therapeutic diets, use of glycoproteins and glucosaminoglycans (“GAGs”) and reducing stress by suitable management of the litter box and other resources, resolving conflict between cats, the use of pheromones and enrichment of the environment. As a result, a number of tasks for the veterinary nurse and the pet owner are suggested.