Kidney Stones in Cats: What You Need to Know
Nov 15,2024 | puaintapets
Kidney stones, also known as uroliths, are a common health issue in humans, but can cats also develop kidney stones? The answer is yes — cats can indeed get kidney stones, although the condition is less common in felines than in other pets like dogs. Kidney stones can cause serious discomfort and lead to complications if not treated promptly. In this article, we’ll explore what causes kidney stones in cats, how to recognize the symptoms, and the treatment options available to help your cat stay healthy.
Can Cats Get Kidney Stones?
Cats do get kidney stones, a common urinary tract disorder. Kidney stones can be caused by a number of factors in cats, including diet, genetics, environmental stressors and obesity. A cat's urine is usually acidic, and when a certain amount of minerals collect in the urine, stones may form. These stones can form anywhere in the urinary system, such as the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones in Cats
- High fever
- Abdominal discomfort or pain
- Kidney pain
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Changes in urine output (increase or decrease)
- Drowsiness
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
Other symptoms
Frequent or difficult urination (this may be manifested by frequent squatting but only passing a small amount of urine, or even being unable to urinate)
Frequent licking and washing of the lower abdomen and tail
How to Diagnose Kidney Stones in Cats?
Diagnosing kidney stones in cats usually requires a combination of methods:
I.Medical history and physical examination
The veterinarian will ask about the cat's diet, drinking habits, urination and any other health problems.
The bladder's fullness and the shape of the kidneys are sensed by palpation, and if the cat feels pain when touched near the sides of the spine near the last ribs, it may indicate a problem in the kidney area.
II.Laboratory Tests
-
Urine examination
Including urine routine and urine sediment examination, which can understand the nature of urine and determine the type of stones, and can also initially determine the possible composition of stones (e.g. calcium oxalate stones, magnesium ammonium phosphate stones, etc.).
-
Blood tests
Routine blood tests (CBC), biochemical tests, testing of kidney indicators to determine the condition of the kidneys as well as inflammation and infection and the physical condition of the cat.
III. Imaging examination
-
X-ray film
It can determine the location of stones and observe the degree of bladder filling, but stones that are too small and sedimentary stones and stones of certain components may not show up in the X-ray.
-
Ultrasound (abdominal ultrasound)
It can detect urinary stones in cats and is also important for diagnosing kidney stones.
How to Treat Kidney Stones in Cats?
Surgical treatment
- Applicable cases
When the stones are large in size, surgery must be performed in time to remove the stones, such as cystotomy.
If there is obstruction of the urethra, catheterization, indwelling urinary catheter, and fluid therapy are required to increase renal perfusion and promote urination; if medication is ineffective, surgery is also required.
- Surgical Procedures
Cystotomy: direct removal of stones.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy: for cases where the stones are large but do not cause serious complications.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: for treating larger stones that are difficult to manage by other means.
Dietary modification
- Applicable
To assist treatment and prevent recurrence.
- Specific measures
Feeding a low phosphorus and low protein diet (renal prescription food or prescription canned food).
Supplementation with blood supplements (Glycinemide), feeding phosphorus binding agents (e.g., medications such as Nephronin and Nephrocon).
The following factors need to be considered when choosing a treatment:
①Factors associated with stones
- Stone size
Smaller stones (e.g., the size of a grain of rice) may be facilitated by conservative treatments such as drinking large amounts of water and medication.
Larger stones (e.g. larger diameter or larger number) may require surgery (e.g. cystotomy, laser lithotripsy or ultrasonic lithotripsy).
- Types of stones
For example, guano stones (magnesium ammonium phosphate stones) are relatively easy to dissolve and can be treated by acidifying the urine, while calcium oxalate stones are not easy to dissolve and may require surgery to remove them if they are too numerous and large.
② Complications
- Whether to cause urinary tract obstruction
If the stone leads to urinary tract obstruction, it will cause urine retention, so that the urine can not be discharged normally, which in turn affects the function of the kidneys, this situation is more serious, and need to be catheterized in time and other treatments.
- Whether to cause kidney failure
If the kidney stones are not treated in time may trigger acute renal failure, and acute renal failure has three directions of development: cure, turn into chronic renal failure, and death.
③The cat's own condition
Age: Middle-aged and elderly cats are more likely to be affected by stones. Older cats have relatively weaker body functions and kidney stones may have a more serious impact on their health.
Gender: Male cats are more likely to suffer from urinary stones than female cats. Male cats have a narrow and long urethra, which is more likely to produce serious conditions such as urinary obstruction in the case of stones of the same volume.
How to Prevent Kidney Stones in Cats?
1. Dietary management
Choosing the right cat food
High-quality cat food with balanced nutrition, avoid feeding too much minerals and salt.
For cats with special needs, you can consult your veterinarian and replace it with a prescription food for the urinary tract, such as phosphorus-controlled, calcium-controlled, low-magnesium formula cat food, which helps to maintain the concentration of ions that are not easy to crystallize in the urine and prevent stone formation.
Avoid specific foods
Reduce the intake of high oxalate foods (e.g. spinach, nuts, etc.), especially for cats prone to calcium oxalate stone formation.
Control intake of high-protein foods to prevent calcium-phosphorus imbalance and reduce the risk of guano (magnesium ammonium phosphate stones) formation.
2. Maintain water intake
Provide adequate water
Ensure that your cat has fresh, clean water to drink at all times and that the water bowl is regularly replaced and cleaned.
You can add catnip to the water to attract cats to drink, or provide flowing water (e.g. using automatic water fountains) to encourage cats to drink more.
Ways to increase water intake
Feeding wet cat food or canned food, which has a higher moisture content, can increase your cat's water intake and help dilute the urine, reducing the chance of stone formation.
3. Regular checkups
Health monitoring
Take your cat to the veterinarian for regular checkups, including urine examination and blood test, etc., in order to detect the early symptoms of stones (such as difficulty in urination, yellowing of urine, reduced urine output, etc.) and treat them in time.
4. Maintain hygiene
Clean the cat litter box:
Use cat litter with less dust and shovel cat poop/urine clumps diligently to keep the litter box clean and dry. A good toileting environment can enhance the cat's motivation to defecate and urinate and reduce urine-holding behaviors, which is conducive to avoiding urinary tract infections.
5.Control stress
Reduce sources of stress:
Avoid cats in stressful and stressful environments, such as avoiding frequent changes in the living environment and cat food. If it is necessary to change the environment, try to keep some of the cat's original familiar items to help it adapt to the new environment.
Provide a comfortable environment:
Provide cats with a quiet, comfortable and safe living environment, such as providing cat scratching boards, cat climbing frames, toys, etc., to enrich their indoor life and help prevent urinary tract diseases.
6. Moderate exercise
Increase the amount of activity:
Encourage cats to exercise more, especially for older cats or inactive cats. Exercise can promote blood circulation and metabolism, which helps prevent the deposition of minerals in the urine to form stones.
7. Other preventive measures
Urine acidification:
For cats prone to forming guano stones, the acidic environment of urine (pH<6.5) can be maintained by consuming acidifying foods or urine acidifying medications, as guano stones are less likely to form in an acidic environment.
Nutrient supplementation:
Some nutrients and herbs can also help prevent stones, such as cranberries (which acidify the urine and prevent stone formation), vitamin A (which helps to repair wall membranes damaged by stones), and vitamin B (which works synergistically with magnesium to reduce the abnormal deposition of oxalates and calcium).
FAQs
Conclusion
Kidney stones in cats can cause significant discomfort and lead to serious health issues if left untreated. By understanding the causes, recognizing the symptoms, and seeking prompt veterinary care, you can help protect your cat from this painful condition. Regular vet checkups, proper hydration, and a well-balanced diet are key to preventing kidney stones and ensuring your cat’s long-term health and well-being.
Also Read: Kidney Disease In Cats: When To Euthanize
Comment
