My cat strains to pee after blockage. Is it a UTI or kidney issue?

This does indicate kidney disease but not necessarily permanent. Cystitis can cause improper emptying of the bladder. If the bladder gets backed up, it affects the kidneys and can spread the infection there. Clearing the infection and getting the bladder emptying properly can resolve those values. You can switch him to a kidney diet and make sure he gets plenty of water. I would recheck the blood work in 1-2 weeks and see how the numbers compare. If they are worse, then you likely have kidney disease and he may benefit from IV or SQ fluids. If they improve, then it may have been a result of the cystitis and medicines

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is very hard to see on the attached x-ray if there is any problem with the urinary tract or. Some of the bladder stones come up on a plain x-ray and can be easily seen. I cannot see any obvious stone obstructing the bladder / urethra. However, some stones are radiolucent (do not come up on x-rays) and the cat would need a constrast x-ray or ultrsound of the bladder to detect them. In general, urethral blockage in young female cats are very uncommon. If Marshy is able to pass urine, other urinary tract diseases should be investigated. Urine analysis should be the next step of investigation (to rule in/out infection or bladder crystals) followed by an ultrasound of the abdomen and a blood test.

This is very abnormal for a cat this young to have these chronic issues. If your family vet is stumped then it would be best for your kitty to see a specialist. I would recommend asking for a referral to a veterinary internist. Internists have advanced training beyond a family vet and can diagnose and manage more complex cases such as this one. Any blood work performed? This is a crucial first step. Xrays of the spine? Have these UTIs been diagnosed and treated by running urine cultures? With a chronic history this is very important. Has any endocrine testing been performed? There are some congenital/developmental disorders that should be ruled out as well given the history. An abdominal ultrasound is important as well to assess for structural changes to organs. Unfortunately in order to help your kitty she needs more tests. Not all pet illnesses are easy to diagnose and some cases can be complex. It sounds like you are worried about her so i would recommend reaching out to your family vet with your concerns and/or to ask for a referral. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello! I would recommend keeping his litter completely clean so you can monitor his urine output. A blocked cat will continue to return to the litter box, strain unproductively or only pass small amounts of urine that may be bloody, and often be vocalizing. If you notice any of these signs, he needs to be taken to a vet immediately to be assessed for possible blockage. Feeding wet food, fountains, and dripping sinks and good ways to encourage cats to drink more water. Urinary tract infections in cats are fairly uncommon. Usually the urinary disease is a result of a production of crystals or stones or a sterile inflammatory bladder disease. Keeping Jack on a urinary diet forever may be necessary for him to maintain good urinary health. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I'm so sorry but the x-rays are too grainy and blurry when we try to enlarge them. We cannot tell anything from these. Can you please post again with clearer photos? Also, the positioning of your cat in the x-rays is not good. The back legs need to pulled completely backwards so we can see the entire urethra. I agree with your vet and just based on the clinical signs I would say a urethra partial obstruction is likely (crystals or a stone). I would suggest the following: 1. Blood testing to check kidney function 2. Urine test to look for crystals, infection, etc. 3. Sandy should be sedated and a urethral catheter passed. Often times if there are crystals and/or a small stone blocking the urethra they can be flushed backwards into the bladder. Then a special diet can be prescribed to help dissolve the crystals/stones.

Hi, and thanks for your question. These signs might be compatible with a urinary tract infection/inflammation. Stress related (idiopathic type of inflammation) infection and presence of crystals are the most common causes of it. I think an ultrasound is needed as more sensitive than the x rays to diagnose more sinister causes like tumors and certain type of urinary stones that may be not detectable with the x rays. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

What you described definitely sounds like a urinary blockage or infection. I recommend bringing Cookie in for an emergency visit for several reasons - first, this condition can be very painful and uncomfortable; second, if Cookie is unable to urinate, the urine will continue to build up in his bladder and can backflow to his kidneys, causing kidney damage and for the toxins that are normally filtered by the kidneys to stay in the body. This can make Cookie very sick and worsen his prognosis for recovery. He will need to be stabilized by a veterinarian. You can also discuss surgery with your vet, as there are several options for male cats who have this recurring condition. I hope this helps and that Cookie feels better soon!