Cat bladder stones can cause a lot of discomfort and pain to your cat.
Typically, a cat suffering from this problem may show the following signs: straining to urinate but producing little amounts of urine, not able to urinate, painful urination, vomiting, lethargy, and fever to name a few.
Bladder stones, medically known as uroliths, are caused by the accumulation of minerals in the bladder.
These minerals have become hard as stones.
When these hardened minerals rub against the bladder wall, they cause irritation.
As a result, the cat may urinate with blood in it.
The irritation in the cat's bladder wall may also make the cat urinate frequently even if only a small amount of urine has been stored in the bladder.
At times, if the bladder stones have formed a plug in the cat's bladder or in the urethra, they may block the normal flow of urine and prevent the cat from excreting urine normally.
A partial blockage in the cat's urinary system may cause the cat to urinate only a small amount.
In some cases, the bladder stones can completely block the urinary passage, disabling the cat from excreting out any amount of urine.
When this happens, the cat is in a dangerous situation.
If not treated immediately, the blockage can cause urine build up in the bladder.
If this situation continues, the cat may end up with a ruptured bladder.
According to experts, cats with completely blocked urinary tract may not be able to live longer than 72 hours if not given proper medical attention immediately.
There are several types of urinary stones.
Each of them is named according to the mineral components from which they are formed.
Some of the known urinary stones are struvite crystals, urate, calcium oxalate, xanthine, cystine, and calcium phosphate.
Struvite crystals are the most commonly urinary stone formations encountered in cats.
They account for 50% to 65% of stones diagnosed in cats with urinary problems.
The second common type of cat bladder stone is the calcium oxalate.
The rest of the other types of urinary stones are rarely if not seen in cats.
Cat bladder stones can vary in size and shape.
The smaller stones can pose greater risks to pets because they have more chances of forming a plug and obstructing the normal flow of urine.
The method of treatment and prevention used in cats suffering from bladder stones varies according to the type of stone that is present in the cat.
Usually, the vet may collect a stone sample from the cat to determine the mineral content that has caused its formation.
When the type of mineral has been determined, the vet can then proceed to providing proper treatment and give advice on preventing the recurrence of the problem.
There are many ways to prevent the formation of bladder stones in cats.
It may include a change in the cat's diet or the administration of medications which can help control the pH level of the cat's urine.
If you want to prevent the recurrence of bladder stones in your pet, the best thing to do is to follow the advice of the veterinarian.
Likewise, you should also continue taking your pet to the vet for regular check-ups.
Doing so can lead to the early detection and prevention of possible recurrences.
Typically, a cat suffering from this problem may show the following signs: straining to urinate but producing little amounts of urine, not able to urinate, painful urination, vomiting, lethargy, and fever to name a few.
Bladder stones, medically known as uroliths, are caused by the accumulation of minerals in the bladder.
These minerals have become hard as stones.
When these hardened minerals rub against the bladder wall, they cause irritation.
As a result, the cat may urinate with blood in it.
The irritation in the cat's bladder wall may also make the cat urinate frequently even if only a small amount of urine has been stored in the bladder.
At times, if the bladder stones have formed a plug in the cat's bladder or in the urethra, they may block the normal flow of urine and prevent the cat from excreting urine normally.
A partial blockage in the cat's urinary system may cause the cat to urinate only a small amount.
In some cases, the bladder stones can completely block the urinary passage, disabling the cat from excreting out any amount of urine.
When this happens, the cat is in a dangerous situation.
If not treated immediately, the blockage can cause urine build up in the bladder.
If this situation continues, the cat may end up with a ruptured bladder.
According to experts, cats with completely blocked urinary tract may not be able to live longer than 72 hours if not given proper medical attention immediately.
There are several types of urinary stones.
Each of them is named according to the mineral components from which they are formed.
Some of the known urinary stones are struvite crystals, urate, calcium oxalate, xanthine, cystine, and calcium phosphate.
Struvite crystals are the most commonly urinary stone formations encountered in cats.
They account for 50% to 65% of stones diagnosed in cats with urinary problems.
The second common type of cat bladder stone is the calcium oxalate.
The rest of the other types of urinary stones are rarely if not seen in cats.
Cat bladder stones can vary in size and shape.
The smaller stones can pose greater risks to pets because they have more chances of forming a plug and obstructing the normal flow of urine.
The method of treatment and prevention used in cats suffering from bladder stones varies according to the type of stone that is present in the cat.
Usually, the vet may collect a stone sample from the cat to determine the mineral content that has caused its formation.
When the type of mineral has been determined, the vet can then proceed to providing proper treatment and give advice on preventing the recurrence of the problem.
There are many ways to prevent the formation of bladder stones in cats.
It may include a change in the cat's diet or the administration of medications which can help control the pH level of the cat's urine.
If you want to prevent the recurrence of bladder stones in your pet, the best thing to do is to follow the advice of the veterinarian.
Likewise, you should also continue taking your pet to the vet for regular check-ups.
Doing so can lead to the early detection and prevention of possible recurrences.
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