Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
  • 24-HR ER: 518-785-1094
  • Our Services
    • Dermatology
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Emergency/Critical Care
  • For Your Pet
    • Client Registration Form
    • COVID Curb-Side Procedures
    • When Your Pet is a Patient
    • Client Portal
    • Pet Insurance
    • Payment Options
    • End of Life Arrangements
  • For Veterinary Teams
    • COVID-19 Hospital Updates
    • Referral Forms and Portal
    • Continuing Education
    • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • Our Hospital
    • Our Team
    • Donate to AVMF
    • Why Ethos
    • Contact Us
  • Blogs & Videos
    • Our Blogs
    • PAWEDcasts
  • We’re Hiring!
    • Apply Today
    • Benefits and Perks
    • Vet Student Externships
    • VetBloom
    • Continuing Education
Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
  • Our Services
    • Dermatology
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Emergency/Critical Care
  • For Your Pet
    • Client Registration Form
    • COVID Curb-Side Procedures
    • When Your Pet is a Patient
    • Client Portal
    • Pet Insurance
    • Payment Options
    • End of Life Arrangements
  • For Veterinary Teams
    • COVID-19 Hospital Updates
    • Referral Forms and Portal
    • Continuing Education
    • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • Our Hospital
    • Our Team
    • Donate to AVMF
    • Why Ethos
    • Contact Us
  • Blogs & Videos
    • Our Blogs
    • PAWEDcasts
  • We’re Hiring!
    • Apply Today
    • Benefits and Perks
    • Vet Student Externships
    • VetBloom
    • Continuing Education
  • 24-HR ER: 518-785-1094

Our Blogs

Urinary Blockages in Cats

February 20, 2019

Written by Rocio Carrasco, ECC Clinical Floor Supervisor

Urinary blockage, or urinary obstruction (UO), is a very common disease that occurs mostly in male cats but may also affect dogs and female cats. It is a life-threatening emergency that must be seen immediately by a veterinarian.

What is a Urinary Blockage/Urinary Obstruction?

Urinary blockages are caused by the accumulation of minerals in the urinary tract, which can cause a formation of an obstruction by crystals or stones. There can be other less common causes such as tumors, lesions and scar tissue as well.

If not treated, urinary blockages can be fatal.

Symptoms of a Urinary Blockage

Some symptoms to look out for are:

  • straining to urinate
  • blood-tinged urine
  • accidents outside the litter box
  • lethargy
  • decreased appetite
  • vomiting

How do I know if my cat is straining to urinate?

When cats are straining to urinate it may seem like they are constipated. They may be going in and out of their litter box multiple times, producing little to no urine at all. You may notice your cat crying, howling when trying to urinate or notice odd signs like hiding or showing unusual behavior.

What to do if you think your cat is blocked

It’s important for cats to be seen right away by their veterinarian or an emergency vet if he/she is showing these signs due to the critical nature of this disease. Urinary obstructions can cause acute renal disease from increased pressure in the renal system and the inability to eliminate urea and other waste through the urine.

If left untreated, a urinary blockage can lead to kidney failure and death within 24-48 hours.

What you can do to prevent your cat from getting blocked

There are a few preventive measures you can take to help avoid a urinary blockage:

  • keep your cat hydrated
  • provide plenty of enrichment/toys to reduce stress
  • keep the litter box clean

If your cat has shown symptoms of UTIs or has had a urinary obstruction before, ask your veterinarian if a urinary health prescription diet may help. These are specially formulated to promote a healthy bladder and help dissolve struvite stones and calcium oxalate crystals.

If you’re ever unsure if your cat or dog is suffering from a urinary obstruction, don’t hesitate to give us a call or come straight here. Time is important in these cases! We are here for you 24/7/365.

Share

Related Posts

  • Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease: What You Should Know
    Read Article
  • PU/PD: Diagnosing and Treating Excessive Drinking and Urinating in Your Pet
    Read Article
  • Urinary Obstruction in the Feline
    Read Article
  • Perineal Urethrostomy Surgery for Cats
    Read Article
  • Feline Vaccines
    Read Article
  • Urinary Obstructions
    Read Article
  • Case Study: Incontinence in Boxer
    Read Article
  • How to Clicker Train Your Cat
    Read Article
  • When Your Male Cat Has Urine Troubles
    Read Article
  • Triage Process is the Same – Emergency Patients have Increased
    Read Article
Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
518-785-1094 | 222 Troy Schenectady Rd, Latham, NY 12110
  • 24-HR ER: 518-785-1094
  • Our Services
    • Dermatology
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Emergency/Critical Care
  • For Your Pet
    • Client Registration Form
    • COVID Curb-Side Procedures
    • When Your Pet is a Patient
    • Client Portal
    • Pet Insurance
    • Payment Options
    • End of Life Arrangements
  • For Veterinary Teams
    • COVID-19 Hospital Updates
    • Referral Forms and Portal
    • Continuing Education
    • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • Our Hospital
    • Our Team
    • Donate to AVMF
    • Why Ethos
    • Contact Us
  • Blogs & Videos
    • Our Blogs
    • PAWEDcasts
  • We’re Hiring!
    • Apply Today
    • Benefits and Perks
    • Vet Student Externships
    • VetBloom
    • Continuing Education
© 2021 Capital District Veterinary Referral Hospital
Website Design by Jackrabbit