American Curl Cat

　　Foreign debris accumulated in the urethra causing difficulty in urine flow is called urethral obstruction. When urethral obstruction occurs, crystal salts (magnesium ammonium phosphate, calcium phosphate, uric acid, cystine salts, silicates, ammonium urate, etc.) in normal urine precipitate and along with shed epithelial cells form urinary stones in the urethra.

　　Causes

　　Low water intake, high salt concentration, long-term large intake of marine fish and foods high in minerals; urinary tract infection, urethral injury, congenital or acquired malformations, urethral tumors, etc.

　　Symptoms

　　Frequent urination, hematuria, difficulty urinating, dribbling urine. The affected cat shows pain and restlessness; in later stages, urine retention leads to secondary uremia and nephritis, bladder distension, deterioration of overall condition, and in severe cases can cause bladder rupture.

　　Treatment

　　① Perform urethral flushing to dislodge stones. Method: place the cat on its back, restrain head and both front paws separately, both hind paws and tail separately, fully expose the perineum (for resistant and restless cats, general anesthesia can be used). Using the left hand, expose the penis, carefully insert a 6–7 gauge blunted needle tip at the urethral orifice, repeatedly flush with saline to dislodge stones. After stones are dislodged, abdominal external pressure can be applied to the bladder to expel urine.

　　② Diuretics: Dihydrochlorothiazide 2–4 mg/kg body weight, orally twice daily; or intramuscular injection of Furansal 2 mg/kg body weight, 1–2 times daily.

　　③ Anti-inflammation: Penicillin 50,000 units/kg body weight, intramuscular injection twice daily for 3–5 consecutive days.

　　④ Strengthen nursing care, change diet structure, switch from marine fish to freshwater fish, provide food with low salt content. (Source：PetsZone)