Bladder Stones in Cats

Bladder stones in cats, also known as uroliths or cystic calculi, are accumulation of minerlas in the cat’s urinary bladder, these minerlas crystallize and aggregate in the urinary bladder, leading to serious medical condition when the calculi lodge in the trigone, which is the base of the urinary bladder near the uerthra where the ureters empty

:Types of bladder stones in cats

.Cats are susceptible to different types of baldder stones, such as Calcium Oxalate Stones, Sturvite Stones, Urate Stones, and Cystine Stones
The most common type of bladder stones in cats is Sturvite Stones. These stones form when the cat’s urine pH is alkaline and are often linked to bacterial infection that produce ureas, which leads to change in urine acidity. Another factor leading to this type of stone is increased levels of magnesium and phosphorus within the urine because of the diet consumed

?What are the signs of bladder stones in cats

Signs of bladder stones in cats include: Pollakiuria, frequent urination in small amount, Stranguria, Straining while urinating, Hematuria, presence of blood in the urine, and Urinating outside the litter box

?How to detect bladder stones in cats

Detecting bladder stones in cats includes a combination of clinical examination, Lab tests, and diagnostic imaging

Clinical examination includes a physical  urinary exam to obtain a full history of urinary signs

Laboratory tests include urinalysis to detect crystals, blood, pH changes, or signs of infection

Diagnostic imaging includes abdominal Xrays and ultrasonography to visualize the stones

?How to get rid of bladder stones in cats

.Getting rid of bladder stones in cats depends on some factors like the type, size, and number of stones

,Treatment options include: Dietary management, in case of struvite stones, they can be dissolved with a special diet that acidifies the urine, Medical management, if there is a urinary tract infection associated with stone formation, Antibiotic must be used, and Cystolithotomy (surgical removal), if the stone is too large or causing obstruction

:Case Overview

A 2-year old tom cat named Max was presented to Dr Paws Hospital with signs of hematuria, straining while urinating, and pollakiuria. Abdominal palpation revealed a distended UB with pain upon palpation

.Clinical examination: Elevated body temperature (40°c),Tachycardia, HR >220 bpm, Hyperventilation, and Pain upon bladder palpation

Lab findings: CBC showed anemia and leukocytosis, and Serum chemistry showed results linked to post renal azotemia, indicating urinary obstruction

Diagnostic imaging: Xray visualized a radiopaque 1.5 mm structure within the bladder, and Ultrasonography identified a large hyperechoic calculus with acoustic shadowing

.All of the above findings confirmed the diagnosis of bladder stones in cats
Treatment plan: A medical trial was initiated with urine acidifiers, muscle relaxant, glucosamine, and antibiotic. The trial diminished some of the signs, but the actual problem did not resolve. 2 weeks later, Ultrasound showed an enlargement of the bladder stones, so cystotomy surgery was performed

:Postoperative care

One week after of postoperative monitoring for Max status, he recovered very well. He was able to perform all vital processes normally without signs of pain

Thanks for the dedicated team for their unwavering efforts, valuable contributions for helping Max and our all patients genuinely with their pure caring souls and skilled quick fingers, may Allah reward all your efforts. For more clinical cases and surgical insights, visit Dr Paws linked in page

Surgeon: Dr. Ahmed Elbehry
Anaesthesiologist: Dr. Mayan Tamer