Feline
Urological Syndrome - FUS
Also known as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
(FLUTD)
For Feline FUS raw meat diet testimonials Click here
Important News
We are appalled at the new and recommenced surgery for FUS "
perineal urethrostomy" for male cats! This terrible invasive surgery literally cuts off their penis! When Allopathic vets commercial diets don't work they quickly turn to this expensive and truly invasive surgery. Normally this is just a temp fix to a problem that only needs a raw diet to cure the problem. Many cats have died from it or had to be put down because of the side effects they cause the male cat. PLEASE don't take this way out for your male kitty. There is a better more natural way to help him.
Our
sweet boy King Ramses fought the battle of FUS for
five year before we discovered a raw diet for him. We will
never forget the horrendous veterinarian bills and the enormous
stress this disease brought into our lives as well as it
did Ramses' life. We thought that the constant back and
forth to the vets clinic and various prescribed commercial
diets that never completely worked would never end...but
thank God it did.
FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FUS by Alan Bennet DVM - Australia
"There is continued debate to the cause of FUS however most vets point the finger at commercial pet foods especially dry food. The condition is rarely seen in cats fed on raw chicken wings and table scraps. It is my belief that there is a reaction in the cat's kidney to unnatural cereal proteins, colourings or preservatives. Crystals are formed in the urine and are then passed down into the bladder where they produce cystitis and urethritis. Severe inflammation of the urethra together with crystals and inflammatory exudates causes a blockage in the male cat. The urethra of the female cat is shorter and wider and doesn't block. Failure to pass urine leads to back pressure and kidney damage."
The
cat's urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters (tubes
from kidney to bladder), bladder, and the urethra. FUS involves
the bladder and the urethra or the lower urinary system.
The bladder is the hollow organ which collects the urine
made by the kidneys. The urethra is the tube which empties
the urine from the bladder to the outside world.
Feline Urological Syndrome (FUS)
Also
called Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), feline idiopathic
lower urinary tract disease (FiLUTD) or feline Urological
syndrome (FUS), is a very common cause of lower urinary
tract symptoms (e.g. blood in the urine, straining to urinate,
increased frequency of urination) in cats.
FUS
or FLUTD is a syndrome of many diseases of the lower urinary
tract. The more common disease syndromes include infection,
crystal formation, inflammation, and stone formation.
Causes
of FUS
There
are several factors which contribute to FUS, some of which
are understood, others are not. A cat can have any combination
of these factors. One contributing factor is urine pH. An
alkaline urine pH allows struvite crystals to form more
quickly; whereas an over acidic urine pH allows calcium
oxalate crystals to form more quickly. Another contributing
factor to FUS is bacterial infection or stress. Genetics
can play a roll in this disease also.
FUS
is characterized by a group of symptoms which can appear
individually or in combination. Four of the most common
symptoms include cystitis (inflammation of the lining of
the urinary bladder), lower urinary tract infection, blockage
(debris and crystals forming a plug that obstructs the urethra
of male cats), and uremia (accumulation of poisonous wastes
in the cat's bloodstream).
Male
Cat with Symptoms of Feline Urological Syndrome
FUS
affects male and female cats of all ages. Both male and
female cats can develop sand-like crystals and stones. These
crystals and / or stones may form a plug that obstructs
the urethra of male cats. This plug or obstruction is a
medical emergency as urine cannot pass from the bladder
through the urethra to the exterior. If the cat is unable
to urinate, toxins accumulate in the bloodstream causing
uremia poisoning - a deadly condition. Female cats rarely
develop urinary tract obstruction due to their shorter and
wider urethra.
Symptoms
of FUS
Any
combination of these symptoms could mean your cat has
FUS. It is rare to have all of them.
- Prolonged and frequent
squatting or straining in or out of the litter box
(some owners may confuse this with signs of constipation)
and not producing urine or only a small amount
- Pain while urinating
(meowing or howling)
- Excessive licking at genitalia.
- Urination in outside the litter box.
- Hiding.
- Vomiting.
- Pain while urinating
(meowing or howling when urinating)
- Frequent licking of the
genital area
- Depression
- Bloody or blood tinged urine.
- Not eating
FUS/FLUTD
is a serious disease and if left untreated, it can result
in death. . If a cat can not urinate in 24-48 hours
it will die!
Diagnosis
The
first step to diagnosis of FUS/FLUTD is a urinalysis must
be performed for determination of infection, inflammation,
pH, and crystal formation, among others. Blood work and
or abdominal x-ray (radiographs) are necessary for a better
diagnosis. Blood work can help to determine if an infection
is present and how well the kidneys are functioning. Radiographs
help to determine if urinary stones or masses are present.
What
is "Cystitis"?
When
something irritates the internal bladder wall, this causes
inflammation of the bladder, which is cystitis. Some common
causes of this irritation can be due to the cat retaining
urine for an extended amount of time; the presence of
stones or crystals which rub against the bladder wall,
or infectious organisms that have built up inside the
bladder. Since the anus of the cat (both male and female)
is located directly above the urethral opening, this gives
feces and bacteria an easy opportunity to collect and
colonize in the urethra and bladder. This is normally
not a problem with regular urination and healthy urinary
tract cells, but can become a problem with decreased urine
volume (which leads to increased concentration of urine),
and crystals, bacteria, and sloughed off cells may cause
a disruption of the urinary tract's normal defenses, leading
to a FUS attack.
Stress
in cats can definitely contribute to FUS, as
many cats hide during stressful periods, and usually do
not come out for litter box trips and water bowl trips.
Keep an eye on your cat during periods of stress, to keep
the stress from helping create a positive environment
for an FUS infection. And, helping to keep your cat fit
and healthy is also important, as FELV and/or FIV positive
cats are at higher risk for FUS because their normal immune
system responses aren't working properly. High sugar content
in the urine of diabetic cats will also provide a great
culture media for the bacteria that cause FUS infections.
Lower
Ash Diets?
It
was thought that ash caused lower urinary tract disease.
According to recent studies that is not necessarily true.
Ash is the measure of the total mineral content of cat
food, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, maganese,
sodium, and potassium, to name a few. These are essential
nutrients for your cat's health. Some cat foods that are
marketed as a low ash formula could actually have mineral
deficiency. Struvite crystals are mainly phosphorous and
magnesium, which form in an alkaline urine pH.
Studies
have shown that the urine pH plays an important part in
preventing the formation of struvite crystals. Cats with
these crystals have been found to have a high alkaline
urine pH. (6.6 or higher) Another type, calcium oxalate
crystallization, can occur in cases of an over acidic
urine pH.(below 6.0) It is recommended to maintain a urine
pH is between 6.0 - 6.5 to prevent crystal formation.
It
is important to realize that though struvite crystals
are a potentially deadly symptom. Maintaining a proper
urine pH will help to prevent the formation of crystals,
but does little to help fight off infection and promote
healing.
Veterinarians
in Australia have shown a correlation between periodontal
disease and a host of diseases including Feline Lower
Urinary Tract Syndrome. Their observations were that all
cats that were treated for this disease had some form
of oral disease and were fed processed food exclusively.
Their recommendation was to supplement diets with raw
meaty bones in the form of chicken, quail or rabbit to
maintain effective physical cleaning of the oral cavity
to prevent plaque build-up and resulting formation of
anaerobic bacteria into the system.
Suggestions
for Prevention:
There
are several things that can be done to help to decrease
the chance of your cat getting a lower urinary tract disease.
- It is important to keep the litter box clean and
easily accessible for your cat. Urination in unusual
places can sometimes occur if the cat is uncomfortable
with the condition of the litter, kind of litter used
or where the litter box is located.
- Always have fresh, clean water available. A cat
that does not have access to sufficient water is more
prone to urinary tract problems due to a concentration
of minerals in the urinary tract from lack of elimination
.
- Avoid sudden changes in the cat's usual environment,
excessive noise or
emotional upsets. Stress from such occurrences can
cause urinary problems.
- Avoid foods that are preserved with Ethoxyquin,
BHT or BHA. These chemical preservatives have been
found to cause enhanced bladder carcinogens. According
to Dr. Wendell Belfield, DVM, these chemicals are
suspected to cause kidney and liver dysfunction. Both
BHA and BHT are banned in Europe . The Animal Protection
Institute claims that these three commonly used preservatives
have a synergistic effect when used together that
may lead to the development of certain types of cancer
and that the accumulative effect in the liver and
tissues has not been taken into consideration in evaluating
dosages. The FDA has recently requested that Ethoxyquin
levels be cut in half to 75 parts to a million.
- You should keep the cat's litter pan clean and,
if you have more that one
cat, you should have 1.5 litter pans per cat.
- Feed your cat food that will help to prevent urinary
tract disease by keeping the urine acidic. There are
several new foods on the market that claim they are
beneficial for feline urinary tract health keeping
urine acidic. In most cases
acidic urine discourages bacterial growth and helps
to prevent the crystals from forming.
Feline
Lower Urinary Tract Disease is potentially deadly. If
you find your cat is suffering from any of the above symptoms,
contact your veterinarian immediately!.
With more public education, diagnosis can be made sooner,
saving the lives and reducing the suffering of our precious
creatures.
The information provided here is for educational purposes
only and is not intended to take the place of your regular
veterinarian. Please do not hesitate to contact your regular
veterinarian if you have questions regarding your pet.
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