Feline Urinary Obstruction
Urinary obstruction is a blockage of the flow of urine out of the body. Obstructions are often the result of plugs of inflammatory material or small calculi or “stones” that have formed in the kidneys and have passed down into the bladder and become lodged in the urethra(the tube by which urine is drained from the bladder out of the penis or urethral opening). The cause of the inflammatory materials and stone formation is not well understood, though viral infections and diet may play a role. Male cats can easily develop obstruction of the urethra and it is a somewhat common occurrence for them, because the urethra/penis is much smaller in male cats as compared to female cats. Risk factors for urinary obstructions include: being overweight or neutered, living in a dry environment, stress in the household, having congenital defects of/or having trauma to the urethra, certain diets, low water intake or dehydration, and drinking water with high mineral content.
Besides being extremely painful, urinary blockages can lead to potentially irreversible kidney damage, heart arrhythmias, and bladder or urethral rupture. If left untreated urethral obstructions usually prove to be fatal in 3-6 days. If treated aggressively, 99% of the cats affected survive.
The accepted standard for treatment is to place a urinary catheter under sedation or anesthesia in order to remove the blockage, and allow a source for urine to leave the body. The patient is then hospitalized and treated with large amounts of IV fluids, pain medications, and anti-spasm medications for the urethra. The urinary catheter is left in for 24 hours past when the urine becomes clear of the presence of blood. At this point, the urinary catheter is then removed and the patient is kept on fluids for another 24 hours and the patient is monitored for urine production and/or re-obstruction. 50-75% of cats treated in this fashion never re-obstruct. Of the cats who do re-obstruct, 75% of them will re-obstruct in the first 48 hours after the urinary catheter was removed.
Urinary catheterization carries risks; however, if they are not unblocked the general outcome of this condition is fatal. In a small percentage of cases the urethra can tear while placing a urinary catheter, also there is a small percentage of cases where a urethral catheter is unable to be passed. In the event of the urinary catheter not being able to be passed, a Perineal Urethrostomy surgery is required at that time (see more information on this below). Another temporary option for relief of the pressure in the bladder is cystocentesis. This option only provides
temporary relief and will not generally resolve the condition.
If re-obstruction occurs, there are three treatment options: Replace the urinary catheter, this time leaving it in twice as long as it was left in on the first attempt, to proceed with surgery at this time if doctor deems it necessary, or a humane euthanasia.
Perineal Urethrostomy Surgery:
This is a very invasive surgery, where the penis is removed and thus shortens the urethra, and in essence gives the male cat a urethral opening the size of a female cat to assist in alleviating the issue of re-blocking. This surgery has up to an 86% success rate; however, it does have risks. Cats that have undergone a P.U. surgery have a much higher risk for urinary tract infection for the remainder of their life. Other complications include: re-obstruction despite the surgery being performed, urethral stricture (where the urethrostomy site closes and scars as the tissues heal and the pet will then have difficulty urinating again, and thus may necessitate additional surgery which may not be successful), and urinary or fecal incontinence for life. Generally this surgery is not recommended unless a patient has experienced multiple obstructions.
If there are actually bladder stones and not just grit or debris in the bladder seen on x-ray or ultrasound, a surgery that may be offered would be a Cystotomy. This surgery involves cutting into the bladder itself and removing the stones to prevent obstruction.
Treatment Options
- Recommended initial treatment: 2-4 days hospitalization & Diagnostics Price includes:
- Outpatient Care with Diagnostics:
- Outpatient Care – No Diagnostics:
- Outpatient Re-obstructed : 4+ additional days in hospital after initial hospitalization:
- Outpatient Cystotomy:
- Outpatient P.U. (Perineal Urethrostomy) Surgery:
Initial exam, x-rays, initial blood work, urinalysis, unblocking procedure, anesthesia/sedation, IV catheter and fluids, pain medications, A-Cyst for bladder inflammation, medications to relax the urethra, antibiotics, hospitalization, recheck blood work, and go home medications.
$ 3,400 – $ 5,200
*Sometimes it takes more time for the urine to become clear or the patient may re-obstruct, if either of these are the case additional days may be needed, resulting in additional fees. This is the medically accepted standard of care for this condition.
Price includes: Initial exam, x-rays, initial blood work, urinalysis, unblocking procedure and ozone saline flush of the bladder, anesthesia/sedation, A-Cyst for bladder inflammation, pain medications, medications to relax the urethra, and antibiotics.
$ 1,000 – $ 1,200
*This option has a high occurrence of re-obstructing and is not generally recommended.
Price includes: Initial exam, unblocking procedure and ozone saline flush of the bladder, anesthesia/sedation, ACyst for bladder inflammation pain medications, medications to relax the urethra, and antibiotics.
$ 800 – $ 1,000
*This option has a high occurrence of re-obstructing and is not generally recommended.
If any of these treatments are unsuccessful, initial diagnostics deem it necessary, or re-obstruction occurs, the options for treatment may or may not include the following:
Price includes: Unblocking procedure, anesthesia/sedation, recheck blood work, IV fluids, pain medications, medications to relax the urethra, antibiotics, and hospitalization.
$ 2,600 – $ 3,800
* Please note this does not include the previous charges from the initial hospitalization.
Price includes: Surgery, anesthesia, medical packs, pain and antibiotic injections, surgical technician, monitoring, ozone saline flush of the bladder and stone analysis, etc.
$ 2,500 – $ 3,200
*Please note this cost is in addition to one of the “unblocking” options.
*This surgery should be performed if large stones are present in the bladder.
Price includes surgery, anesthesia, medical packs, pain and antibiotic injections surgical technician, monitoring, etc.
$ 3,200 – $ 4,800
*Please note this cost may be in addition to one of the “unblocking” options.
*This surgery will be recommended if a urethral catheter is unable to be placed on initial presentation, or if the patient continues to re-obstruct. This price does not include the cost of post-surgical hospitalization that may or may not be necessary. Surgery may be available with a boarded surgeon at an additional cost.
