Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) Guide: Here you'll find in-depth information on Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) including its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
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Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) – also called feline urologic syndrome (FUS), feline lower urinary tract inflammation, lower urinary tract signs (LUTS), feline interstitial cystitis or idiopathic cystitis – is not a “disease” per se, but rather refers to a group of clinical signs and symptoms seen in cats that together represent a disease syndrome of the urinary tract. “Idioptathic” means of unknown origin or cause. The lower urinary tract consists of the urinary
Feline lower urinary tract disease is not a “disease” per se. Rather, it is a characterization given to a collection of clinical signs in cats, but only after all other known causes of those signs are ruled out. The most common patient with FLUTD is a young adult, neutered male indoor cat, although any cat can be affected.Affected animals tend to develop a number of the following symptoms, typically with a very sudden noticeable onset.
Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD is a collection of clinical signs that typically include urination in inappropriate places, blood in the urine, painful or difficult urination, abnormally frequent passage of small amounts of urine and partial or complete urethral obstruction by urinary stones, calculi or crystals.Since FLUTD is not actually a disease, it is technically inaccurate to say that it can be “diagnosed,” any more than vomiting or diarrhea can be “diagnosed.” Idiopathic feline
Cats with FLUTD may present with mild signs or with extremely serious signs that qualify as a true medical emergency. The attending veterinarian will assess the degree of discomfort and the seriousness of the situation when deciding which diagnostic and treatment protocols to follow. The goals of treatment are to relieve or rule out any physical obstruction of the urinary tract, relieve pain, restore urine flow, restore fluid and electrolyte balance and alleviate stress.If the