Animal Health Solution - a Covetrus magazine for veterinary professionals
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46 Covetrus | ph: 855.724.3461 | fx: 888.329.3861 | northamerica.covetrus.com Urethral obstruction (UO) is one of the complications most frequently observed in cats with feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) and is mainly associated with idiopathic cystitis, urolithiasis and bacterial infection of the urinary tract. The most common causes of obstruction are urethral plugs, uroliths, urethral spasm, inflammation and edema of the urethral mucosa. 1-3 Clinical signs of FLUTD usually include stranguria, periuria, excessive grooming of the perineal area, vocalizations, lethargy and anorexia. 1,4 These are not specific to any particular disease, so the comprehensive diagnostic approach is of great importance when considering the primary cause of UO. – The article by Del-Angel-Caraza et al. (2017) describes in detail the diagnostic approach to FLUTD. The release of UO it is performed with washes. The use of an olive- tip catheter (Minnesota catheter) is recommended. This catheter is metallic and has in its tip an olive with a frontal opening; these are available in 21 G caliber with lengths of 1/2", 1", and 11/2"; its special shape facilitates its introduction into the urethral lumen without causing injury and gives a greater pressure when performing washing or irrigation of the urethra with sterile saline solution when used with a venoclysis extension and a 3- or 5 mL syringe (Figure 7). Once the release of the UO has been performed, the use of flexible urinary catheters of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) or low-density polyethylene with barium (radiopaque) or without barium (radiolucid), with or without stylet, is recommended to facilitate the continued emptying of the bladder. The use of conventional semi-rigid polypropylene catheters should be avoided, as these tend to be more traumatic and irritant to the urethral How to remove urethral obstruction in cats Part two Javier Del-Angel-Caraza • Elvia Aguiñaga-Negrete • Alejandra Cristina Bernal-Torres • Sofía Perini-Perera Rafael Morán-Muñoz • Alicia Pamela Pérez-Sánchez • Israel Alejandro Quijano-Hernández Hospital Veterinario para Pequeñas Especies, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca-México. AUTHORS In the Q3 2020 edition of Animal Health Solutions you will find part one of this article on removing urethral obstructions in cats.