Trouble urinating?

If you see your neutered male cat jumping in and out of the litter tray and straining to pass urine it is an emergency. He could have a blockage in the urethra, the passage from the bladder to the penis. Please call us  as soon as you notice he is having trouble urinating.

If he is not treated the bladder will continue to enlarge and he will become toxic. Urine banks up behind the blockage damaging the bladder wall and endangering the kidneys. His system soon overloads and death is likely.

We will quickly relieve the blockage with a urinary catheter and treat him with fluids and electrolytes to reverse the toxicity.

To prevent another episode feed wet food only. We may prescribe a diet which lowers the urine pH if a lot of struvite crystals are found. However, the main cause of urinary blockages in male cats is a dry food diet so avoid dry food as much as possible especially in the first few months after a blockage.

Obesity, inactivity and anxiety are often predisposing factors, also.  Discuss a weight loss strategy or ways to reduce anxiety with us before you take your boy home.