Urinary Tract Trauma in Cats: Stabilisation, Diagnosis and Management.

J Feline Med Surg. March 2023;25(3):1098612X231159073.

Paula Robakiewicz¹, Zoë Halfacree²

¹ Davies Veterinary Specialists, Part of Linnaeus Group, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, UK.; ² Davies Veterinary Specialists, Part of Linnaeus Group, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, UK.

Abstract

PRACTICAL RELEVANCE:Traumatic injury of the urinary tract may be caused by external accidental trauma or due to iatrogenic injury (typically as a result of catheterisation procedures). Thorough patient assessment and careful attention to patient stabilisation are essential, with diagnosis and surgical repair delayed until the patient is stable, if necessary. Treatment depends on the location and severity of the trauma. If diagnosed and treated promptly, the chance of survival of a patient without other concurrent injuries is good.

CLINICAL CHALLENGES:Following accidental trauma, at the initial presentation urinary tract injury can be overshadowed by other injuries, but if left undiagnosed or untreated it can lead to serious morbidity and potentially mortality. Many of the surgical techniques described for management of urinary tract trauma can be associated with complications, and so comprehensive communication with the owners is necessary.

PATIENT GROUP:The main population affected by urinary tract trauma is young, adult male cats, owing to their roaming behaviour, as well as their anatomy and the resulting increased risk of urethral obstruction and its associated management.

AIMS:This article aims to serve as a guide to all veterinarians who treat cats for the diagnosis and management of urinary tract trauma in cats.

EVIDENCE BASE:This review summarises the current knowledge available from a number of original articles and textbook chapters in the literature that cover all aspects of feline urinary tract trauma, and is supported by the authors' own clinical experience.

Keywords

Urinary tract trauma; bladder rupture; renal trauma; tube cystostomy; ureteric rupture; ureteroneocystostomy; ureteronephrectomy; urinary diversion;

Article Tools:

Medline

Email to me

Archives Highlights:

Litter box size and litter type preference and their associated behavioral changes in cats.
Our findings indicated that cats preferred litter boxes measuring ≥50 cm as well as clumping clay litter. Moreover, a comfortable litter environment combining these two elements promoted normal urination behavior while improving house-soiling (both urination and defecation).

Indications for Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine
This article highlights some of the essential elements for clinical decision making in veterinary radiation oncology, with case examples to give general practitioners a better understanding of what types of cases may be appropriate for radiation therapy.

'Transmission Tracker - Dirofilaria'- a public dashboard to assess in real-time the temperature-bounded transmissibility of canine heartworm across Australia.
'Transmission Tracker - Dirofilaria' processes near real-time temperature records across Australia and allows users to enquire about historical and current weather suitability for canine heartworm transmission at any Australian postcode of their interest. This information allows veterinarians to access when, and for how long, heartworm may be transmitted at a specific location, assess the associated risk of infection, and advise on a patient-dependent dirofilariosis prevention plan for their canine patients and guardians.

Use of Dog Serologic Data for Improved Understanding of Coccidioidomycosis: A One Health Approach.
The overall seropositivity rate among tested dogs was 37.6%. Average test positivity rates in states with =0.5 tests per annum per 10,000 households were 35.4% (Texas) to 74.1% (Montana). For these states, average annual incidence per 10,000 households was as follows: Arizona (86.8), New Mexico (0.89), Nevada (0.78), California (0.75), Montana (0.63), Colorado (0.41), Oregon (0.41), Texas (0.38), Idaho (0.37), Wyoming (0.34), Utah (0.32), and Washington (0.26). Human incidence in California and Arizona between 2012 and 2022 was significantly correlated with dog incidence.

Insights into breeding management and contraception in catteries - What we learned from an online survey.
Progestin pills (n = 235, 47.4 %) were most commonly administered in queens, followed by deslorelin implants (DSRI) (n = 53, 10.7 %). Regarding tomcats, the slight majority of breeders (n = 229, 53.3 %) did not use contraceptives, next common were DSRI (n = 141, 32.8 %). Within the study population, contraceptives were most popular in (Northern) Europe, while least common in Northern America.