The other day a client balked when I recommended he feed his cat a special diet.

The cat had been diagnosed with feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD. The syndrome causes pain and inappropriate urination. In male cats it can lead to a serious complication called urinary obstruction. Cats with this syndrome are unable to urinate. If cats with urinary obstructions don’t receive prompt treatment they die in agonizing fashion.

The special diet I recommended is designed to reduce the symptoms of FLUTD and to decrease the risk of urinary obstruction.

The cat’s owner, however, thought I had ulterior motives for recommending the food. He accused me of wanting him to buy an expensive food for no reason, so that I would make more money.

The accusation would be risible if it weren’t so offensive. I was terribly bothered that the man thought I would put money above my patient’s well being. The man also evidently thought that I am stupid. That offended me too.

I were interested in nothing but money, and if I didn’t care about my patient’s well being, and if I were at peace with the idea of going to hell, then the intelligent thing would be to recommend against a special diet.

That way the cat would suffer with the syndrome until he developed urinary obstruction. Treating urinary obstruction is a big deal. After blood tests, IV fluids, anesthesia for urinary catheter placement, and intensive inpatient care for 2 – 5 days the cat probably would be ready to leave the hospital. The bill would be well over a thousand dollars–perhaps much more.

There is plenty of profit in urinary obstruction. Selling cat food is chump change. When I recommend a special diet for a patient with FLUTD, I am putting the cat’s well being above my own profits.

If I truly cared about money I would have become a consultant or a CEO. Because it is not possible to be money grubbing, intelligent, and a veterinarian at the same time.

Photo: Pennies, folks. Not twenties. Not hundreds. Pennies.

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My three-year old spayed female cat is being treated with Clavamox for a UTI. She’s had five doses of the Clavamox over the past 2 1/2 days, but is still spraying urine and also calling loudly as though she were in season. She has never done this before, but has also never had a UTI before. Is this to be expected? How soon should I expect a reduction in symptoms?

Scotti
Cypress, TX

Bladder infections are common in both cats and dogs. In dogs and in older cats, they are the most common causes of uncomfortable urination, bloody urine, and inappropriate urination (cats, dogs). However, in young cats such as yours, another syndrome can have identical symptoms to a bladder infection: feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).

FLUTD is a process in which urinary chemistry imbalances lead to painful urination. It is linked to crystals in the urine and abnormal urine pH levels. In all cats it is very uncomfortable. In male cats it is linked to a potentially fatal complication called urinary obstruction.

Most bladder infections improve dramatically with one or two doses of antibiotics. If your cat has not had urine tests to confirm a bladder infection, I am suspicious that she may not have an infection. You should talk to your vet about this.

FLUTD usually is treated through dietary changes. It is a chronic problem that can cause intermittent pain and, in male cats, chronic risk of urinary obstruction. It is important to determine with certainty which problem your cat has.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

• Why is my Cat Urinating Outside of the Litter Box?
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