猫の尿路感染症

人間と同じように、猫も不快で時には痛みを伴う尿路感染症 (UTI) を経験することがあります。実際、これは最も一般的な病気の 1 つです。猫の尿路感染症を迅速に認識して治療することは、最優先事項である痛みと潜在的な合併症を軽減します。尿路感染症を迅速に治療することで、猫がトイレの外に排尿するのを防ぐこともできます。これは、片付けるのが難しい場合があります。

今日、私たちはUTIとは何かを分析し、猫のUTIの最も一般的な兆候を概説し、猫のUTIを治療する方法の概要を説明します.また、尿路閉塞 (UTB) についてもお話しします。

尿路感染症とは?

UTI は通常、細菌 (最も一般的には 大腸菌 ) 尿道を汚染し、膀胱に上向きに移動します。膀胱内では、細菌が急速に増殖し、生殖器領域の灼熱感、かゆみ、痛みなどの症状につながる感染を引き起こす可能性があります.

UTI は、膀胱壁を刺激して感染のリスクを高める膀胱結石または結晶によっても引き起こされる可能性があります。

一般に、尿路感染症は「猫の下部尿路疾患」を表す FLUTD という用語にまとめられます。この用語には UTB も含まれ、膀胱と尿道に影響を与える一連の疾患を表します。

雌猫は、尿道が雄猫よりも短く幅が広いため、UTI のリスクが高くなります。

猫の尿路感染症の症状は?

明らかに、あなたの猫は自分の健康に何が起こっているのかを言葉で伝えることができないので、他の兆候を探すことが重要です.猫の尿路感染症の一般的な兆候を以下に示します:

• 異常な頻尿
• 排尿できない、または尿の量が少ない
• 不適切な場所（浴槽やクローゼットなど）での排尿とトイレの回避（猫の尿を効果的にきれいにするためのヒントと、猫がトイレの外でおしっこをするその他の理由を確認してください）
• 排尿困難または排尿痛
• 血尿
• 膀胱制御の喪失 (尿の滴り)
• 排尿しようとするときの痛みでいきむ、または大声で叫ぶ
• トイレでの長時間のしゃがみ
• 性器周辺を絶え間なく舐める
• 無気力
• 嘔吐
• 著しく多量の水を飲む

身体検査では、獣医は以下に挙げる症状を探します:

• 硬くて膨満した腹部
• 尿道から体外への尿流の閉塞
• 膀胱壁が厚く、硬く、収縮している

上記の症状は、他の尿路疾患でも見られることに注意してください。 However, the presence of these symptoms suggests a strong possibility of a UTI. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of UTIs is crucial because, if left untreated, a UTI can have serious consequences, such as a kidney infection, and make cats very ill.

Is it a UTI or a UTB (Urinary Tract Blockage)?

Let’s pause for a moment to talk about UTBs. Nope, a “UTB” isn’t code for “under the bed.” A UTB, sometimes called a urinary tract obstruction, occurs when the urethra becomes blocked by substances like minerals that inflame the urethra. When the urine can’t exit the body, the bladder gets overfilled and can eventually rupture. UTBs are far more common in male cats than female cats.

A UTB is serious and life-threatening. The symptoms begin much like a UTI but quickly progress. A blockage can be fatal if not treated immediately.

When pet parent Karen noticed that her cat Colin wasn’t feeling well, she brought him into her regular vet not once, but twice, and they still didn’t diagnose him accurately. It wasn’t until she took him to the emergency hospital that Colin was diagnosed with a UTB, which was probably formed by crystals in his bladder.

After diagnostic tests and x-rays, vets could see that Colin needed emergency surgery to remove the blockage, which totaled $3,800, of which Karen was reimbursed $3,100. “He’s doing great now!” says Karen. “He was still groggy and in some pain for a few days after he got home, but now he has more energy than ever. Always running around and playing with his brother. Singing at the top of his lungs at 5am. All that good stuff.”

UTBs are diagnosed with a thorough physical exam, which involves feeling a cat’s abdomen, a full blood panel to monitor levels of increased waste products, X-rays to look for blockages, and possibly a urine culture if a UTI is suspected.

UTBs are a medical emergency and require immediate surgical treatment. After surgery, treatment includes pain medication and dietary changes to prevent another blockage.

Why Do Cats Get UTIs?

Although bacteria are a common culprit of UTIs in cats, they are not the only cause. For example, interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome) and certain viruses can cause UTIs. Other causes and risk factors are listed below:

• Congenital abnormality
• Stones or accumulated debris in the bladder or urethra
• Kidney stones
• Bladder crystals
• Poor diet
• Incontinence or weak bladder
• Injured urinary tract or spinal cord
• Stress
• Endocrine diseases (specifically, hyperthyroidism and diabetes)

How is a Cat UTI Diagnosed?

Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian immediately if you suspect that your cat has a UTI. To diagnose your cat’s UTI, your vet will first complete a physical exam, then perform a series of diagnostic tests, including bloodwork and a urinalysis. From there, your vet may perform additional tests, such as a urine culture to look for bacteria and abdominal x-rays or ultrasound to look for stones and crystals.

These tests will help your vet determine the underlying cause of the UTI and identify negative health consequences caused by the UTI.

How Do You Treat a Cat UTI?

Treatment varies depending on the diagnosis. Bacterial infections will require antibiotics. Other treatment options include pain medication, dietary changes to prevent the formation of stones and crystals, and surgery to remove bladder stones. Be aware that stones and crystals can recur, so your cat may need lifelong prevention from stone and crystal formation.

If your cat has a bacterial UTI, your vet will perform a repeat urinalysis after antibiotic treatment to make sure that the infection has cleared.

Trust us — your cat will feel so much better with treatment. They’ll be so grateful that you took them in to get treated!

How Can I Prevent Future UTIs?

UTIs are no fun for your cat. They aren’t 100% preventable, but there a few things you can do to minimize your cat’s risk of getting another UTI. For example, you can feed your cat more canned food to encourage more water intake. You can also keep the litter box clean and keep it in a quiet and private environment.

Taken together, UTIs are uncomfortable and painful for cats. Keep a close tab on your cat’s bathroom habits and schedule an appointment with your vet if you notice any symptoms related to UTIs or UTBs. The quicker you notice the problem, the quicker your cat can get treated and back to normal.

Want to know more information on common cat illnesses? We break down cat health, treatments and veterinary innovation in our Cost of Pet Care report, so you can be prepared to take care of your furry friend every step of the way (and yep, Healthy Paws covers UTI treatment).

コンテンツは、専門の獣医師のアドバイス、診断、または治療に代わるものではありません。医学的診断、状態、または治療オプションに関して疑問がある場合は、常に獣医師または他の資格のある医療提供者のアドバイスを求めてください。