16/11/2024
๐ค๐คข Symptom Saturday! ๐คง๐ค
๐ฆ Difficulty Urinating ๐ฆ
๐ฆ Any changes in the way your pet passes urine is always worth noting and getting advice on.
๐ฆ Indications that your pet is struggling to pass urine include urinating more frequently, passing smaller volumes, crying or seeming distressed during urinating and not producing urine at all ๐ฟ
๐ฆ Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) is common in both cats and dogs and results in them feeling the need to urinate more frequently but generally only producing small volumes. Sometimes there may be blood obvious in the urine but not always. Urinating in unusual or inappropriate places such as beds or the bath is often a sign of cystitis. Anyone who has ever had cystitis will know it can be incredibly uncomfortable and so pain relief is important! ๐
๐ฆ Prostate issues are common in male dogs, particular those that are older and entire. The pressure of an enlarged prostate can make it difficult to pass larger volumes of urine and so affected dogs often pass little bits of urine frequently ๐ง๐ง๐ง
๐ฆ Normal urine contains various substances dissolved within, but in some circumstances these substances solidify forming crystals within the urine. These crystals can cause irritation, but can also clump together to form plugs or stones. The biggest concern with these is the risk of urethral blockage. โจ
๐ฆ The urethra is a narrow tube that takes urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. A blockage of the urethra is a serious medical emergency and no time should be wasted in seeking veterinary attention. The urethra can block with stones, crystals plugs, soft tissue swelling or spasms. Males have narrower urethras and so are more at risk of blockages. If urine is unable to exit the body the bladder over-fills which can damage or even rupture the bladder. The back up of urine can also seriously damage the kidneys and cause electrolytes imbalances.
๐พ Little Jack Russel Button was urinating more frequently than normal and straining to pass urine. A radiograph (as shown) showed two stones within her bladder. Vet Rebs operated to remove the stones and Buttons is recovering well with her symptoms resolved ๐ฅฐ
๐ฆ A blocked urethra will become life-threatening extremely quickly. If you are concerned that your pet is not producing urine or only producing very small amounts please do not delay in contacting us โ๏ธ