Archive for February, 2012:

crystalsside
Feature, General

My cat cannot wee!

By admin On February 24, 2012 - Comments

Does your cat sit on the litter tray for ages but not actually pass any urine?

Does your cat make frequent trips to the litter tray but only pass a small amount?

Does your cat vocalise whilst urinating?

Does your cat have blood in its urine?

If your cat is showing any of these signs then he or she may be struggling to urinate.

This can be a life threatening situation and veterinary attention should always be sought. The main reason for an inability to urinate normally is a blocked or partially blocked urethra – the tube that links the bladder to the outside. Cats with complete urethral blockage require urgent treatment to relieve the blockage – this is one of the big feline emergencies to be aware of as a cat owner.

For more information on medical management of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) click here to link to the next blog.

Despite medical management some cats still form enough crystals to make a ‘plug/stone’ which blocks the urethra, causing ongoing misery to the cat in their attempts to pass urine. For those cats with stones stuck in their urethra, further investigation and possibly surgery is necessary.

Often under sedation the lodged stone can be dislodged back into the bladder with flushing via a catheter which is inserted into the urethra. Sometimes the catheter is left in place for a few days for the urethral inflammation to settle. In the meantime the urine is analysed to see if there is infection and /or crystals present.

The dislodged stone that is now back in the bladder may be dissolved slowly with the use of the correct prescription die. Not all cats require a cystostomy (surgical opening of the bladder) to remove the offending stones but in some cases this is essential. For any stones that cannot be dislodged from the urethra or in cats with frequent reoccurrence of obstruction, surgery is required.

A perineal urethrostomy (removal of the penis and part of the urethra) would be the procedure of choice for obstructive episodes affecting the penile urethra. The aim of this surgery is to remove the penile urethra, which is a very narrow tube in order to prevent any stones becoming lodged and to make a new opening for urine to pass through. A new aperture, a much wider opening to the urethra is created surgically.This allows any debris/crystals/stones to pass without obstructing the urethra and also enables a good flow of urine to be voided.The patients do not require indwelling urethral catheters following surgery and they do not experience urinary incontinence. A perineal urethrostomy can be an extremely successful procedure, giving a large number of cats long lasting relief from their obstructed urethra.

 

Important points in the treatment of FLUTD

  • Observe your cats urination
  • Feed the correct prescription diet
  • Promote water intake
  • Administer GAG supplements
  • Reduce stress

Remember if you see your cat struggling to urinate then seek veterinary attention immediately.

 

 

 

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My cat still can’t wee! (part 2!)
General

My cat still can’t wee! (part 2!)

By admin On February 24, 2012 - Comments

FLUTD (Feline lower urinary tract disease) is a common problem which can cause distress and misery in cats if not treated correctly. For the first blog on this theme, click here.

Uroliths (crystals) can be found in any age of cat. It is more common with overweight male neutered cats that are kept indoors but can occur in females too. Some cats such as Burmese, Himalayan and Persian breeds can be very prone to having uroliths. The common forms of crystals found in the bladder are struvite and calcium oxalate.

The majority of cats can be controlled on a special diet and medication to help prevent crystal formation in the bladder. The diets available are specially formulated and designed to produce moderately acidic urine, control the content of minerals in the urine and increase the amount or urine produced. These foods are available in a wet and dry form.

There are also medications available called (GAG) supplements (Glycosaminoglycan) which aim to restore the protective mucosal layer (thin layer of mucus) within the bladder wall. Cats with FLUTD can often have chronic cystitis and haematuria (blood in the urine) which can lead to the breakdown of the bladder’s mucosal barrier resulting in inflammation, dysuria (difficulty urinating) and increased permeability of the bladder lining. GAG supplements can be very useful and of huge benefit to cats with FLUTD and are part of the long term management of FLUTD.

Stress can also be an important factor and can influence the recurrence of FLUTD signs in cats so should also be considered when treating FLUTD.

Cats don’t like:

  • Overcrowding
  • Changes in diet
  • Changes in environment
  • Changes in weather
  • Owner stress
  • Introduction of new pets or people.

All these points should be considered when treating a cat with FLUTD. Certain points to remember are:

  • Provide a secluded place for the litter tray
  • Place litter trays away from feeding areas
  • Provide extra litter trays with different types of litter
  • Ensure the litter trays are cleaned regularly
  • Provide escape/hiding zones around the house so the cats can get away from other cats or people
  • Provide play time and owner interaction time
  • Use pheromone sprays

For cats with FLUTD it is important to promote water intake. This can be difficult with cats especially if they go outside a lot as it can be hard to observe their drinking habits.

Some other things to try to promote and encourage drinking are:

  • Cat water fountains
  • Prawn water/stock
  • Ice cubes with fish in etc
  • Water bowls with a wide diameter as cats don’t like getting their whiskers wet!
  • Extra bowls of water around the house

 

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insurancepic
Feature, General

Choosing an insurance policy

By admin On February 7, 2012 - Comments

Of the cases we see at Northwest Surgeons, 95% of these are insured for veterinary fees. Like everything in life, you get what you pay for. Even the insurance companies say this! So how do you know which insurance policy to choose for your dog or cat?

NEWSFLASH

Lloyds TSB and Halifax have pulled out of the pet insurance market. This has left many consumers stranded. If your pet has an on going condition covered which has already been subject to an insurance claim you probably will not be able to get cover for this on a new policy. 

The best insurance policies will of course be more expensive, but choosing a cheaper policy could leave you with inadequate cover or no cover at all. So where do you start?

The question how much can you afford can be viewed many ways! Firstly, work out how much can you afford per month for an insurance policy. Then check the policy limit. Consider what happens if you reach the limit on your insurance policy. Many people don’t realise that there may be a gap between what the insurance will pay out and the vet bill, and because there is no NHS for pets it will be you left to pick up this amount.

How much cover do you need?

Insurance policy limits vary from £500 to £12000. The days of limitless policies are gone.

Bills for specialist veterinary treatment can be somewhere between £2000-5000 so this gives you an idea of where to start, but bear in mind that certain conditions can be more than this.

In recent years there has been an increase in cheaper insurance policies and of course, at the same time veterinary fees are increasing. In many cases this is leaving a bigger gap between what the insurance covers and what the client has to pay. If your cover limit is £2000 and your vet bill is £4500 you need to find £2500 out of your own pocket.

What is an excess?

Most policies will have an excess. This is an amount, usually around £70-£100 which you have to pay yourself when you make a claim – so really it is not worth claiming on your insurance unless the bill is over this amount. The older the pet, the higher the excess will be. Some policies also require that you pay a percentage of the claim, usually 10-20%, although this is more common with older animals. Beware on a £3000 bill this will be £300.

How long will the insurance pay out for a condition?

Dogs and cats diagnosed with diabetes will need lifelong insulin treatment, to pick an example. The cheaper policies will only pay out for a year, so if you need the reassurance of lifelong cover make sure you get the right policy. Don’t make the mistake of picking the cheapest online policy. Phone the company and discuss your needs to make sure you fully understand what you are buying. And read the small print.

What is pre-authorisation?

Many private medical insurers insist on pre-authorising claims. This is a slick process whereby you are assured that your insurance will pay for your private healthcare. Some pet insurers request pre-authorisation for certain claims but the process is rarely a well-oiled one and can delay your pet’s treatment. It is not uncommon for our clients to have to wait several hours for this. Check when you buy a policy whether the company ask for pre-authorisations.

What not to do!

Cancel your policy – all of us have seen clients who, having never claimed on their policy decided to cancel it, only for the worse to happen and the pet become ill. Only do this if you can afford to pick up any subsequent bills!

How we can help you

If you are referred to Northwest Surgeons for specialist treatment, for certain insurance companies we will process the claim for you and the insurance company will pay us direct (known as a direct claim). This saves you having to pay us first and then claim back the money yourself. We do not do this for all companies because some have poor reputations for paying claims. (Although we would like to tell you which companies to avoid this is not particularly professional!) We have a dedicated Claims Manager to process claims and communicate with the insurers which is why we levy a small fee for doing so. You must provide us with your certificate of insurance and sign a direct claim agreement which allows us to act on your behalf to make the claim.

So think carefully when buying pet insurance and check exactly what you are paying for and what is not covered. If in doubt, ask your vet.

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