Feline lower urinary tract disease and PURINA VETERINARY DIETS (R) FELINE UR ST/OX™

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is a common condition in cats, and covers a wide range of disorders including urinary stones, infections, strictures, urethral plugs and idiopathic cystitis. It is a common presenting complaint, with a prevalence of approximately 2–13% in veterinary teaching hospitals (Lekcharoensuk et al, 2001a). The most common cause is feline idiopathic cystitis, resulting in approximately 55% of cases (Saevik et al, 2011). Urolithiasis is a condition where urinary stones are found in the bladder, kidney or ureters. It is seen in approximately 12–22% of cases of FLUTD (Saevik et al, 2011; Cameron et al, 2004), with the most common types of feline uroliths being struvite or calcium oxalate (Osborne et al, 2008). Urolithiasis can cause urethral obstruction, which is a serious life threatening condition, and is generally seen in young, male indoor cats with high body weight (Gerber et al, 2005). It is more common in male cats as the urethra of males is longer and narrower than females. Unfortunately, FLUTD is most often a recurrent condition, which can be frustrating for both the client and veterinarian and costly to treat. Effective, long-term management options are therefore essential.