Effect of some risk factors (sex-age-breed) on urolithiasis in cats

Abstract

The research aims to assess the effect of some risk factors (gender-age-breed) on urolithiasis in cats. The study was conducted on (100) cats of diverse in terms of age, gender and breed, and they were selected based on clinical symptoms that indicate urinary problems. It included (dysuria - distillation of urine - bloody urine). Urine samples were collected from cats using urinary catheters from the bladder, then a microscopic examination of the urine was performed to determine the type of stones. It was recorded that there were about (38) animals that did not have any kind of stone infection, and the symptoms (dysuria - urine drip - bloody urine) were caused by infections in the lower urinary tract (urethra - bladder). While there were (62) cases of urinary calculi, distributed among three types of stones (calcium oxalate, urate and struvite), the percentage of each type of the total number of diagnosed stones was (50-19.4-30.6%), respectively. The infection rate of male cats was (75.8%) higher than that of female cats (24.2%). The results showed the highest rate of urolithiasis that was recorded within the age of (2-6) years, which amounted to (50%) of all animals diagnosed with urolithiasis. The results also showed that the highest incidence of urolithiasis was recorded for both the Himalayan cat and the Persian cat, respectively.

It is concluded from this study that sex, age, and breed can be considered as risk factors and aiding in the formation of urinary stones, and therefore these matters must be taken into account when raising these cats.