Over the next several weeks, I’ll be discussing some of the most common symptoms that concern pet owners and result in veterinary visits. Becoming familiar with the possibilities will hopefully result in you being more likely to have your pet checked out, as well as knowing when not to panic. This series will be deliberately broad, but still informative.
Let’s start by talking about the different causes of abnormal urinating. Many people let their pets outside and don’t observe them eliminating. I would encourage you to do so, though not out of morbid curiosity. Often times the early signs of disease can be subtle, and the earlier you bring your sick pet to a vet, the sooner the problem can be diagnosed and treated.
Pee problems can generally be broken down into three categories: peeing too much, too little, or not at all. Let’s look at each in turn.
The most concerning are the cases when your pet can’t urinate at all, especially in male cats. Straining to urinate and not being able to do so indicate a blockage in the urinary tract. A stone, mass, or mucus plug blocks the urethra, preventing urine from escaping. Yet urine continues to be produced and accumulates, quickly backing up into the kidneys and causing rapid renal failure. A completely blocked pet can be in critical condition within 24 hours or less, and be dead within 48 hours. If you are worried that your pet simply can’t urinate, this should be treated like a life-or-death emergency. Get to a vet immediately.
Urinating less than normal is an uncommon occurrence but can indicate failure of the kidneys. This is a bad sign, as even bad kidneys should continue to produce urine. A lack of production is usually the last stage of disease. However, some people may notice the pet urinating a little, and then standing in the same posture for a while longer without anything coming out. While this may seem like decreased urine production, the total volume is usually normal. An attempt at urinating with little coming out can indicate a partial obstruction or simply inflammation from an infection. The inflammation can feel like pressure and makes the pet think that more urine is in the bladder.
The most common symptoms revolve around over-production. This is normally a very noticeable increase in the frequency or volume of urine, or possibly accidents in the house. If the pet is actively urinating or asking to go outside more, you may be seeing signs of a urinary tract infection, kidney disease, or diabetes. If the pet is urinating while relaxed or sleeping, it often indicates a weak bladder sphincter muscle, leading to incontinence. While these problems are normally not immediately lift-threatening if caught early, they still warrant a visit to the vet for a proper diagnosis.
All of these problems will require at least a blood panel (chemistries and blood cell count) and urinalysis. Because so many problems have similar symptoms, it’s common to have to run multiple tests to make a thorough evaluation and proper diagnosis. In some cases, x-rays or ultrasound will be needed to evaluate the kidneys or urinary bladder. The important thing to keep in mind is that any of these symptoms can potentially be serious, so as soon as you notice them see your vet.