#urinary obstruction

Urinary obstruction! A “blocked cat” is one of the most common feline emergencies we see in the ER. While female cats can block, the vast majority of the time the condition is seen in males. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice any signs of an obstruction.

Here’s a nice little infographic I found online, posted by a vet clinic:

Unfortunately, I have seen cats die from urinary blockages, usually because the owner was out of town and didn’t catch it until it was too late or just thought they were constipated. But the good news is, when caught in time, the poor boys have a hopeful prognosis. They do require lifelong management with a urinary diet and, in cases of repeated obstructions, surgery (perineal urethrostomy).

For more in-depth information, here’s an article from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons:

That bulge is his bladder. He's only 16 months old.

I understand that excess potassium is excreted in the urine, and if the urine can’t be excreted, the potassium will build up in the urine (inside the bladder).

How does this affect the levels of potassium in the blood? Do the ureters back up into the kidneys, and stop the kidneys from effectively filtering the potassium out of the blood?

Treat UO cats at least once a shift 😩