Occurrence and clinical management of urethral obstruction in male cats under primary veterinary care in the United Kingdom in 2016

Abstract

Background: Urethral obstruction (UO) has a negative effect on welfare of cats.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine incidence, case management, and outcomes of UO in cats in primary-care practice in the United Kingdom.

Animals: All male cats under veterinary care within the VetCompass database in 2016.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. The electronic records of all male cats with a clinical note during the study period were searched for UO cases and were manually reviewed for inclusion. Additional demographic and clinical information were extracted on cases.

Results: From the study cohort of 237 825 male cats, there were 1293 incident cases. The estimated UO incidence risk during 2016 was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.51-0.57). Demographic and clinical data were available for 1108 cases. Antibiotics were administered to 641/1108 (57.9%) cases. Overall repeat catheterization rate was 253/854 (29.6%). Repeat catheterization at 48 hours was less frequent in patients with indwelling catheters (10.1%) vs those that had a catheter placed and then immediately removed (14.8%; P = .04). Death during a UO episode was 329/1108 (29.6%), and 285/329 (88.0%) deaths involved euthanasia.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Antibiotics were commonly prescribed in cats for treatment of UO despite minimal evidence in the clinical records of bacterial cystitis. Repeat catheterization was common and case fatality rate during a UO episode was high. Repeat catheterization within 48 hours of elective removal of a urethral catheter was less common in cats that had previously had indwelling catheters. The majority of cats requiring repeat catheterization survived until the end of the study.

Keywords: FLUTD; antibiotics; blocked; feline lower urinary tract disease; primary care; recurrence; urinary blockage.