005. Causes of FUS
Description
This article is from the Medical Information FAQ, posted to rec.pets.cats newsgroup. Maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
005. Causes of FUS
In general: any condition that causes stricture, malfunction, inflammation, or obstruction of the urethra. In addition, any condition that causes inflammation, malfunction, or abnormal anatomy of the urinary bladder.
Known causes
* Struvite crystals accompanied by red blood cells-generally caused by a diet too high in magnesium relative to the pH of the urine.
+ Fish-flavored foods tend to be worse
+ The ability of a given diet to cause problems in an individual cat is highly variable: only those cats with a history of this kind of FUS may respond well to strictly dietary management. Many cats do not have problems with a diet that may produce FUS in some individuals.
+ Bladder stones, may occur from struvite crystals, or be secondary to bladder infections. There are metabolic disorders (not all are understood) that result in a higher concentration of a given mineral that can remain in solution; hence stones are formed. Diet may greatly modify the concentration of a given mineral in solution in the urine. Water intake may modify the concentration of all minerals in the urine, and bacterial infection increases the risk of stone formation.
+ Anatomical abnormalities such as congenital malformations of the bladder and/or urethra (early neutering is NOT a factor) OR acquired strictures of the urethra and/or scarring of the bladder.
+ Trauma.
* Neurolgenic problems affecting the act of urination (difficult to diagnose except at institutions capable of urethral pressure profiles)
+ Primary bacterial infection-RARE!
+ Tumors (benign/malignant)
+ Protein matrix plug (generally urethral obstruction of males); can be from non-mineral protein debris, viral-based, other causes are unknown.
* Suspected or unknown factors include non-bacterial infections, toxins, stress, and seasonal influences.
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