Clinical management of the feline urological syndrome.

The management of cases of the feline urological syndrome (FUS) is described with particular reference to urethral obstruction in the male cat. Treatment of the obstructive episode and in the post-obstruction period and the prevention of recurrence of blockage in the longer term are discussed and a technique for perineal urethrostomy described. I N T R O D U C T I O N The clinical signs associated with the feline urological (urolithiasis) syndrome (FUS) haematuria, increased frequency of urination and dysuria or anuria are well recognized: the management of FUS however, presents considerable problems for the clinician in both the treatment of the initial episode and the prevention of recurrence. Of the two major facets of the syndrome, namely cystitis and urethral obstruction, it is the latter which is the more immediately serious. The recent BSAVA/ PFMA survey showed that 34% of cats which experienced an obstructive episode were dead at the time of follow-up 6 months later (Walker et al. 1977). Though mortality associated with cystitis is uncommon, both forms of the disease carry a considerable risk of recurrence: some 30% of the surviving cats in the BSAVA/ PFMA survey suffered one or more recurrent episodes in the 6-month follow-up period. However, some progress has been made in recent years, both in the understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of an episode of urethral obstruction, 0020-451 0/78/0600-0301 S02.00 0 1 978 BSAVA