Behavioral Urinary Problems Flashcards
What findings on a UA can distinguish behavioral vs medical urinary issues leading to house soiling?
(If there are signs of proteinuria, hematuria, WBCs, crystals etc. that indicates a medical issue (run a culture if bacteria are present or USG <1.030), if none of those are present that indicate it is behavioral (or potentially still FIC but more likely behavioral))
Besides a UA +/- culture, what other diagnostics should you run through in a case of house soiling to rule out medical issues entirely?
(Radiographs to look for calculi or abdominal ultrasound for mostly the same reason; +/- a T4 depending on the age of the cat → if all of these diagnostics and a UA/culture are WNL, medical causes of urine house soiling become very unlikely besides FIC)
What are the four types of marking behavior a cat will express?
(Scratching, rubbing, urine spraying, and middening)
(T/F) Cats that mark around the house will still use the litter box normally.
(T)
What is the primary treatment for behavioral house soiling in cats?
(Meet their environmental needs and reduce stress, other includes determine what is causing the marking, improve cat’s territorial security, clean urine marked areas with chlorine based products, use positive reinforcement, pharmaceutical therapy, and improve litter box management)
What is the ideal number of litter boxes for a household of 3 cats?
(One per plus one so 4)
What is feline idiopathic cystitis?
(Multifactorial condition with one or more FLUTD signs (hematuria, pollakiuria, stranguria, dysuria, or combos) where a single underlying cause cannot be determined; stress is a culprit and if signs persist → potential blockage)
What are some of the pharmaceutical options for behavioral house soiling?
(Fluoxetine, buspirone, and alprazolam; there are some nutraceutical options as well such as purina calming care, feliway, etc.)
Fluoxetine and alprazolam can be used for both behavioral and FIC induced house soiling, what other pharmaceuticals can be used for FIC?
(Prazosin (alpha antagonist), amitriptyline (tricyclic antidepressant), and buprenorphine or gabapentin (analgesics); there are some nutraceutical options as well such as D-Mannose, other various supplements and diets such as Urinary SO or c/d)
What are the 4 common causes of house soiling in cats?
(Stress, marking, medical illness, and FIC)
What are the 5 pillars of a healthy feline environment?
(Provide a safe place, provide multiple, separated key environmental resources, provide opportunity for play and predatory behavior, provide positive, consistent and predictable human-cat social interactions, and provide an environment that respects the importance of a cat’s sense of smell)
What are some of the down sides of using fluoxetine for behavioral house soiling in cats?
(It can take 8 weeks to see the full effect, increases risk of serotonin syndrome, can make pre-existing aggression worse, and can cause urine retention)
