How to Treat Kidney Stones in Cats

1 Treatment Steps and Outlook

I. Steps for treating cat kidney stones

1. Catheterization

With a full blockage, the cat urinates often but in tiny amounts and must be catheterized within 24 hours. Watch the cat’s urine and stool daily; if it squats with no urine, go to the vet at once – do not delay. Catheterization is simple, safe, and very effective. Over 24 hours without urine can burst the bladder, cause heavy bleeding and uremia, then death. After catheterization, give injections and medicine.

2. Injection medication

For frequent but dribbling urination, catheterization may be skipped; just give injectable medicine.

1. Oral amoxicillin half a packet twice a day, by syringe or mixed with food;

2. Special drug Pukangsu, common drug Norfloxacin;

3. Nitrofurantoin;

4. Inject or oral gentamicin;

5. Inject penicillin;

6. Cefradine 0.25 g twice daily + 2 ml sterile water + dexamethasone sodium phosphate 0.5 ml once daily (evening);

7. Give Chinese patent drugs such as Urogenin granules, Sanjin tablets, Jinqiancao, Shilintong, Jieshitong;

For severe cases pick one injection and one western drug; mild cases one drug, about every 5 days.

8. For blood in urine, give a hemostatic shot, usually once daily for three days, or oral hemostatics. Common shots are Etamsylate.

9. After catheterization you can also put soothing anti-inflammatory fluid directly into the bladder via the catheter.

II. Outlook for cat kidney stones

1. For partial blockage, push water hard!

2. For full blockage, do NOT force water before it clears (risk of bladder rupture)!

3. Many cat foods exist; pick a formula for urinary tract health.

4. Cats need some exercise, but in moderation.

Give medicine while soothing the cat; use a syringe (remove the needle) and approach from the side, since cats resist front feeding.

Tip: More water and a urinary-formula diet are the best daily defense against stones.