Risk factors for upper urinary tract uroliths and ureteral obstruction in cats
Upper urinary tract uroliths (UUTU), affecting the kidney or ureter, can result in ureteral obstruction and acute kidney injury (AKI). Ureterolithiasis is the most common cause of ureteral obstruction in cats, recorded in 82% of obstructed ureters, or 96% of cats with ureteral obstruction undergoing SUB placement.
Researchers evaluated records from eleven thousand four hundred thirty-one cats were referred for care over 10 years to 9 US veterinary teaching hospitals to identify risk factors.
Results:
Risk factors for UUTU included female sex, British shorthair, Burmese, Persian, Ragdoll or Tonkinese and being ≥4 years
Risk factors for obstructive UUTU were female sex, having bilateral uroliths and age, with the odds of obstructive UUTU increasing as age at diagnosis of UUTU decreased.
Conclusion of the review indicates that cats diagnosed with UUTU at a younger age have a higher risk of obstructive UUTU compared to cats over 12 years of age.
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