Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Causes and outcomes of urinary incontinence in 45 cats
By Lonc, Kaitlin M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2020·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective analysis of diagnoses and outcomes of 45 cats with micturition disorders presenting as urinary incontinence.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 45 cats with urinary incontinence (UI) were examined to find out what was causing their symptoms. The most common issue was spinal cord disease, affecting 18 cats, while others had problems with their urethra or bladder. Out of the cats with known outcomes, 42% were able to regain control of their urination, while others either improved or remained incontinent. Cats with spinal cord issues tended to have a worse prognosis compared to those with bladder or urethral problems.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: In contrast to dogs, the causes and outcomes of urinary incontinence (UI) in cats are largely unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine the causes, identify comorbid conditions, and assess outcomes of cats with micturition disorders presenting as UI. ANIMALS: Forty-five cats with UI. METHODS: Retrospective study. Medical records of cats presented from January 2006 to December 2017 were searched using 45 keywords related to UI. History, presenting complaint, and physical examination findings were used to confirm a diagnosis. Cases were categorized based on functional and anatomic localizations. RESULTS: Forty-five cats met inclusion criteria. Spinal cord disease was the most common cause of UI (n = 18), followed by urethral (n = 17), bladder (n = 9), and ureteral (n = 1) disorders. Proportions of voiding and storage phase disorders were similar (53% and 47%, respectively). However, voiding-phase disorders were observed more frequently in males and younger-aged cats (P < .03). Urinary tract infection was detected in 11 of 28 (39%) cats. Outcomes were available in 38/45 cases; 16 cats (42%) regained continence, 3 (8%) improved with treatment, and 19 (50%) remained incontinent or were euthanized. Multiple variable logistic regressions indicated that spinal cord disease was significantly more likely to be associated with poor outcomes compared to bladder or urethral disorders (P < .04). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Urinary incontinence in cats was associated with a variety of congenital and acquired disorders that affected both phases of micturition with similar frequency. Incontinent cats with spinal cord disorders were common and warrant a more guarded prognosis than do cats with bladder or urethral disorders.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31859391/