Recurrence of feline urethral obstruction
Bovée, K.C.; Reif, J.S.; Maguire, T.G.; Gaskell, C.J.; Batt, R.M.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 174(1): 93-96
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 457578 Document Number: 147520
Data from 101 male cats were collected for 6 months after urethral obstruction. Among 85 cats for which follow-up data were available at the end of 6 months, 29 (34%) were alive, with no recurrence of obstruction; 30 (35%) were alive with recurrence. Death related to urethral obstruction occurred in 14 cats, and urethrostomy was performed in 12. There was no significant association between recurrence of obstruction and current age, breed, residence, environment, castration, age of castration, or consumption of dry foods. Cats experiencing their first episode of obstruction at more than 4 years of age appeared to have a reduced incidence of recurrence (31.8% vs 68.2% for cats less than 4 years old). There was no association between recurrence rate and severity of obstruction or type of therapy required to relieve obstruction.