Certain urinary tract abnormalities are inherited or congenital (present at birth). These abnormalities are caused by abnormal genes or produced by injury, disease, or exposure to toxic substances in the womb. They may or may not cause health problems later in your pet’s life. These types of abnormalities are rare, but important to consider, if your cat has urinary tract problems.
Disorders of the Kidneys
Your veterinarian can diagnose many common problems involving the urinary system by taking a medical history, performing a physical examination, and performing tests on the cat’s blood and urine. The history might include information regarding changes in how much water your pet drinks, how often it urinates, how much urine it produces, how the urine looks, and how your pet behaves. Your veterinarian will also need information about what medications your pet has taken or is curren
The urinary system or tract includes the kidneys, the ureters (tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder), the bladder, and the urethra (the tube through which urine exits the body). The urinary system has several important functions. It gets rid of the waste products that are created when food is transformed into energy. It also maintains the correct balance of water and electrolytes (salts) needed for the body’s cells. Another key function is the production of erythropoietin and r
The body sometimes produces too many antibodies (immunoglobulins). Gammopathies are conditions in which there is a dramatic rise in the production of antibodies. There are 2 general types: polyclonal and monoclonal. In polyclonal gammopathies, levels of all the major immunoglobulins are increased. In monoclonal gammopathies, the levels of only a single type of immunoglobulin are increased.
Polyclonal gammopathies
Cancer occurs when cells grow out of control. This can happen with the cells of the immune system. The tumor cells may not perform normal functions, which can lead to immunodeficiencies. Alternatively, tumor cells can be functional and produce large numbers of antibodies.
The normal immune system requires a rapid increase in the growth of lymphocytes to fight foreign invaders. On occasion, this increase in the growth of lymphocytes m
Like people, cats can develop diseases and conditions that impair the function of their immune systems. Immune deficiency diseases have serious consequences and often lower the body’s defenses against infection. Some are inherited, and others are caused by viral infections (for example, feline immunodeficiency virus infection), malnutrition, stress, poisons, or cancer. Animals with inherited immune deficiency should not be bred.
This type of reaction occurs when specific kinds of white blood cells (called T helper cells) respond to antigens and release toxic and inflammatory substances that can damage tissues. Cell-mediated immune reactions can occur in any organ. Treatment usually involves eliminating the offending antigen (if possible) and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs that suppress the immune system, either alone or in combination.
Gr
When antibodies bind to persistent antigens, they can create immune complexes. These antigen-antibody complexes can get lodged in small blood vessels and stimulate inappropriate inflammation of the surrounding tissue. Immune complex disorders are among the most common immune-mediated diseases. The location in the body where the immune complexes are deposited determines the signs and the course of the disease.
Glomerulonephritis
Type II reactions occur when an antibody binds to an antigen present at the surface of its own cells. These reactions can lead to several types of diseases in cats, including anemia, blood clotting problems, and skin and muscle disorders. They may be associated with other immune system disturbances, such as cancers of the lymphoreticular system, or triggered by a drug, vaccine, or infection. Most often, the triggering cause cannot be pinpointed. Immune-mediated hemol
In a Type I reaction, the animal has been previously exposed to an antigen and produces an excess of antibodies. If this antigen appears in the blood, the reaction can be either body-wide (such as anaphylactic shock) or localized (such as itchy patches on the skin). If the antigen enters through the skin, a localized reaction is more common.
Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylactic shock