Chapter 6: Diagnosis and Treatment of Feline Inappropriate Elimination 3 CE Hours
Expiration Date : May 4, 2027 Learning objectives
After completing this course, the learner will be able to: Create a client history for use in assessment of feline inappropriate elimination. Develop a diagnostic plan to determine if there is an underlying medical or behavioral issues.
Identify causes of inappropriate elimination. Development of a treatment plan for the management of feline marking, including pharmacologic and environmental interventions.
INTRODUCTION
Inappropriate elimination (urinating or defecating outside of the litterbox) is the most common feline behavior problem reported to veterinarians, constituting 40-75 percent of all cats presented for behavior problems 1 . Furthermore, inappropriate elimination is a leading cause of feline behavioral euthanasia and relinquishment to shelters 2 . Inappropriate elimination can frequently be resolved, or at least ameliorated, with early intervention. Therefore, it is vital that veterinarians and owners detect and address cases promptly in order to prevent Diagnostic approach to inappropriate elimination The term inappropriate elimination describes the elimination of urine or feces outside the litterbox. Inappropriate elimination can be attributed to both medical and behavioral causes; a comprehensive workup, including a thorough history, physical exam, and diagnostics as indicated, is required to arrive at the correct diagnosis and initiate treatment. Which cat is responsible? The average cat-owning American home currently contains 2.4 cats 3 . Therefore, many cases of inappropriate elimination are observed in multi-cat homes. In these homes, the first diagnostic challenge often involves figuring out which cat is responsible for the urine or feces that the owner is finding around the house. If the owners have not identified the culprit (or if they “have their suspicions” but have not yet witnessed the behavior for confirmation), there are several steps that can be taken. In cases of inappropriate urination, fluorescein dye strips can be administered orally (six large dye strips per day, placed in gelatin capsules) to the suspected cat 1 . When viewed with a black light, the cat’s urine will appear bright yellow-green for approximately twenty-four hours after administration. Untreated urine will also appear fluorescent under a black light, but not as dramatically as the fluorescein-treated urine. Therefore, owners should first become familiar with normal fluorescence before attempting this test at home. Veterinary professionals should caution owners that fluorescein dye might stain some fabrics, so they may wish to limit their cat’s access to valuable fabrics or furniture during this test if possible. Also, multiple cats in the home may be urinating inappropriately; therefore, in a home with more than two cats; each cat should to be tested separately. Owners may be tempted to stop when they have identified one cat that is urinating inappropriately, only to find that the problem persists due to other cats’ involvement. A similar technique is often utilized to identify a cat that is defecating outside of the litterbox, using shaved crayons added to the food. Owners should ensure that these crayons are nontoxic (typically the case for all children’s crayons marketed in the United States) and add a small amount of crayon shavings to the cat’s food. Due to variable gut transit times, it may take up to a couple of days for crayon shavings to appear in the feces. As with inappropriate urination, owners should repeat this test for
damage to the human-animal bond. At every veterinary visit, veterinarians should ask owners whether their cat is using the litterbox appropriately. If the answer to this question is no, veterinary professionals should conduct a thorough workup to rule out underlying medical causes. If no medical condition is found, the veterinarian must determine whether the problem is due to marking or inappropriate toileting. Once veterinarians reach a behavioral diagnosis, they can work with the owner to implement a in the hopes of resolving this behavior. each cat in the home to ensure that there are not multiple cats contributing to the inappropriate defecation. Taking a detailed history Taking a thorough history can often provide clues to suggest either a medical or a behavioral cause for the inappropriate elimination. Client questionnaires, which clients can complete at home and bring to the appointment, can provide a way to streamline the history-taking process. If preferred, clients can instead discuss the medical history with their vet in the context of an appointment. Either way, a thorough history is essential to the accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of inappropriate elimination. This history should include the following components: b. Are there specific rooms or locations involved? (Can owners close off any of these rooms to the cats while addressing the problem?) c. How long has this problem been going on? 2. Attempts to distinguish behavioral urination vs. cystitis: a. How large are the urine puddles? 1. Describe the inappropriate elimination: a. Are you finding urine, feces, or both? b. Is blood present in the urine? c. Does the cat strain to urinate? d. How often does the cat urinate? e. Does the cat eliminate on horizontal or vertical surfaces, or both? 3. Stressors: Are any of the following factors present? a. Is new person or pet present in the home? b. Has a person or pet left the home? c. Have you recently replaced or rearranged furniture, carpet, drapes, etc.? d. Has your family recently moved to a new home? e. Do any other environmental changes exist? 4. Indicators of litter box aversion: a. How many cats live in the home? b. How many litterboxes? c. Are the litterboxes covered or uncovered? d. What type of litter? e. How long has this type of litter been used? f. How often is the litterbox scooped? How often is the box emptied and scrubbed?
EliteLearning.com/Veterinarian
Book Code: VFL1524
Page 40
Powered by FlippingBook