Primary Care

Urology

All of a sudden, Milo is treating the whole house like his personal litter box. Poor you (all that carpet cleaning!), but poor Milo! He might have a urology problem.

Our practice is well equipped to handle any urology needs your pet has. Urology is a medical specialty that focuses on the male and female urinary tract and male reproductive parts. This may include kidney stones, incontinence, prostate issues or kidney failure. If you have concerns about your pet’s urological tract, call our practice right away.

Our first step includes a full evaluation. We have the advanced technology to run a complete urinary tract profile, including lab work, ultrasound, and x-rays. Once we determine the underlying cause of your pet’s symptoms we discuss with you the best course of treatment.

We have many advanced therapies and prefer noninvasive to minimally invasive treatments in order to best care for your pet’s conditions.

A common urinary condition among house cats is something called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease or FLUTD. It’s a bit of a "catch-all" term that includes several lower urinary tract disorders in cats. It is most common among indoor cats who use a litter box and eat dry food. It can include the diagnoses of kidney stones, urethral obstruction or interstitial cystitis.

Some things that can help avoid the occurrence of FLUTD include:

  • Keep litter boxes clean and located in easily accessible, quiet areas of the home
  • Provide fresh water at all times and increase water intake, add water to the food, feed more canned food due to its higher moisture, and try circulating water fountains
  • Avoid major changes in routine 

Older dogs are more susceptible to urinary tract conditions than younger dogs. The most common urological condition in older dogs is urinary incontinence due to weakened muscle tone. Luckily it can easily be treated with medication or hormones. However, our practice will want to ensure that it’s not also causing a urinary tract infection. The key to successfully managing any urinary condition is early diagnosis and treatment. 

Call us right away if you see any of the following symptoms in your pet:

  • Inability to urinate
  • Excessive thirst
  • Blood in the urine
  • Increased frequency of urination
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Strained urination
  • Foul smelling urine
  • Excessive licking of the genital area