Twenty-Seven Cases of Feline Ureterolithiasis

Abstract

Twenty-seven cases of feline ureterolithiasis, which were presented to the Department of Nephrology and Urology, Azabu University Veterinary Teaching Hospital over the past ten years, were retrospectively analyzed. As reported in overseas studies, the prevalence of ureteral caliculi in cats has increased over the years. The mean age of occurrence was 5.6 ±2.9 years, and 81.5% of cases were purebred cats. Laboratory and clinical data indicate that nonspecific clinical symptoms, azotemia, hypercalcemia, asymptomatic occult hematuria, and urinary calcium oxalate are potential predictive factors for ureterolithiasis. A combination of different imaging modalities seems to increase reliability in diagnosing ureterolithiasis. Unilateral ureterolithiasis was associated with parenchymal damage in the contralateral kidney due to either congenital renal disease or a previous history of occlusive nephropathy. All surgically removed ureteroliths were calcium oxalate. As the overall incidence of calcium oxalate urolith is increasing in cats, it is likely that the number of cases of feline ureterolithiasis will continue to rise in the future.