Urethral Obstruction, Feline - contd.

ClinicalSigns
Clinical signs include pollakiuria, stranguria, reduction in the quantity or quality of the urine stream, absence of urine stream, hematuria, and urinary bladder distention. Signs of uremia will develop in cases of complete urinary obstruction and become increasingly severe with time. If the urinary tract ruptures at any point, evidence of urinary leakage into the surrounding areas may be detected.

Symptoms
Symptoms include frequent attempts to urinate, straining to urinate, and a decreased amount of urine or lack of urine produced by attempts to urinate. Sometimes, the urine may be bloody. Some owners will assume incorrectly that the straining behavior is a result of constipation. The toxic symptoms that develop secondary to the obstruction become progressively worse with time. These include lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting, weakness, a rapid but shallow breathing pattern, abnormal mental state, and seizures. If the urinary tract ruptures, the cat may display symptoms of abdominal pain.