Obstructive lower urinary tract disease (DTUIF): investigating environmental prediction factors in Botucatu, Brazil

• Grant number: 21/12436-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Priscylla Tatiana Chalfun Guimaraes-Okamoto
• Grantee: Lynn Naemi Iha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Obstructive Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) comprehends urinary tract pathologies caused by numerous factors such as interstitial or feline idiopathic cystitis, uroliths, tampons, plugs, being the first one, the most frequent cause, a fact that makes treatment difficult. FLUTD is commonly associated with urethral obstruction, partially or totally blocking the urinary flow, causing azotemia, electrolyte, and acid-basic disorders, affecting the animal's quality of life. In addition to these signs, the affected animal may present nonspecific signs such as hematuria, dysuria, strangury, pollakiuria, anorexia, or hypothermia. Considering the high number of cases of obstructive FLUTD at the FMVZ Veterinary Hospital, Unesp, Botucatu, this study constitutes a prospective study that aims to investigate environmental risk factors for the occurrence of the disease in male cats. The investigation will be done from the direct application of questionnaires to tutors of male felines diagnosed with obstructive FLUTD that enter the emergency service of small animals' medical clinic in the nephrology and urology department of the FMVZ, Unesp, Botucatu. (AU)