POSITIONAL RADIOGRAPHY AS AN AID TO DIAGNOSE SAND-LIKE UROLITHS IN THE URINARY-BLADDER OF FELINE UROLOGIC SYNDROME CATS

An 8-year-old male domestic cat was presented with the complaint of chronic pollakiuria that was unresponsive to dietary and antibiotic therapy. The cat had been treated twice for urethral obstruction during the previous 2 years. Routine abdominal radiographs were unremarkable. A horizontal beam lateral radiograph, taken after the cat maintained an erect, vertical position for 5 minutes, showed that radiopaque struvite crystals had settled in the caudal area of the bladder. Urolith removal per cystotomy, special diet restrictions, and treatment with amoxicillin resulted in recovery. Positional radiography can be used to confirm the diagnosis of sand-like uroliths, and to evaluate the patient's response to treatment.