Study identifies possible treatment for cats with elevated potassium levels due to urinary obstructions

Urinary obstructions, common in cats, can be life-threatening. The blockage causes an increase in the cat’s potassium levels, potentially leading to cardiac arrest.

Now, findings published online on March 26 in JAVMA suggest a new and effective way to rapidly decrease potassium levels in cats.

Inhaled albuterol decreases whole blood potassium in under three minutes and exhibits peak effects 30 minutes after administration in cats, according to the study by researchers at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine in Glendale, Arizona, and Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

The research, led by veterinarian Dr. Jared Jaffey at Midwestern, involved 20 cats who were administered the inhaled drug via a mask over their muzzles. Blood potassium concentrations remained significantly decreased for three hours, the study found.

“Regardless of species, moderate-to-severe hyperkalemia [higher-than-normal potassium levels] can contribute to potentially life-threatening cardiac arrythmias,” the researchers noted. “Urinary tract disease is relatively common in cats, and decreased renal excretion of potassium in these conditions is the most common cause of hyperkalemia in cats.”

Obstruction of the urinary tract in cats can be caused by urinary tract stones, tumors, or blood clots, among other factors.

Inhaled albuterol would give clinicians a treatment option to reduce potassium levels prior to surgery or other interventions that is less expensive and more readily available than some existing methods.

The authors noted that the study involved only healthy cats, so the results cannot necessarily be directly extrapolated to cats with comorbidities. They recommended additional studies with larger sample populations comprised of both healthy and non-healthy cats to better understand the efficacy and safety of inhaled albuterol in decreasing potassium levels in cats.