Reducing Stress For Your Pet
Reducing stress for your pet can help prevent urinary tract infections from coming back or developing into a more serious condition.
Try these tips for reducing stress for your cat:
- Spend more time together.
- Give your feline friend access to windows or more toys.
- Regularly clean litter boxes or increase the number of available litter boxes.
Catching a urinary tract infection early can help ease the stress and discomfort for both you and your cat. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, please contact us.
What Are The Causes Of Flutd
Urolithiasis
One possible cause of FLUTD is the formation of urinary stones, also called uroliths, in the bladder and/or urethra. These are collections of minerals that form in the urinary tract of cats. X-rays or ultrasound are usually needed to diagnose urinary stones. The most commonly seen uroliths are calcium oxalate and struvite . While a special, stone-dissolving diet can be prescribed to dissolve struvite stones, calcium oxalate stones need to be removed surgically. If the diet fails, or if the stones form again, then surgery may also be necessary for struvite stones. In female cats, it may also be possible for a veterinarian to help a cat pass stones by flushing its bladder with sterile fluids or remove small stones directly from the bladder using a cystoscope when the cat is under anesthesia. A veterinarian may then recommend medication or dietary changes after surgery to help prevent recurrence.
Urinary infection
Infection of your cats urinary tract with bacteria, fungi, parasites or possibly even viruses can cause signs of FLUTD. Although bacterial infections are more common than fungal, parasitic or viral infections, they are still relatively uncommon in cats. If an infection is found, your veterinarian will probably look for another disease or problem that may have put your cat at risk of infection. For example, uroliths and diabetes can increase the risk of urinary tract infection.
Urethral obstruction
Feline idiopathic cystitis
Other causes
Increase Vitamin C Intake
Some evidence shows that increasing your intake of vitamin C could protect against urinary tract infections.
Vitamin C is thought to work by increasing the acidity of the urine, thereby killing off the bacteria that cause infection .
An older 2007 study of UTIs in pregnant women looked at the effects of taking 100 mg of vitamin C every day .
The study found that vitamin C had a protective effect, cutting the risk of UTIs by more than half in those taking vitamin C, compared with the control group .
Fruits and vegetables are especially high in vitamin C and are a good way to increase your intake.
Red peppers, oranges, grapefruit, and kiwifruit all contain the full recommended amount of vitamin C in just one serving .
Despite these studies, there is still more research needed to prove the effectiveness of vitamin C for reducing UTIs. .
SUMMARY
Increasing vitamin C intake may decrease the risk of UTIs by making the urine more acidic, thus killing off infection-causing bacteria.
Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice is one of the most well-known natural remedies for urinary tract infections.
Cranberries work by preventing bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract, thus preventing infection .
In a 2016 study, women with recent histories of UTIs drank an 8-ounce serving of cranberry juice every day for 24 weeks. Those who drank cranberry juice had fewer UTI episodes than the control group .
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Diagnosis And Treatment Of Urinary Tract Infections In Cats
When you take your cat to the veterinarian, they will perform a complete medical examination, including palpitating the bladder to check if it is full. They will then generally perform some diagnostic tests to test your pets urine. An x-ray or ultrasound may also be used to evaluate the urinary tract.
Urine analysis will look for the presence of bacteria, red blood cells, white blood cells and urinary crystals. A sample of urine will be collected by cystocentesis, which involves inserting a fine needle through the abdominal wall and into the bladder.
How To Treat Your Cats Urinary Tract Infection
If only our cats could speak to us and tell us if they had a urinary tract infection
Today were going to go over how to treat your cats urinary tract infection. Cats are fur babies, plain and simple. They are members of our households and, yes, members of our families. When they are sick or in pain, we want to do everything we can to make them better. If only they could just tell us what was wrong, right? Since they cant express their symptoms, we have to observe, spend time at the vet , and play trial-and-error to figure out whats wrong. UTIs, or urinary tract infections, can be one of the hardest things to pin down for a sick cat, since the early signs are often very subtle. But it is important to accurately diagnose a UTI, since it can turn into a bigger, much worse infection if left untreated.
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Cranberries For Cats Uti
Cranberries are famous for being a good treatment for UTI in humans but can cranberries alleviate the pains of urinary tract infection in cats?
Fortunately, yes. Cranberries are acidic, and therefore, help lower the pH of a cats urine which is not only good treatment for UTI but also stops the recurrence of UTI in cats.
Instead of giving your cat cranberry juice, it is advised that you add some powdered cranberry pills to their food as juice would be loaded with sugar.
Be careful while giving cranberry to your cat. You should always check the pH of your cats urine before giving her cranberries. Only give them if they have UTI, and their urine is alkaline. Otherwise, acidic cranberries would exacerbate the situation.
Bone Broth For Cats Uti
Where lowering of pH and strengthening of the linings of the urinary bladder is helpful, cats also need to stay hydrated to push back UTI. If the cat seems not to be interested in water, you can give her fluids like bone broth, which will not only help her stay hydrated but would also provide necessary nutrients and minerals. Amino acids present in bone broth helps in the reduction of inflammation.
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How To Prevent Cat Utis
Ensure adequate hydration
This can be done with a switch to a higher moisture diet like canned food, homemade diets, or raw diets that naturally have more moisture content than a kibble diet.
Other ways to help include getting a water fountain, adding tuna water or broth to the food, or even just adding plain water to canned or raw food diets.
Use canned cat food or a raw food diet
Changing your cat to a species-appropriate diet is essential to fixing the problem since food tends to be the root cause of the problem.
Remember high carb diets tend to cause the urine pH to raise, leading to crystal and stone formation.
Reduce stress
Stress causes inflammation in the body long-term if its not managed.
Simple ways to reduce stress for cats are to make sure they have a quiet room to themselves away from the noise and activity of the rest of the household.
In this space, make sure they have a place to hide if needed, comfortable bedding, scratching post, water, and a litter tray if needed.
Also, make sure you have enough litter trays in the household. Ideally, you want 1 + the number of cats that you have.
For example, if you have 2 cats, youll want 3 litter trays. And make sure to clean them every day since cats can stop using them if they are not clean enough.
If your cat is prone to stress cystitis, make sure to get calming products for them.
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Prevention Key : High
A dry diet leads to chronic dehydration and is consistently linked to the development of urinary tract disease.
Any canned, raw, or fresh homemade food is an ideal choice for your cats continued urinary tract health. Dont think that you need food thats specially formulated for urinary health. Anything wet, from Friskies to Frankenprey, is a great choice.
If youre short on time and want a high-quality cat food that has all the nutritional integrity and moisture content of homemade cooked food,try NomNomNow. Its delivered fresh to your door according to a regular schedule, so youll always have enough cat food.
If you order NomNomNow through this link, well receive a commission, and youll get 30% off your first order. This helps us to continue creating content like this, spreading the word about radically natural nutrition and a healthy, adventurous lifestyle. Thank you for your support!
Heres our article on the best wet cat foods for urinary health.
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Cat Utis Vs Other Urinary Disorders
One important thing to note about cat UTIs is that theyre relatively uncommon, but unfortunately, other urinary disorders are pretty common. If you suspect your cat has a UTI, talk to your veterinarian right away because it could be another urinary issue.
One of the most common urinary issues that plague our kitties is urinary crystals. There are two types of crystals, struvite and oxalate. Both of these crystals are caused when there is an imbalance in a cats urinary pH. These tiny, microscopic crystals can irritate the inside of the bladder and urethra, making it difficult for your cat to urinate. These urinary issues can lead to serious medical conditions such as kidney stones or urinary blockage, or bladder stones in cats, which can be fatal.
Another urinary issue in addition to a feline UTI is feline idiopathic cystitis or FIC. FIC presents itself in a similar way as a urinary crystal or a UTI, but there is no root cause of the problem. Vets agree that some common causes could be stress, dehydration, a small urethra, or inflammation in the bladder, but there’s no way to know for sure without ruling out other causes . This urinary issue can also become extremely serious if your kitty is unable to urinate.
How To Prevent Your Cat From Getting Utis
If your cat has had more than one urinary tract infection, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about prevention strategies. In general, these involve changing your cats diet and certain supplements that may help strengthen the bladder wall. Of course, its also important to ensure that your cat always has access to fresh, clean water, and a clean litter box.
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Diagnosing Uti’s In Cats
If a cat owner is observing symptoms of a urinary tract infection in their cat they should schedule a visit with their cat’s veterinarian. A urine sample will need to be collected either by the owner at home with the use of special, non-absorbent litter or by the veterinarian. The veterinarian may temporarily keep the cat in the animal hospital until it urinates on its own in some non-absorbable litter or the urine may be obtained by cystocentesis. Cystocentesis is a quick and non-invasive technique to obtain a urine sample through the use of a needle and syringe. Some veterinarians prefer obtaining urine by cystocentesis while others prefer to allow a cat to provide a sample naturally.
Once urine is obtained a urinalysis will be performed. This type of test checks the urine for bacteria, crystals, blood, parasites, abnormal pH levels, abnormal specific gravity levels, glucose, and other things to aid the veterinarian in making a diagnosis. If bacteria is present in the urinalysis a urinary tract infection is diagnosed. Sometimes a urine culture must also be performed to see exactly what type of bacteria is in the infection in order to choose a specific antibiotic.
Cat Urinary Tract Infection
Cat urinary tract infections are rare compared to the occurrence of UTIs in dogs, nonetheless older cats often experience a host of other urinary tract issues that cause similar symptoms. Today our vets in Somerset County NJ share the symptoms, causes and treatments for urinary tract infections and diseases in cats.
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Where To Purchase Cbd Oil For Your Cats Uti Symptoms
If youre looking to buy CBD oil for your cat, you have looked in the right direction. At Innovet, we offer nothing but all-natural products. Our CBD oil for cats with UTIs is proven effective. Talk about a must-have! Look no further than our tried-and-true CBD oil. You wont be disappointed and your cat will thank you. If you have any questions about our products, or would like to contact us for any reason, wed love to hear from you!
Natural Remedies For A Cat With A Uti
Urinary tract infections are a common occurrence in cats. Worse still, research has found that urinary tract infections are a major reason why cats are abandoned at animal shelters. This is often the case when the infection is misdiagnosed as the cat acting out and when the infection is not cured , it is common for the cat to be euthanized. For this reason, it is critical to know the symptoms of UTIs and how to treat them. The good news is there are plenty of natural remedies for cat UTIs.
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Bladder Stones In Cats
Bladder stones are rock-like formations of minerals that develop in the urinary bladder. All stones form because of disease or inflammation in the bladder. The most common signs of bladder stones in the cat are blood in the urine and straining to urinate. Large stones may act almost like a valve, causing an “on-off” or partial obstruction at the neck of the bladder. In males, small stones become lodged in the urethra and cause an obstruction. X-rays or ultrasound may be necessary for diagnosis. The fastest way to remove bladder stones is via a surgical procedure called a cystotomy. Special diets or passing a catheter may be successful for some bladder stones. Your veterinarian will advise you of the best course of action for your cats particular situation.
How And Why Urinary Tract Infections Occur
UTIs can develop in any pet. A common reason they develop in cats is because of poorly balanced diets or environmental factors such as stress. Some cats are naturally predisposed to UTIs, like older female cats or cats with diabetes. With pets who get UTIs more frequently, youll notice the symptoms sooner and become accustomed to the treatments that work well, but UTIs should always be taken seriously.
While your cat cant tell you what they feel, common physical symptoms of a UTI include fever, backache, painful and frequent urination, and lethargy. Causes could be related to diet, but may also include immunological deficiency or fungal or protozoan infections. Other causes could be bladder stones, injuries, or tumors.
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Prevention Key : Invest In A Water Fountain
If your cat refuses to drink from their water bowl, theyre only trusting their natural instincts. In addition to providing more water through their food, you can hack those instincts by making their water more appealing.
We recommend using a cat water fountain instead of a bowl of still water. Thanks to constant aeration, moving water in a fountain smells, looks, and usually is cleaner and fresher than water in a bowl. Besides appealing to your cats need for non-stagnant drinking water, the movement of the water flowing and bubbling taps into their naturally adventurous spirit.
We recommend this cat water fountain from Miaustore.
With 8 different drinking areas, including 4 easy-flowing bodies of water, 3 mini waterfalls, and a bubbling spring, the fountain appeals to various feline personalities and drinking preferences. The European-made fountain is built from ceramic which is more hygienic than plastic. Its also dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
You CAN treat your cats UTI and other forms of FLUTD at home.
Apple cider vinegar, stress reduction, bone broth, and D-mannose can all help to fix the problem. A high-moisture diet and a water fountain will help you make sure it never happens again.
If your cat has a urinary blockage, however, you need to get your cat to a veterinarian. Urethral blockages are ticking bombs and, if they dont clear within 24 hours, may cause your cats bladder to burst. Only a vet can help you with that.
Cat Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
The vet will suggest the best course of treatment for your feline friend. Depending on the signs exhibited by your cat, the vet may perform a urinalysis. If the vet suspects a urinary tract infection in your cat, the vet will prescribe a common antibiotic to ease your kittys pain, even before getting the results of urinalysis from the lab.
If the culprit is some bacteria, the vet will prescribe the specific cat urinary tract infection antibiotics. You will have to give it to your cat as instructed by the vet. Otherwise, you will only be killing some bacteria, leaving others to grow and multiply. Only your vet could tell how long you will have to give antibiotics to your cat.
Never leave the antibiotic treatment in the middle, even if your cat seems to be perfectly finenot showing any signs of UTI. Unfinished antibiotic rounds give bacteria a chance to return with more strength, developing antibiotic resistance.
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What Can I Do At Home With Natural Remedies For Cat Urinary Tract Infections
There are many natural at-home treatments for a cat UTI, but the first area that must be addressed is diet.
Best cat diet
As previously discussed, the urine pH is directly affected by what youre feeding your cat.
If your cat is on a dry kibble diet, its important to start transitioning to at least a canned food diet. High carb diets cause an increase in urine pH which can lead to struvite crystals forming.
Also, cats are not great water drinkers, and its important to increase the moisture content in their food. This helps dilute the urine and flush the kidneys and bladder, helping to prevent bacterial UTIs and crystals in the urine.
Other diets that are optimal for cats that are an obligate carnivore include freeze-dried or even raw diets.
Many pet parents are worried about feeding a raw diet so make sure to start slow or reach out if you need additional help and guidance.
Remember, when changing your cats diet, many cats have developed a preference for eating dry food and can be stubborn to change.
Also, we need to adjust the type of beneficial bacteria in their gut microbiome to help reduce the risk of GI upset. This is why starting with a slow transition over 2 weeks can help reduce any unwanted GI effects, but some cats may take longer, especially if theyre addicted to kibble.
Patience is key.
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