Medicine For Uti In Cats

What Are Cat Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

Symptoms of urinary tract infections in cats can be similar whether they have sterile cystitis or they have a bacterial infection.

Common signs of a cat bladder infection or cystitis include:

• Frequently urinating

If youre seeing any of these signs in your cat, you need to take them to your veterinarian for an examination and additional diagnostics.

Bacterial Growth And Susceptibility Testing

Bacterial growth was observed in 5 of 20 urine samples of female cats and in 11 of 41 samples of male cats . Three in five cats with bacterial LUTI were 1 year old or younger, 9/38 27 years old and 4/18 8 years old or older . In this study, no significant difference was found between female and male cats with bacterial LUTI . The differences among age groups were also not significant .

Antimicrobial susceptibility tests results showed that 13 of 16 isolates were susceptible to cefovecin. E. avium and S. epidermidis isolates were resistant and Arcanobacterium renale isolate was intermediate.

How To Prevent Cat Urinary Tract Infections

There is always a chance, and sometimes a good chance, that your cat’s UTI or other lower urinary tract problem will recur. Some recommendations to help prevent recurrences of UTIs and other issues are relatively inexpensive. You can start by taking steps to keep your cat healthy. In addition, your veterinarian may suggest some options like these:

Adjust your cat’s diet. Feed measured, high-quality meals on a regular basis and keep your cat at a healthy weight. With your vet’s recommendation, consider a change to a specialized diet for urinary conditions or a switch to wet food . Here are tips from the American Association of Feline Practitioners covering best practices for healthy feeding.

Manage your cat’s water. Keep bowls clean and fresh at all times. More water intake can lower urine concentration, making it more difficult for debris and microorganisms to clump and multiply. You may also consider getting a drinking fountain since many cats are drawn to flowing water.

Calm your cat. Avoid major changes in household routine, and watch for ways to reduce your cat’s stress and anxiety. Consider making some changes in your home to enrich your cat’s life. Learn more about your cats’ senses and ways veterinarians think cats get stressedwhich can manifest itself in the form of illness.

Talk to your vet about the best preventive care and UTI treatments for your cat.

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What Is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Feline lower urinary tract disease describes a variety of conditions that affect the bladder and urethra of cats. Cats with FLUTD most often show signs of difficulty and pain when urinating, increased frequency of urination, and blood in the urine. Cats with FLUTD also tend to lick themselves excessively and may urinate outside the litter box, often on cool, smooth surfaces like a tile floor or a bathtub.

While FLUTD can occur at any age, it is usually seen in middle-aged, overweight cats that get little exercise, use an indoor litter box, have little or no outdoor access, or eat a dry diet. Factors such as emotional or environment stress, multi-cat households, and abrupt changes in daily routine may also increase the risk that a cat will develop FLUTD.

Major signs of feline lower urinary tract disease include:

• Straining to urinate
• Frequent and/or prolonged attempts to urinate
• Crying out while urinating
• Excessive licking of the genital area
• Urinating outside the litter box
• Blood in the urine

Note that cats with a urethral obstruction will also show these signs but will pass little or no urine and become increasingly distressed. Urethral obstruction is seen more often in males than female cats due their longer, narrow urethra. A urethral obstruction is an emergency and requires immediate veterinary treatment.

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S To Prevent Urinary Tract Disease

Maintaining your cats urinary health is not an easy task. Urinary tract infections are one of the leading causes of feline death and they can happen to any cat. The following steps will help you prevent UTIs.

• Give Your Cat More Water
• Change Your Cats Diet
• Reduce Environmental Stress
• Use Advanced and Quality Litter Box

How To Treat A Cats Uti

This article was co-authored by Lauren Baker, DVM, PhD. Dr. Baker is a Veterinarian and PhD candidate in Comparative Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Baker received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin in 2016, and went on to pursue a PhD through her work in the Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory.There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 72,717 times.

UTI stands for urinary tract infection, an infection which can occur in felines as well as humans. Treating a UTI without the use of antibiotics is difficult, if not impossible. If you try to clear an infection and only partially succeed, you run the risk of suppressing the symptoms, whilst bacteria are still present. This could lead to a long-term infection that could potentially damage your cats health. A low grade urinary infection is a ticking time bomb, because the bacteria could travel up to the kidney and cause a more serious infection. When possible, always seek veterinary attention and an appropriate course of antibiotics.

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When To See A Vet

These at-home treatments and remedies may be effective for clearing up minor infections, but more serious infections need to be treated by a professional animal doctor.

If your cat is experiencing mild or moderate symptoms, you can try these remedies to relieve their symptoms. If their symptoms show no sign of improvement in a few days, talk to a veterinarian. If your cat seems to be in pain or is unable to pass urine, see a vet immediately. This could be a sign of urethral obstruction, which can be fatal if not treated within 24 to 48 hours.

A vet may be able to prescribe antibiotics to target the harmful bacteria. Be sure to give your cat the full dose of prescribed antibiotics to prevent the UTI from returning or becoming resistant to treatment.

Even if youre pursuing professional treatment, these remedies can be effectively used alongside antibiotics to strengthen the bladder and balance your cats pH levels. Some can also be used as a daily supplement to prevent the UTI from coming back.

Signs Of A Uti In Cats

The most common symptoms of a urinary issue in cats include:

• Frequent trips to the litter box. A cat might produce just a small amount of urine each time.

• Urinating outside the litter box, often on cool, smooth surfaces like tile floors, the bathtub, or a sink.

• Straining, pain, or vocalization during urination. Sometimes, pet owners mistake the straining for constipation rather than a urinary issue.

• Blood or a pink hue in the urine.

• Excessive licking of the genital area.

• General symptoms of feeling unwell or changes in behavior.

Cats with urinary conditions wont necessarily show ALL of these symptoms. Cats are good at hiding symptoms of illness, especially in the early stages.

So, a kitty may show just one or two of these symptoms. Or they may show a behavior not listed here.

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When To Contact Your Vet

Contact your vet as soon as you notice a change in your cats peeing habits, and if possible, take a urine sample to the appointment. Check out our video below on how to take a urine sample from your cat.

Without treatment, a UTI can lead to serious illness. blocked bladder, which is a life threatening condition.

Treatment given for a UTI depends on its cause, but is likely to include:

• Pain relief. Anti-inflammatory pain relief is excellent at soothing bladder pain and inflammation.
• Bladder supplements. Bladder supplements are designed to soothe the lining of the bladder, although, there is no solid evidence to prove that they work.
• Antibiotics. A short course of antibiotics is usually an effective cure for a UTI. Its very important to follow your vets instructions and complete the full course. If you stop your cats antibiotics early, it could mean some of the remaining strongest remaining bacteria survive and a more severe infection will develop.

My Veterinarian Sent A Sample Of Urine To A Laboratory For What She Called A Culture And Sensitivity Test What Is This

All urinary tract infections are NOT created equal! Even though the most common organism to cause UTIs in cats is Escherichia coli , there are several other organisms that may be involved. The only way to identify which specific bacteria is causing the UTI, is to grow it in a laboratory. At the same time, the laboratory can also test which antibiotic is best suited to treat the infection.

“The only way to identify which specific bacteria is causing the UTI, is to grow it in a laboratory.”

Often, a veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic that is among the most commonly used for treating UTIs in order to try to provide immediate relief to the cat. They may also prescribe pain medications , and may recommend a diet change.

Once the culture and sensitivity results are received, an appropriate antibiotic will be prescribed. After the course of antibiotics is given, it is important to recheck the urinalysis to confirm that the infection is resolved. If it is not, then it will be important to look for other issues that may contribute to a persistent UTI.

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Male Cat Urinary Blockages: Causes Symptoms & Treatment

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Male cat urinary blockage is extremely common, especially among neutered male cats therefore, itâs critical for pet parents to know the signs of the condition. The sooner a cat receives proper treatment, the more likely they are to have a healthy recovery.

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Diagnostic Tests To Rule Out Cat Uti

A urinalysis must be done as the first step for ruling out whether your cat has a bacterial infection thats causing the urinary symptoms like commonly peeing outside the litter box.

You should never just put your cat on an antibiotic since stress cystitis is the number one reason for cat urinary problems.

Other diagnostic tests your veterinarian may recommend include bladder ultrasound to rule out sludge and bladder stones, an abdominal radiograph to rule out bladder and kidney stones, and a urine culture.

A urine culture is very helpful to make sure the right antibiotics are used if your cat has bacteria in its urine on the urinalysis. Antibiotic resistance is, unfortunately, becoming a bigger issue and many commonly used antibiotics are not working as well.

Doing this test will speed up treatment and help your cat feel better, usually meaning less vet visits and expenses in the long term.

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How Do You Know If The Cat Uti Treatment Is Working

The easiest way to tell if the cat UTI treatment is working is to monitor its symptoms. Symptoms of UTI include urination outside the litter box, straining to urinate, excessive licking of the genital area, and urinating only small amounts.

Another way to tell if a cat UTI treatment is working is through a urinalysis which is an examination of a urine sample that tells the pH, specific gravity, presence of blood & protein, and concentration of glucose and ketones.

Before, conducting a urinalysis, the vet will perform a physical exam to check your cats health and make a better assessment of the treatments efficacy.

Is Prazosin Safe For Cats

While prazosin is a human medication used off-label and there are limited safety studies available, it is typically appreciated to be safe to use in cats at commonly prescribed doses.

The 2017 study in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care found no significant side effects in about 50 cats when prescribed 0.25mg every 12 hours for one month.

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Diagnosing Utis In Cats

If a cat owner is observing symptoms of a urinary tract infection in their cat they should schedule a visit with their cats 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.

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How Do Veterinarians Diagnose A Cat Uti

To diagnose a cat UTI, the vet will start with a general physical exam and then focus on the cats symptoms. The vet will ask questions to gather as much information as possible.

Once it is suspected that a cat may have a UTI, the vet will collect a urine samplefor a urinalysis and urine culture. Other diagnostic tests the vet may recommend are abdominal ultrasound and x-rays.

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Treating Urinary Tract Infections In Cats

If you see warning signs of a urinary tract infection in your cat, itâs important to contact a veterinarian. The vet will do a physical exam and likely collect a urine sample for urinalysis. If a UTI is the prime suspect, your vet may prescribe antibiotics even before receiving results from your catâs urine test.

With a vetâs diagnosis in hand, you still play a crucial part in helping treat your cat at home. If your vet has prescribed an antibiotic, youâll need to make sure to give all the medicine for as long as recommended.

âIf your cat is diagnosed with a bacterial condition, it is imperative that you give the medication exactly as instructed,â says Kathryn Primm, DVM at Applebrook Animal Hospital in Ooltewah, Tennessee. âOtherwise, you risk only killing the part of the bacteria that are most susceptible to the drug and leaving the others to reproduce.â

How long your cat is on antibiotics for a UTI is best determined by your vet. If youâre having trouble giving your cat the medicine, let the vet know. Pills or liquids are options, but an unfinished round of antibiotics may give the bacteria a chance to return, and stronger bacteria can also lead to new drug-resistant strains that harm humans and pets.

Urinary issues can be complex, and each cat is different. A trusting relationship with your veterinarian is your very best tool to manage urinary disease in cats.

Antechs Rapid Urine Culture

According to Michelle Frye, DVM, SM, owner of Echo Lane Animal Clinic, in Houston, Texas, veterinarians must gather a detailed history report from pet owners. She recommends asking questions about the duration, the frequency and location of the accidents, and urine color.

If its a suspected UTI, the next step begins with Antechs FIRSTract test, the first reference laboratory automated assay for quick urine culture, delivering accurate and reliable results within hours.11

FIRSTract utilizes 500 µL of urine inoculated into a proprietary culture broth optimized for aerobic bacterial pathogen growth and incubated in a controlled and fully automated setting. During the incubation process, the samples are temperature-controlled and continuously mixed, minimizing sedimentation, flotation, and growth abnormalities typical of several microorganisms. Interference from erythrocytes, leukocytes, and dead cells is minimized by obtaining an initial baseline reading of turbidity. Light scatter is measured and assessed from the sample turbidity of the inoculated broth. Measurements are taken every 5 minutes and continually monitored for an exponential increase in turbidity that is consistent with the presence of any viable bacteria replicating in the patient urine sample.

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