Holistic Pets

With the high cost of veterinary care these days, many cat owners are interested in what they can do to prevent the expense and stress of painful cat urinary problems.  Here are some things you can do at home to prevent cat urinary tract infection, or cat UTI.

What’s The Most Common Cause Of Cat Urinary Tract Infection?

Cat bladder stones are at the root of many feline urinary problems, from a cat blockage, to feline cystitis.  Stones in your cat’s bladder can block his urethra, causing a complete cat urinary blockage that will be fatal within a couple of days if left untreated. 

The sharp edges of feline bladder stones can also irritate and inflame the walls of your cat’s bladder, leading to cat bladder infection. 

How Can Cat Bladder Stones Be Prevented?

Diet is the most important factor in the development of feline bladder stones.  Most cat owners don’t realize that by feeding their cats dry food, they’re setting them up for feline urinary problems.  Why is this?

It’s because cats are meant to get most of their water from their food.  You may have noticed that your cat doesn’t drink much water, and this is why.  It’s difficult for a cat that eats only dry food to drink enough water to prevent feline bladder problems.  When a cat isn’t drinking enough water, his urine is very concentrated. 

This is bad for two reasons.  First, toxins and excess minerals are not being flushed out of your cat’s body.  The second reason is that the minerals can begin to clump together to form cat bladder stones.  When this happens, a cat urinary blockage usually isn’t far off.

It’s a known fact that by increasing the amount of water going through your cat, you can decrease the incidence of cat UTI.

Feeding Canned Cat Food Can Prevent Feline Cystitis

Canned cat food has a moisture level of around 75%, which is much higher than dry food, with a moisture level of less than 10%.  Just by changing your cat’s diet, you can prevent many cat urinary problems.

You’ll also want to make sure your cat always has access to lots of pure, clean, water.  It can often be a challenge to get your cat to drink enough water.  Sometimes adding a little chicken broth to his food will make him thirsty enough to drink more. 

Cats usually drink water after they eat, so by dividing his daily food portion up and feeding him two or three times a day instead of once a day, you may encourage him to increase his water consumption.

Natural Pet Remedies For Feline Urinary Support

Many pet owners are turning to natural pet remedies to prevent and treat minor cat urinary tract infection.  Homeopathic remedies like Cantharis and Staphysagris help to reduce the pain and inflammation of a cat bladder infection.  Herbs like uva ursi and barberry have antibiotic-like properties, and are effective against common bacteria that cause feline bladder infection. 

To find a remedy that’s safe and effective for your cat, be sure to look for one that’s formulated especially for pets so he’ll receive the proper dosage. 

To sum up, cat urinary problems can often be prevented with the proper diet, and adequate water intake.  Remember that it’s easier, and more cost-effective, to prevent feline cystitis than it is to treat it.

Are you concerned about feline lower urinary tract disease?  All cat owners should be aware of cat urinary health issues to prevent their cats from becoming victims of this common feline problem. 

What Cat Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms Should You Be Aware Of?

Sometimes the most obvious symptom is that your cat is urinating outside the litter box.  As wonderful as cats are, they don’t have advanced powers of reasoning.  If your cat is hurting every time he uses the litter pan, he thinks that somehow the litter pan is causing his pain.  In his little kitty mind, if he urinates someplace else, it won’t hurt when he goes. 

Of course, we humans know it doesn’t work that way.  But if your cat suddenly stops using his litter box, it may not be a behavior issue.  It could be one of several cat urinary tract infection symptoms.

If you use clumping cat litter, be observant of the size of the clumps when you scoop or change his litter.  You should see a few large clumps.  A whole bunch of little clumps indicates that he can’t pass much urine at one time.  This is another symptom of feline urinary problems.

Bloody urine is another clue to watch for.  It’s a little harder to see in cats than it is in dogs.  However, if your cat is urinating outside his box, you may be more apt to notice it.

Be aware of your cat’s behavior in his litter box.  Is he crying out in pain when he tries to urinate?  Is he straining to pass urine?  Often cat owners mistake this for constipation. 

Your cat should be using his litter box several times a day.  If he is urinating less and less, or stops completely, he may have a cat urinary blockage, which is a veterinary emergency.

Treatments For FLUTD

In order to treat feline lower urinary tract disease, your vet will need to run several tests to find out what’s going on with your cat.  A urinalysis is necessary to determine if your cat has a bladder infection, or if he has feline bladder stones.  A cat urine culture will tell your vet which bacteria are causing the problem, and a sensitivity test indicates which antibiotic will work best.

If your cat has a feline bladder infection, antibiotics are the usual course of treatment.  Bladder stones in cats are a common problem, too.  Your cat may have to eat a special diet so the stones can dissolve.  If your cat is blocked, he may need to be catheterized. 

Can FLUTD Be Prevented?

You can prevent your cat from becoming a statistic by taking these easy steps. 

First, feed your cat a high-quality canned food.  In the wild, cats are meant to get their water from their food, which is why cats don’t seem to drink much water.  When we take our cats out of a natural situation and feed them an unnatural diet of dry food with an extremely low moisture content, we’re setting them up for urinary tract infection symptoms. 

Canned cat food has a moisture level of about 75%, which is much closer to a cat’s natural diet.  If your cat has always been fed dry food, he may resist a change in his diet.  Cats are notoriously resistant to change, but with patience, time, and persistence, you can switch him over to canned food.

A steady supply of clean, fresh water is a must, too.

Consider giving your feline friend a natural cat uti remedy that supports bladder health.  Look for a remedy that’s made especially for cats.  You’ll want to deal only with a company with a sterling reputation for producing only the highest quality pet remedies.

Don’t let your cat become a victim of FLUTD.  Start taking steps now to protect your cat from feline lower urinary tract disease.

Whether you want to believe it or not, cat urinary blockage is considered a veterinary emergency. Urinary blockage can become fatal if it’s not treated timely.

Symptoms of a blockage in cat include straining to urinate, blood in the urine, frequent urination with only drops of urine coming out each time, and a total cessation of urination. If you notice any of these symptoms, the first thing you need to do is take your cat to the vet.

Common Causes of Cat Urinary Blockage

Some common causes of blockages include an accumulation of bladder stones, mucous, or crystals. Male cats have long, narrow urethras so they are far more susceptible to blockages than female cats.

Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between a urinary infection and a blockage because the symptoms are so similar. The symptoms of a blockage in cat can be told apart by feeling your cat’s abdomen. If his abdomen is distended and there is a hard formation there (probably about the size of a peach), you will know that a blockage is what is causing the problem.

A normal bladder feels more like a partially filled water balloon while the bladder of a cat suffering from an infection but no blockage feels small or empty. If you have any doubt, take your cat to see a vet. Your vet will be able to examine your cat properly and figure out exactly what the problem is.

Even leaving a cat urinary blockage untreated for 3-6 days can be fatal, making it especially important to seek early treatment. Even a partial blockage can be serious so the same type of treatment will most likely be necessary.

Treatment Options for Urinary Blockage in Cats

The most important and essential step to alleviate symptoms of a blockage in cat is to remove the blockage itself. This may require your cat to be hospitalized for a few days.

Typically a urinary catheter will be placed in your cat’s urethral opening through the obstruction. Sometimes a solution may be injected into the bladder through the catheter in order to dissolve the obstruction.

If the obstruction is very large, emergency surgery may be necessary. The most important part of treating your cat comes after surgery. Cat urinary blockage is notorious for recurring. That’s why it’s essential to make preventive treatment a part of your cat’s regular routine.

Preventive measures should promote optimal urine flow and bladder functioning. The best way to do this is by giving your cat a homeopathic remedy. Homeopathic remedies will prevent obstructions from forming because they contain natural urinary tonics that increase the flow of urine and keep the bladder and urinary tract functioning well.

Best of all, homeopathic remedies don’t cause any side effects. They can be given to your cat on a daily basis without worry of side effects. This is because homeopathy only uses small amounts of natural ingredients. These small amounts assist your cat in healing naturally and staying healthy.

Get out there and find a good homeopathic remedy for your cat so cat urinary blockage never becomes a problem again. Not only is it scary and life threatening, but a cat urinary blockage can cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving your cat a homeopathic remedy instead.

If you’re like most people these days, you’re trying to find ways to prevent cat urinary problems, and make your money go farther at the same time.  Here are five cost-effective ways to promote cat urinary health and avoid cat bladder infection at the same time.

Regular Vet Check-Ups Save Money In The Long Run

If you think a cat urinary tract infection may be a problem, take your kitty to the vet right away.  Delaying treatment can lead to costly, life-threatening complications like a cat urinary blockage.

Many conditions related to cat urinary problems are much less expensive to treat when they’re caught early.

Don’t Scrimp On Your Cat’s Diet

An excellent diet is the basis of good health for your cat.  Remember the old saying, “garbage in, garbage out”?  This is true for your kitty, too.  If you feed your cat a low-quality cheap food that’s full of fillers and artificial coloring and preservatives, he’ll be more likely to develop expensive, complicated health problems, including cat bladder infection and cat bladder stones later on in his life. 

A high-quality canned food is the best insurance against feline urinary problems because of its high moisture content.

Prevent Cat Urinary Problems By Providing Lots Of Water

A proven way to prevent feline urinary tract infections is to increase the amount of water going through your cat.  The more water your cat drinks, the less concentrated his urine will be.  Concentrated urine increases the chances of him developing feline lower urinary tract disease, which includes problems like cat bladder stones, cat urinary blockage, and feline cystitis. 

Cut costs by avoiding bottled water and using an in-home water filter system to provide your cat with lots of pure, clean water.  Your cat may also drink more water if you divide his daily food allowance into three portions and feed him three times a day. 

Reduce Cat Stress To Promote Cat Urinary Health

Stress in cats has also been linked to feline idiopathic cystitis.  This condition is an inflammation of your cat’s bladder that doesn’t appear to have any cause.

You may wonder what your cat has to be stressed about, but cat stress is more common than you would think.  Cats don’t care for change at all, and anything that changes the status quo can upset them.  If you’ve recently moved, or someone has entered or left the household, watch for signs of stress. 

Regular Exercise Will Keep Your Cat Healthy

We often neglect exercise, but it’s very important for keeping your kitty healthy.  Regular exercise will keep her in shape, as well as using excess energy, and relieving stress.

Using Natural Pet Remedies For Feline Urinary Support

Herbal and homeopathic remedies are important for feline urinary support.  Look for a remedy containing the herbal remedies uva ursi and barberry, and the homeopathic remedies Cantharis and Staphysagris.  These natural pet remedies have a long track record for treating cat urinary tract infections. 

When you purchase your cat’s remedy, you’ll want to do business with an established company that has a long history of providing safe, effective remedies formulated especially for pets.  Save money by dealing with a company that offers “buy two, get one free” specials.

Now that you’re armed with this information, you know how to promote cat urinary health and save money at the same time.

If you have a dog with urinary tract infections, then you’re probably at your wit’s end. You’re tired of vet bills and you can’t bear your dog’s suffering. In this article, you’ll learn about three simple lifestyle changes that can rid your dog of this problem once and for all.

Certain dogs are prone to urinary problems and should be put on a preventative program. Since these steps are practical, you can make them part of your dog’s daily routine with little effort on your part. These tips work for a dog with urinary incontinence as well as a dog that suffers from chronic infections. They also work for aging dogs, dogs that are prone to UTI’s and female dogs that tend to have issues because they were spayed prematurely.

The first step is helping a dog with urinary tract infections is to take a look at the kibble that you’ve been feeding him. Many of the manufacturers of commercial brands that advertise heavily are little more than junk food. Instead of containing meat, vegetables and healthy grains, they contain meat byproducts, fillers dyes, preservatives, other chemicals. Just like humans, a dog cannot achieve good health on a junk food diet or heal from a chronic problem. Worse yet, the chemicals in this junk food kibble alters the pH of the bladder, setting the stage for infections and bladder stones.

Next, on the list for a dog with urinary incontinence is water. Like us, dogs require lots of it. Don’t give your pet water from the hose or tap because it is full of the chemicals that the city uses to treat the water. Instead, invest in a tap filter, so you and your dog can enjoy the fresh taste and health benefits that come from drinking clean, chemical-free water. Just like the chemicals in junk food kibble, the chemicals in water can adversely affect pH levels in the bladder.

If you have a dog with urinary tract infections that seem to occur with regularity, then you need to get your dog on a treatment plan. Stay away from antibiotics because using them may have contributed to the problem in the first place. One reason that antibiotics do not work is that the bacteria has become resistant to them. Another reason that many pet owners do not know is that antibiotics don’t actually get to the cause of the problem. Instead, they just curb the symptoms and wait for the body to heal itself. As you know, this doesn’t always happen. Worse yet, these drugs have side effects that can make your pet feel worse.

Rather than using antibiotics, consider what many pet owners who are conscious about their health and the well-being of their pets are doing: using a natural remedy instead. Natural remedies work for humans and are very effective for pets. In fact, that’s why if left free to roam, animals will chew on certain herbs and medicinal plants found in the wild because they work.

Natural remedies have many benefits: first, they have no side effects. Second, they work by quickly restoring the proper pH of the bladder so that bacteria dies and bladder crystals dissolve. Third, they reduce pain and inflammation, so your dog will stop being in pain. Fourth, they are effective enough to use for treatment, yet gentle enough for daily use for a dog with urinary tract infections that needs to be a preventative maintenance program.

Since all natural supplements are not the same, do some research. This is particularly important if you have a dog with urinary incontinence or a pet that suffers from recurring infections because you want your canine to get better once and for all. Look for a supplement with clinically proven ingredients including Berberis, Uva Ursi, Staphysagris and Cantharis. Also, look for a company that offers a full money back guarantee because this shows you a manufacturer that believes in and stands behind their product.

By following three simple steps: good food, fresh water and a natural remedy for treatment, prevention or both, your “dog with urinary tract infections” can be done with that label once and for all.

Cats can contract a urinary infection much more frequently than their owners would like to imagine. Most often, vets will conclude that the condition is idiopathic in nature, which is simply another way of saying they have no idea what might have caused it. As a result, a common symptom of feline urinary tract infection such as urinating outside the litter box are generally (and erroneously) assigned to behavioral causes, like stress.

The reality is that urinary tract infections in cats are more likely to be physiological rather than behavioral. The condition is one of a number of urinary problems, which can include obstruction in the urinary passage as well as bladder inflammation, more commonly knows as FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease). This is a very unpleasant and painful situation for the cat, as it will strain to urinate but cannot do so. If you’ve ever suffered from a UTI of your own, you’ll have some idea of what your poor kitty is going through. You can best help if you become familiar with the reasons behind the condition, and learn and follow some basic rules of care for your afflicted feline.

As a cat owner, you’ve probably noticed that your kitty usually does not spend a lot of time at the water bowl. This infrequent consumption of water is natural behavior for cats. They originated in arid, desert areas, and over time and through evolutionary changes learned to derive the necessary liquids to sustaining life from their food. The animals they preyed upon provided most of the fluids cats needed to maintain good health. There was little need to drink water from a separate source, and that instinct is still in operation today. Unfortunately, this reluctance to take in water is a major factor in the increased prevalence of feline urinary tract infection.

Your vet, of course, can determine a specific treatment based upon a review of the results of a urinalysis, among other avenues of investigation, but you can help keep your cat’s urinary tract in tip-top health, as well as cut down on vet bills, by putting into practice some proven methods of prevention.

1. Water is of primary importance.

Wash water bowls daily with clean, hot water. If you are using soap to clean them, make sure to rinse the bowl thoroughly as the chemicals in detergent can be harmful. Make finding water easy for your cat. Put a number of water bowls around the house, and make them big enough that your cat can drink from them without their whiskers touching the sides. If you are providing your cat with dry cat food, mix in a little water to moisten it. To make it even more attractive, try adding something tasty, such as chicken broth. If you can afford it, invest in a free flowing water drinking fountain. Cats love moving water and their curiosity may encourage them to imbibe.

2. Steer clear of feeding your cat foods with a high magnesium content, like beef, pork, heart and oily fish.

3. Choose natural foods over prescription diets, buying organic whenever you can. Check with your vet to be sure that the food you provide will produce urine with the correct pH level.

4. Adding a tablespoon of vinegar to the water once a day will keep the urine pH a little acidic, and helps prevent the formation of bladder stones. Bladder stones can often lead to urinary tract infections.

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Follow these basic rules of health and maintenance, and your cat will live a happier, healthier life free of feline urinary tract infections.

Has this ever happened to you?  You treat your dog for canine cystitis, but as soon as the medication is gone, the dog urinary tract infection is back.  Your dog is in pain, she’s piddling all over the house, and you’re frustrated.  Why is this happening?  You and your dog both need a solution to this problem.

What Causes Canine Cystitis?

Most urinary tract infections in dogs are caused by bacteria that are normally found in your dog’s digestive tract.  Female canines are more prone to developing a dog urinary tract infection because their urethras are short and broad, which makes it easier for bacteria to travel to the bladder.

With canine bladder stones, the question is, which came first, the stone or the infection?  Bladder stones in dogs irritate the bladder walls, which can cause a dog urinary tract infection.  But certain bladder infections in dogs cause bladder stones to develop, especially struvite stones in dogs.  The best bet is to try to avoid the problem in the first place.

Is There Any Way To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs?

You can help your canine friend in a number of ways:

She should have plenty of clean fresh water available.  A 60-pound dog can drink up to three quarts of water a day, which may be more than you would expect.

After drinking all that water, you dog needs to go outside to empty her bladder every few hours.  Don’t make her hold her urine for too long.

Boost your buddy’s immune system by feeding her a low-ph, high-quality natural diet with no artificial coloring or preservatives.

Take her for long walks.  Exercise is essential to keep her body in top shape.

Bathe her regularly to keep the bacteria away from her urethra.

What Causes Recurring Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs?

If the infection keeps coming back, it’s possible that your dog never got rid of it in the first place.  Your vet should do a urinalysis and a dog urine culture to identify which bacteria is causing the infection.  A sensitivity test is also necessary to decide which is the best antibiotic to use. 

Be sure to give your dog all of the antibiotic, no matter how much of a hassle it is.  Then have another urine culture done to be sure all the bacteria are gone.

Can Natural Remedies For Pets Prevent Cystitis In Dogs?

Yes, they can.  But it’s important to use a remedy that has been especially formulated for pets.  You’ll want a remedy that contains uva ursi, barberry, and the homeopathic remedies Cantharis and Staphysagria.  These treatments have stood the test of time in humans, and they’re very effective for dogs, too.

These remedies are safe to use right along with the antibiotic treatment.  They don’t interfere with the drugs in any way, and regular use  supports bladder health in your dog long after the antibiotic is gone. 

Deal only with a company that has been in business for a long time, and that has a great reputation for providing safe, effective high-quality products for pets.  Check for testimonials from other pet owners who have used the product you’re thinking of purchasing.

Now you can end the frustration of recurring bladder infections in dogs by using what you’ve learned here to keep your dog happy and healthy.