Feline Bladder Infections - Tips For Helping Your Cat
Long-time pet owners already know that feline bladder infections can be common.
This tendency toward repeated cat bladder infections seems to increase with the age of your cat.
As they get older, they have more of them, it seems.
The good news is that in most cases, feline bladder infections can be treated with medication and diet.
There is often some confusion when it comes to the terminology used when speaking of cat bladder infections.
One word that pops up often is cystitis.
In simple terms, this word means inflammation of the urinary tract, which includes the bladder itself.
You may also hear the term Feline Urologic Syndrome, or FUS.
When FUS is used in relation to feline bladder infections it is often used to describe that set of symptoms that include blood in the urine.
When tested, this bloody urine will show microscopic crystal formations.
It is these crystals that lead to bladder stones as time goes by.
As more and more crystals clump together, the core becomes larger.
At some point it becomes a bladder stone, and this is when the real problems begin to occur with cat bladder infections.
Infections can also be caused by different types of bacteria.
Through blood tests and urine tests, your vet can determine which type of bacteria is causing the problem and then prescribe the appropriate antibiotic.
Cat bladder infections of this type are always best treated when treated early.
Pet owners often see a common set of symptoms when cat bladder infections are forming.
For instance, owners will often notice pain or straining as the pet tries to void.
There may also be more frequent urination, and a change in the amount of urine that is discharged.
You may also notice blood in the urine or that it has a cloudy look to it.
Whenever you notice any of these conditions, a trip to the vet should be made as soon as possible.
Remember, all conditions that lead to cat bladder infections are best treated when treated early.
Feline bladder infections should not overly alarm pet owners.
They happen.
Your vet can give you important information that pertains to your particular set of circumstances, including diet options and supplements to help prevent future occurrences.
Antibiotics are effective at curing the condition.
The key is making sure that the bladder stays this way.
The key to helping your cat is to make sure that their urine does the job it is supposed to do, kill bacteria that can cause infection and flush crystals that can combine to form urinary tract blocking stones.
One of the easiest ways to help prevent the onset of cat bladder infections is to make sure your pet has plenty of clean, fresh water at all times.
This is especially important if you feed your pet dry food.
The more moisture your cat gets, the more he or she will urinate.
Since cats naturally get more of their water from food vs.
drinking water itself, canned food may provided the water your cat is missing.
Natural supplements can also be of help for helping with feline bladder infections.
Certain supplements such as Arctostaphylos uva ursi (helping to maintain the correct PH in the urine), Berberis vulgaris (known for its restorative effect on the bladder and urinary tract) and Cantharis are often recommended due to its ability to help maintain a healthy flow of urine and soothe the bladder.
This tendency toward repeated cat bladder infections seems to increase with the age of your cat.
As they get older, they have more of them, it seems.
The good news is that in most cases, feline bladder infections can be treated with medication and diet.
There is often some confusion when it comes to the terminology used when speaking of cat bladder infections.
One word that pops up often is cystitis.
In simple terms, this word means inflammation of the urinary tract, which includes the bladder itself.
You may also hear the term Feline Urologic Syndrome, or FUS.
When FUS is used in relation to feline bladder infections it is often used to describe that set of symptoms that include blood in the urine.
When tested, this bloody urine will show microscopic crystal formations.
It is these crystals that lead to bladder stones as time goes by.
As more and more crystals clump together, the core becomes larger.
At some point it becomes a bladder stone, and this is when the real problems begin to occur with cat bladder infections.
Infections can also be caused by different types of bacteria.
Through blood tests and urine tests, your vet can determine which type of bacteria is causing the problem and then prescribe the appropriate antibiotic.
Cat bladder infections of this type are always best treated when treated early.
Pet owners often see a common set of symptoms when cat bladder infections are forming.
For instance, owners will often notice pain or straining as the pet tries to void.
There may also be more frequent urination, and a change in the amount of urine that is discharged.
You may also notice blood in the urine or that it has a cloudy look to it.
Whenever you notice any of these conditions, a trip to the vet should be made as soon as possible.
Remember, all conditions that lead to cat bladder infections are best treated when treated early.
Feline bladder infections should not overly alarm pet owners.
They happen.
Your vet can give you important information that pertains to your particular set of circumstances, including diet options and supplements to help prevent future occurrences.
Antibiotics are effective at curing the condition.
The key is making sure that the bladder stays this way.
The key to helping your cat is to make sure that their urine does the job it is supposed to do, kill bacteria that can cause infection and flush crystals that can combine to form urinary tract blocking stones.
One of the easiest ways to help prevent the onset of cat bladder infections is to make sure your pet has plenty of clean, fresh water at all times.
This is especially important if you feed your pet dry food.
The more moisture your cat gets, the more he or she will urinate.
Since cats naturally get more of their water from food vs.
drinking water itself, canned food may provided the water your cat is missing.
Natural supplements can also be of help for helping with feline bladder infections.
Certain supplements such as Arctostaphylos uva ursi (helping to maintain the correct PH in the urine), Berberis vulgaris (known for its restorative effect on the bladder and urinary tract) and Cantharis are often recommended due to its ability to help maintain a healthy flow of urine and soothe the bladder.
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