A feline urinary blockage is a veterinary emergency

Could you tell if your cat developed a feline urinary blockage?  This is a life-threatening complication of a cat urinary tract infection.  If left untreated, a cat urinary blockage can kill your kitty within 36 hours.

Is It A Cat Bladder Infection, Or Is It A Cat Urinary Blockage?

For the average owner, it can be hard to tell.  A blocked cat will act like he has a feline urinary infection.  You’ll notice that he’s crying in pain when he uses the litter box.  If you use clumping cat litter, you’ll see a bunch of little urine clumps instead of a few big ones.  This indicates that he can’t pass much urine at one.

A cat who starts urinating in places other than the litter box may not have a behavior problem.  He could have uti in cats, or more seriously, a cat urinary blockage.

Your vet can check to see if your cat’s bladder is distended.  Normally, a cat’s bladder is small and soft.  However, if your pet can’t urinate, his bladder will be hard, and swollen to the size of a peach.  You can imagine how painful this is for your feline friend.

Even more to the point, it’s also dangerous.  Your cat’s kidneys will stop working if the urine produced can’t go anywhere.  Because the kidneys aren’t filtering toxins out of his body, your kitty will die within a day or so if the blockage isn’t treated.

Cat Bladder Stones Cause Feline Urinary Blockage

A blocked cat just about always has feline bladder stones.  Where do the stones come from?  They form from minerals present in your cat’s urine.  If your kitty doesn’t drink enough water, his urine becomes very concentrated, which causes the mineral levels to increase.  Eventually these minerals can form stones, which may range in size from a grain of sand to a small pebble.  A cat may have just one stone, or he could have dozens of them.

A male cats is especially prone to blockages because his urethra is long and narrow.  It doesn’t take many stones to cause a cat urinary blockage.

Treatment For Urinary Blockage In Cats

Sometimes your vet can clear the blockage by putting pressure on your pet’s bladder.  If this doesn’t work, the vet will insert a catheter to empty the bladder.

If urinary toxins have built up to high levels in your kitty’s system, he may be quite sick.  Vomiting and appetite loss are common, along with disturbances in his heart rhythm.  Dehydration is often a problem, too.  The vet will probably want to give him fluids, either injected under the skin, or by IV.

Your feline friend may need to stay at the vet’s for several days, until the catheter can come out.

What Happens When He Comes Home

Your vet will recommend a special diet that lower in magnesium.  This helps to prevent cat bladder stones from forming again.  Your kitty will need to eat this food for the rest of his life to prevent a recurrence of the problem.

Provide your companion with lots of clean, fresh water.  Drinking more water will keep his urine from getting too concentrated again.

Many pet owners are turning to natural remedies for cats.  People have been using herbal and homepathic remedies for many years to support bladder health.  These remedies are safe and effective for kitties as well, especially when you use a product that is specifically formulated for pets.

You may be able to prevent cat bladder infection, along with the complications of a cat urinary blockage, by putting your kitty on one of these remedies.

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Not another dog urinary tract infection!

A dog urinary infection can cause big problems, for you and for your pet.  She’s hurting, while you’re frustrated with the fact that your formerly house-trained buddy is leaving puddles all over the house.  You treated her with the antibiotics the vet prescribed, but the infection came back as soon as the pills were gone. Is there any way to prevent bladder infections in dogs?

What Causes Canine Urinary Tract Infection?

These infections are often caused by bacteria that are already found in your companion’s digestive tract.  These bacteria can often wind up around your pet’s anus.  From there, they can travel up the urethra to your dog’s bladder.  Dog bladder infection is more common in females because their urethras are short and broad.  This provides a nice wide highway for the bacteria to travel on.

Canine bladder stones can also cause dog urinary infection.  But an infection can also cause these stones to form, so sometimes the question is, which came first, the infection or the stones?  Preventing the problems in the first place is often the best answer.

How To Help Your Dog

Many people want to know if home remedies for dogs can prevent dog urinary tract infection.  These tips may not exactly be home remedies, but they are certainly things you can do at home.

Be sure your companiona always has lots of clean, fresh water to drink.  She may need more than you think.  A 60-pound dog can drink up to three quarts of water a day.

A dog that’s drinking plenty of water will need frequent potty breaks.  Avoid accidents by taking her outside every couple of hours.  Holding her urine too long can also aggravate her bladder, which can lead to infections.

Exercise is important to keep her healthy and in good shape.  A long walk every day is essential to her well-being.

Boost her immune system by feeding her a high-quality natural diet. Try to avoid food with artificial colors and preservatives.

Give her a bath regularly to keep bacteria away from her urethra.

Can Herbal Remedies For Pets Help Prevent Canine Urinary Tract Infections?

Many pet owners want to know if herbal remedies for pets can help.  The answer is yes.  Look for a remedy that contains the herbs uva ursi and barberry, along with the homeopathic remedies Cantharis and Staphysagria.  You’ll also want a remedy that’s formulated especially for companion animals, not people.  This is important so that your pet receives the correct dose.

These remedies are safe to use right along with the antibiotic treatment, since they don’t interfere with the drugs in any way. Regular use can help to support bladder health in your dog long after the antibiotic is gone.

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Don't ignore cat urinary tract infections

Cat urinary tract infections are the most common reason for vet visits among the cat owning set.  Unfortunately, many cat owners still have questions about feline bladder infections, even after talking to the vet.  Here are answers to questions you may not have gotten a chance to ask.

What’s The Difference Between Feline Bladder Infections and Cat Urinary Tract Infections?

Technically, they’re two different things.  A cat bladder infection only affects your kitty’s bladder.  A feline urinary tract infection, on the other hand, can cause problems with any part of your cat’s urinary tract.  It can affect his kidneys, his ureters (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to his bladder), his bladder, and also his urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body).

But when it comes right down to it, when somebody is talking about a urinary tract infection (or UTI), they really do mean a bladder infection.

Can A Cat Bladder Infection Be Passed Around?

Some pet owners are worried that they can catch a bladder infection from their cats.  Or they wonder if one cat can pass a UTI infection to another cat.

These fears are groundless.  Feline urinary tract infections are not contagious.  They can’t be passed from cat to cat, or from cat to person.

What’s The Difference Between A Urinalysis And A Urine Culture?

Many cat owners don’t understand what these tests are, or why they’re needed.

Your vet will probably want to do a urinalysis first.  He or she will look at a urine sample from your cat to see if it’s cloudy or bloody.  Cloudy urine is caused by the presence of white blood cells, which indicates an infection is present.  Bloody urine is caused by irritation in the bladder.

If crystals are present, it’s usually because of cat bladder stones.  The vet will also look for protein in the urine, which is a symptom of other problems.

A urine culture is the next step.  Bacteria found in the urine are separated from the sample.  These bacteria are then grown in the lab so they can be identified.  It takes several days to do a culture, as the bacteria need time to grow.

Once your vet knows which bacteria is causing the problem, he or she will be able to prescribe the right antibiotic.  Not every antibiotic will kill every bacteria, so it’s important to use the right one for the job.

Why Do I Need To Give My Cat All Of The Antibiotic?

Antibiotics work quickly to relieve symptoms of cat urinary tract infections.  This often leads cat owners to think the infection is gone after a couple of days.  And since it can be difficult to give cats pills, many people are happy to stop fighting with their kitties as soon as possible.

But the problem is that if you stop giving the antibiotic too soon, the infection can come back.  Plus antibiotic resistance can also rear its ugly head.  If the antibiotic is discontinued too soon, the bacteria that aren’t killed right away can become resistant to it, and the medication won’t work any more.  This is becoming a more serious problem as time goes on.

You may want to consider a pill gun.  These little gadgets are inexpensive, and easy to use.  Every cat owner should have one on hand to make life easier on both you AND your pet!

Herbal Remedies For Pets Can Help

With interest in alternative health treatments rising, quite a few pet owners want to know more about natural remedies for cats.  These remedies are safe and effective, and you won’t have to fight with your pet to treat him.

Don’t let your furry friend suffer with feline bladder infections any longer. Click on any link in the article to learn how herbs and homeopathic remedies may help your kitty.

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Are canine urinary tract infections a problem for your dog?

Canine urinary tract infections can be hard to treat, especially when they keep coming back. If bladder infection in dogs is a recurring problem for your pet, your vet may want to run some tests.  You’re probably wondering if all these expensive tests are really needed. Read on to learn why it’s a good idea to have them done.

Your Dog Can’t Tell You When She Has Canine Bladder Infections

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our pets could talk to us and tell us exactly what their problems are?  Unfortunately, that’s not possible.  So it’s up to us, as owners, to figure out what our pets are trying to tell us by their behavior.

Anyone who’s ever had a bladder infection knows about the pain and burning when you urinate. Not to mention the fact that it seems like you have to go again right away.

Well, your dog is just as uncomfortable. She’ll let you know she’s not happy by her restless behavior, which includes pacing around the house and whining. She may ask to go out again almost as soon as you’ve let her back in.

Worst of all, you may be finding puddles of urine around the house. Don’t immediately assume that inappropriate urination is a behavior problem. She just may not be able to hold it long enough to get outside. Before you call a dog trainer, a vet check-up is needed to ensure that urinary tract infection in dogs isn’t what’s causing the problem.

What Tests Does Your Vet Need To Diagnose Canine Urinary Tract Infections?

The three tests your vet should do are a urinalysis, a dog urine culture, and a sensitivity test.

A urinalysis will reveal whether bacteria or canine bladder stones are present in your buddy’s urine. If bacteria are present, a urine culture will let your vet know which bacteria are causing the infection. A sensitivity test will show which antibiotic should be used.

The problem is that these tests are expensive. They can add between $25 and $100 to your vet bill. Some dog owners can’t afford the extra cost. Others just won’t pay the added expense.

The result is that your vet will probably be shooting in the dark as far as using the right antibiotic to clear up your pet’s case of canine cystitis.

Well, Any Antibiotic Will Work, Right?

Wrong. Skipping the sensitivity test can be a false economy, since you can waste a lot of time and money giving your pet an antibiotic that won’t kill the bacteria causing the problem.  Not to mention all the fuss and bother of giving your dog a useless medication for a week to ten days.

The problem of antibiotic resistance is also an issue. More and more bacteria are becoming resistant to the antibiotics that used to wipe them out. Often this is a result of using the wrong antibiotic to try to eradicate an infection.

Can Natural Remedies For Dogs Be The Answer?

Many people are using natural remedies to prevent and treat various health problems.  Now they’re wondering if these herbal and homeopathic remedies can help their pets as well.

The answer is yes, natural pet remedies are safe and effective for treating canine urinary tract infections. You’ll want to use a remedy manufactured especially for pets so that your companion is getting the right dosage. Look for a product that contains the herbs uva ursi and berberis, and the homeopathic remedies Cantharis and Staphysagris.

Now you can understand why your vet wants to run those expensive tests. Once your pet has recovered from a canine bladder infection, you’ll want to prevent it from coming back.

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Cat urinary problems are very common

Feline bladder infections should never be ignored.  A cat urinary tract infection is painful for your kitty, and can lead to serious complications, including a potentially fatal urinary blockage.  If your cat is urinating in places other than his litter box, he could be suffering from a cat bladder infection.

In this article, we’ll look at the three things every cat owner should know about this condition.

1.  Cat Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

You may notice the following symptoms:

• Blood in the urine
• Urinating in places other than the litter box
• Straining to urinate
• Crying out in pain while in the litter box
• Drinking more water than normal
• Unable to pass urine

A cat urinary blockage is a veterinary emergency that requires immediate treatment. Don’t wait to take your kitty to the vet, as your cat can die within a day or two from an untreated blockage.

Sometimes a cat can have a feline urinary tract infection, but not show any symptoms at all. This can happen if your kitty is being treated with an anti-inflammatory medication like cortisone. If your pet is on this kind of treatment, you’ll want to be alert for signs of an infection.

2. How Is A Cat Bladder Infection Treated?

Usually with antibiotics. Your vet may recommend a cat urinalysis to see if bacteria or stones are present in your kitty’s bladder. He or she may also want to do a urine culture to identify which bacteria are present. The results will guide your vet in choosing the best antibiotic to wipe out the infection.

3. Suggestions For Preventing Feline Urinary Tract Infection

You may be surprised to learn that putting your cat on canned food may solve the problem. Why? Cats don’t drink a lot of water, since they’re meant to get most of their water from their food. So if you always feed your kitty dry food, the chances are that he’s chronically dehydrated.  This means that his urine is very concentrated, which predisposes him to cat urinary problems.

As an aside, did you know that kidney failure in cats is a common cause of death among older felines? This can be the result of years of chronic dehydration.

Always provide your furball with plenty of clean, fresh water. Think about it.  You wouldn’t want to drink water that’s warm and stale and has stuff floating in it, and your kitty friend won’t either.

Natural Pet Remedies May Help Prevent Cat Bladder Infections

With an increased interest in natural remedies, it’s only logical that pet owners are wondering if herbs and homeopathic remedies will help their furry friends, too.  After all, humans have been using herbal remedies that support urinary health for centuries.

You’ll be interested to know that many pet owners are successfully using natural remedies for cats to both prevent and treat feline bladder infections.  The easiest way to do this is to give your cat a natural pet remedy that’s been formulated especially for our companion animals.

If cat urinary tract infections are a problem for your feline companion, you’ll want to take action to change his diet and start him on an herbal cat remedy as soon as you can.  Click on any link in this article to learn more.

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Canine cystitis is a painful dog urinary tract infection

Canine urinary tract infections are more common among our doggy friends than you would think. If you’re like most dog owners, you have lots of questions about this problem. Here are seven questions and answers about bladder infections in dogs.

1. Is It A Dog Bladder Infection or Canine Cystitis?

“Canine cystitis” is just a fancy term for bladder infections in dogs. You may overhear your vet refer to it as being an “ascending” infection. This means that the infection-causing bacteria start their journey inside your pet’s intestinal tract.  They make a stop on the skin around her anus, and then continue to travel up, or “ascend,” her urethra to end up in her bladder.

2. What Else Causes Canine Bladder Infections?

Canine bladder stones are a common cause of urinary tract infections in dogs. These stones often have sharp edges that irritate the bladder walls and make it easier for an infection to gain a foothold.

Less common causes include bladder tumors, canine diabetes, and Cushing’s disease.  Sometimes your pet is unable to completely empty her bladder due to a physical problem. Certain drugs,including cortisone, or those used in chemotherapy, suppress the immune system, leaving your pet more vulnerable to infections.

3. What Dog Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms Should You Know About?

Straining to pass urine, along with blood in her urine, are warning signs to watch for.

Your pet may have to urinate frequently.  She may be restless, pacing around and asking to go out all the time.

You may also find puddles of urine all over the house. Inappropriate urination isn’t always a behavior problem. It could be a sign of a dog bladder infection.

4. How Does Your Vet Diagnose A Canine Urinary Tract Infection?

A urinalysis will show if bacteria or bladder stones are present in your pet’s urine. If bacteria are found, your vet will probably want to do a urine culture to identify which ones are present. A sensitivity test will help your vet choose the right antibiotic to wipe out the infection.

5. Do I Really Have To Give Her ALL Of That Medicine?

Only if you want to get rid of the infection. The main reason for recurring infections is that the pet owner gets tired of fighting with Fifi, and doesn’t give her all the medicine. Plus not finishing all the antibiotic is the primary cause of antibiotic resistance, which is becoming more and more common.

Sometimes antibiotics can cause side effects. If this happens, call your vet so he or she can prescribe something else. Don’t just stop giving your companion the medication.

6. Why Does This Infection Keep Coming Back?

See number 5.  Also, it’s possible that the antibiotic wasn’t effective against the particular bacteria that’s causing the infection. This can happen if you skipped the dog urine culture or sensitivity test. Your vet will probably want to run these tests before treating your pet again so the right antibiotic can be used the second time around.

Recurring canine urinary tract infections are a symptom of diabetes in dogs, so you may want to have your pet tested for this condition.

7. Do Natural Remedies For Dogs Help?

Research has proven that natural remedies for dogs are very effective for preventing and treating urinary infections in dogs. You do want to use a remedy formulated especially for pets to be sure your buddy is getting the proper dose. These remedies are safe and effective. Plus they’re easy enough to give your dog that you can use them every day to prevent canine bladder infections.

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Your cat wants you to learn about feline urinary tract infections!

Cat urinary tract infection can be an ongoing and expensive problem for many pet owners.  If your kitty suffers from feline urinary disease, here’s what you need to know to solve this painful problem.

Do You Know The Most Common Cause Of Cat Urinary Tract Infection?

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

The sharp edges of these stones can also irritate and inflame the bladder walls, leading to a 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?

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 urinary disease. 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 building up in your cat’s body. Second, these excess 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%,  In comparison, dry food has 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 Remedies For Cats May Help

Many cat owners are turning to herbal remedies for pets to prevent and treat  cat urinary tract infection. Homeopathic remedies like Cantharis and Staphysagris help to reduce the pain and inflammation of a cat bladder infection, while herbs like uva ursi and barberry have antibiotic-like properties. These herbs have been shown to be effective against the 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 or she will receive the proper dosage.

Learn how you can prevent your cat from suffering while saving money on vet bills by clicking on any link in this article.  Preventing feline bladder stones and a possible cat urinary blockage is much less expensive than treating these problems after they’ve already developed.

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