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Cats, like us, also feel anxiety and fear. Your cat can be
stressed for a number of reasons. A good example is that you have
recently moved house or there is a new addition to the family,
like a new pet. Whatever be the reason, you now have a stressed
cat. Initial detection of this problem is your cat peeing and
dropping feces outside the litter box. It could even have trouble
during urination. The latter happens only when something is
seriously wrong. It could be a behavioral problem, but the most
common reason in such a case is the feline lower urinary tract
disease (FLUTD). The urinary tract problems in cats cause the
bladder from emptying correctly. The urethra could also be
fatally blocked.
FLUTD symptoms
The FLUTD is not only a single problem but a cluster of clinical
symptoms which may have multiple causes. The list includes stones
or crystals found inside the bladder and bladder infections.
Other causes include urethral obstruction and urinary bladder
inflammation. Other urinary tract abnormalities could also lead
to FLUTD. The latter is the most common reason as to why cats are
taken to the veterinarian.
The FLUTD brings with it many warning signs. The most visible is
the cat straining itself to urinate. This may lead to dire
situations like the formation of urethral plug or bladder stones.
It is observed that male cats are at an increased risk when it
comes to developing a urethral plug. This condition is a
life-threatening one. The cat may lose its urinating ability.
Another symptom is that your cat frequently tries to urinate, but
only a small amount of urine comes out. The process itself is a
painful one, and your cat will cry out while doing so. The
FLUTD's other symptoms are the presence of blood in urine. Your
kitty will frequently lick its abdominal or genital areas. Cats
do this to decrease the pain. The feline will be irritable and
will urinate outside its litter box. It will do so on cool
surfaces like tiles or the bathtub.
Treatment
If you observe any of the above symptoms, take your kitty to the
veterinarian as fast as possible. The medical professional will
conduct a physical examination and also collect urine samples.
The diagnosis process also includes blood work, abdominal
ultrasound, and x-rays. A majority of FLUTD affected cats recover
sans any medical treatment, but the symptoms could recur.
Although the condition is not mortal to your cat, it is an
uncomfortable one. Treatment should be done to better your cat's
quality of life. You should make sure that your cat drinks more
water.
Five Facts about Feline and Canine UTI
Urinary Tract Infections are a common and incredibly painful
health issue that affects both dogs and cats. Most
often caused by bacteria that enters
the urinary tract when your petโs natural defenses are
down, UTIs can result in serious health complications and even
death if left untreated. In most cases UTIs are completely
treatable, and you can take steps to reduce the chance of your
pet suffering this unpleasant ordeal in the future. Here are five
facts to consider when looking to treat and prevent UTIs:
1. Health Helps
Every pet deserves a healthy, active lifestyle. Good nutrition,
exercise, and proper grooming can all contribute to better
overall health. In the case of UTIs, these factors can have a
direct impact on your petโs likeliness to become infected.
Evaluating your petโs diet, providing plenty of clean water,
encouraging exercise, and keeping your pet groomed will not only
give you a happier, healthier pet, it may also reduce the chance
of infection that can be caused by unhealthy or contaminated
food, infrequent urination, or the forming and spreading of
bacteria under unhygienic circumstances.
2. A Common Bacteria
Escherichia coli, or E. coli, is the bacteria most often
responsible for causing urinary tract infections. E. coli lives
in the digestive tracts of both humans and animals, and most
strains are harmless. However when your petโs immune system and
natural defenses are down for one reason or another, virulent
strains of E. Coli can enter the urinary tract through the
urethra and aggregate in the bladder. While other types of
bacteria, fungi, and algae can also cause UTIs, E. coli is the
worst offender.
3. Take Care
Pets canโt help themselves when they develop an infection, so
itโs up to the owner to monitor their petโs behavior and take
action when something seems off and the pet begins
to show symptoms of a UTI.
Extra attention should be paid to pets with health conditions
that may increase the chance of getting a UTI, such as bladder
cancer, bladder tumor, kidney stones, bladder stones, debris
caught in the urinary tract, injury, spinal cord abnormalities,
incontinence from excessive drinking or weak bladder, stress,
congenital (or inborn) abnormalities, diabetes, or other urinary
tract dysfunction.
For these pets, your veterinarian may suggest taking additional
preventative measures. In some cases, your pet may not exhibit
any symptoms, so keep up with regular trips to the veterinarian
to monitor your petโs overall health. Early detection and
treatment are important to relieve your pet of their pain and to
reduce the risk of developing serious health complications that
may require more intense and more expensive treatments.
4. Who is most affected by UTIs?
There is a lot of talk about which pets are most susceptible to
UTIs- - younger or older, male or female, dogs or cats, pets with
health conditions. In reality any pet can develop a UTI and you
should take proper care to prevent, identify, and treat these
infections.
5. Follow Up to Follow Through
In addition to a physical examination and a discussion of the
symptoms, your veterinarian may also run some tests to diagnose a
UTI. A urinalysis detects the infection, and a urine culture
confirms the infection and identifies the infecting bacteria. In
many cases a course of Cephalexin antibiotics
or Clavamox will be
prescribed to treat the UTI. Once this
or any treatment is complete, some veterinarians suggest a
follow-up urine culture to confirm that the infection has been
eliminated. This extra step can help to detect persistent
infections that require further treatment.
This information is for informational
purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for the
professional advice of, or diagnosis or treatment by, your
veterinarian with respect to your pet. It has, however, been
verified by a licensed veterinarian for accuracy.
