Is there a difference between urinary tract issues and bladder infections for dogs and cats?
Cats and dogs can get chronic inflammation of the bladder when their urine gets higher than their optimum pH level and becomes alkaline. When this happens minerals can settle out of the urine and form together to create crystals. If crystal are left in the bladder long enough, those crystals can bond together and create stones and your pet can end up with a potential infection. This is where the lining of the bladder becomes inflamed and sometimes bleeds, which can be very painful for them.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) can involve any area that’s in the urinary tract, which could include the kidneys, the ureters (tubes that carry the urine to the bladder for storage (the urinary bladder and the urethra that carries urine out of the body. When a UTI is referenced, it generally refers to a bladder infection in dogs. However in cats UTI it is frequently used to refer to a common inflammatory condition of the feline bladder, not necessarily a bladder infection. UTIs are commonly see at veterinary clinics.
So how do we as pet parents recognize some of the symptoms that we might see?
Some of the symptoms in your pet would first be excessive water consumption. They will be unable to hold their urine for normal amount of time. If you think about a dog, they could suddenly be urinating around the house. Or wanting to go outside more often or urinating frequently in multiple spots.
Your pet is constantly licking at his urinary openings. That may indicate a potentially serious issue with your pet’s urinary tract or bladder. There could be loss of bladder control, vomiting, appears lethargic or doesn’t want to eat. There could also be something else going on such diabetes, Cushings Syndrome of hypothyroidism or kidney failure. These signs might tell you that there is a bladder infection and require a visit to the vet.
Cats rely on the moisture they get from food, but we want them to urinate more, to avoid UTI. With cats, the best way to do this is to feed them canned food and even add warm water to their food. You can even use dry food and moisten it with warm water to get more moisture in their diet.
Cats do not like still water. They like water that is running. There are pet fountains you can buy (be sure NOT to get a plastic fountain) or leave a faucet running just a little bit. They will go for that more than a bowl of still water.
It’s time for a visit to the vet if you notice any of these symptoms.
When your pet has a bladder infection there are natural
Once everything is resolved and your pet is back to normal there are bladder support supplements that help maintain normal bladder health. These can aid in preventing bladder infections from recurring.
Cranberry juice. We hear people tell us to take cranberry juice for bladder health. Well it’s the same for our pets.Cranberries help normalize the pH. So if there is an e.Coli infestation, which is the most common bladder infections for pets. The e.Coli will attach to the cranberry and be excreted out of their system with their urine.
D-Mannose helps fight infections by preventing the bacteria from adhering to the bladder lining, allowing it to be voided with their urine and flushed out of your pet’s system naturally
Glucosamine is one of the building blocks of the protective lining of the bladder. It protects the inert lining of the bladder and allows for ease of excretion so it’s not painful for your pet to urinate.
Marshmallow Root (a herb) to provide a soothing, lubricating, protective barrier between mucus membranes and substances which contribute to irritation. Marshmellow root basically helps to move things through the system and helps with inflammation and stones in the urinary tract.
Brooke Sloate,
Director of Product Development, pawTree
If your pet suffers from UTI or other bladder issues, try pawTree's Bladder Support Plus to help maintain normal bladder function for your cat and dog. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
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