Bladder Infection in Pets - Recognizing The Very Early Warning Signs Pet bladder infections are quite common. In fact statistically one out of every five pets will contract a pet bladder infection at some time or another. But this statistic really don't tell the whole story because the vast majority of pet bladder infections occur in animals whose immune system has been weakened by the natural aging process, disease, or treatment for cancer. Also, birth defects which may cause the bladder to retain urine are sometimes at fault. So if you were to only consider these few categories it is likely that your pet has at least a one in two chance of falling victim to a bacterial infection of the bladder. For female cat and dog owners the news only gets worse, with female pets being twice as likely to pick up a bacterial bladder infection. Recognizing the very early warning signs of bladder infection in pets Over the years I have had two dogs and one cat who have become infected. All three pets were generally healthy but were starting to get up there in years. It was the natural aging process which opened the door for infection due to a naturally weakening of their immune systems. What is surprising to me looking reflecting back on these incidences was how similar each pet behaved. The very first sign that I saw was a change in social behavior. For example all three would never miss an opportunity to meet me at the door when I arrived home from work; all of the sudden they were missing in action. When, or if they finally showed up they just didn’t seem to have that pep in their step which I was accustomed to seeing. The second thing I started to notice was excessive water consumption. At first I thought maybe I just was forgetting to fill the water bowl at night but after a few day of seeing an empty water bowl in the morning I knew either I had a very thirsty rat or something crazy was going on with my pets. After doing a little research what I found was that excessive water consumption is an animal’s natural defense against urinary tract infection. So watch out for this one. Another sign which followed a few days later was inappropriate urination. When we think of inappropriate urination we think of big puddles of urine but in one of the cats cases it was far more subtle, with a damp (not wet) hind area smelling of urine. Whether it is puddles, blatant uncharacteristic urination, or the much more subtle dampness, inappropriate urination is the red flag that signifies that the infection is spreading rapidly. At this point you may only have a day or two before the infecting bacteria gains a solid foothold in the bladder and spreads from there. As the infection becomes more developed symptoms like blood in the urine, a low grade fever, unusually pungent urine, tenderness in the lower stomach area, and struggling just to urinate will likely be a pretty good indication that your pet needs immediate help before the infection spreads throughout the urinary tract, including the kidneys. What to do if you see the early warning signs If possible the best advice is get to the vet as soon as possible to confirm that a bladder infection is indeed the problem. Upon confirmation he/she will likely treat the condition with a ten day supply of antibiotics. But I do understand that sometimes pet owners would rather try to treat the condition at home, both to avoid pet stress and the possible costs involved. One trick that has worked pretty well over the years is to infuse their water with either blueberry or cranberry juice. These juices contain a substance which makes it difficult for the offending bacteria to cling to walls of the urinary tract. If you are lucky you just might be able to flush some of the bacteria out through the urethra and give your pets immune system a fighting chance to eliminate the infection. If you do go the home treatment route it will be important to make sure your pet has ample bathroom opportunities. You will also want to make sure that any hair around their backsides that could be harboring bacteria is trimmed. Additionally, I tended to see better results when the above steps were combined with a herbal or homeopathic urinary tract supplement. These supplements act as mild diuretics and contain ingredients that have been shown to boost immune function. If you do decide to go the home treatment approach to curing pet bladder infection it is important to keep a close eye out for worsening symptoms. At the first signs that things are going downhill your vet should be consulted to determine where you go from here. Natural remedies for pet bladder infection Herbal and homeopathic remedies have proven to be highly effective in the treatment of bladder infections and other urinary related problems. Because these remedies contain natural ingredients they are safe and gentle to use for your pet without the risk of negative side effects. Well known herbs such as Arctostaphylos uva ursi and Berberis vulgaris have powerful antibacterial and antiseptic properties which are excellent for the treatment of urinary tract infections. These herbs also help to reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system. Homeopathic ingredients such as Cantharis and Staphysagris are recommended for the treatment of severe cystitis, urine retention that may occur with prostate problems and symptoms of burning urine. Helpful Supplements for Pet Bladder Infection
urine leakage to improve bladder and urinary tract health - Continue Better-Bladder Control - Homeopathic remedy relieves incontinence and strengthens the bladder - Continue |
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