Improving Cat Urinary Health
Feline lower urinary tract disease is a common illness among the feline community when discussing cat urinary health issues. This disease can affect both male and female cats and is treatable and manageable throughout your cat’s lifetime if diagnosed early. Observe your cat’s behavior regularly as symptoms might appear only periodically and can be easily missed. In many cases, cat urinary health issues resulting from feline lower urinary tract disease can be regulated and managed by utilizing a long term dietary management plan and using antibiotics or other necessary medicines for your cat’s continued health.
Male Cat Urinary Health
There are many reasons that can affect cat urinary health. Feline lower urinary tract disease can be caused by bladder inflammation, irritation, congenital abnormalities and in male cats, obstructions that can be caused by crystals or stones that settle at the penile urethra that are too large to pass and cause blockage. If you observe your cat making frequent trips to the litter box without any urine being produced, straining to urinate, small amounts of urine containing blood, continual meowing of your cat, vomiting, loss of appetite or diarrhea, immediately call your veterinarian and take your cat in for immediate help. If you need to call after normal office hours, call the emergency after hour’s animal hospital for assistance. If your cat is blocked and is unable to urinate and has not urinated for an extended length of time, urine poisoning can develop rapidly within a 24 hour period resulting in coma and death. Blockage in a male cat is a medical emergency and one that needs to be addressed immediately.
Female Cat Urinary Health
Female cats are also at risk for feline lower urinary tract disease by known causes such as bladder inflammation, malfunctions, congenital problems and irritation. They do not have the same issue as their male counterparts concerning blockage because their urethra opens wider than a male urethra. Females can exhibit the same symptoms of making frequent trips to the litter box, straining to urinate, blood in the urine and producing only small amounts or drops or urine. If you observe these symptoms in your female cat, call your veterinarian immediately and take her to be diagnosed and treated. Once the doctor is able to conclude what is causing the cat urinary health condition, he will be able to prescribe immediate treatment and if necessary, use a catheter to release the urine that has collected in your cat’s bladder. This procedure is necessary for male cats when they are blocked and can not urinate.
Consulting a Veterinarian Because you know your cat’s personality and habits, if you observe any of the symptoms mentioned that can signal a cat urinary health problem being displayed by your pet, consult your veterinarian immediately for proper cat health advice information. Diagnosing the cause early on and treating the symptoms regularly through proper diet and medication or surgery, if necessary, can ensure your cat’s well being and can significantly enhance their quality of life as well as their life span. Failure to have your cat treated for cat urinary health issues can result in irreparable bladder damage and ultimately, loss of life for your pet.
