By: Heidi Nevala, Natura Petz
Herbal nutrition to help address and holistically treat cystitis and urinary and kidney infections in dogs and cats.
When your pet experiences kidney problems, nutritional support must be given to the kidneys as well as the liver, cardiovascular system and autonomic nervous system.
A bladder infection, also known as cystitis, is a form of a urinary tract infection which affects and irritates the lining of the bladder, and can cause extreme pain and discomfort for your pet. It also represents one of the top reasons for veterinarian visits. Bladder, or urinary tract infections, are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra, the tube connecting the bladder to the exterior of the body through which urine flows.
A bladder infection can be related to bladder stones, an underlying illness or undiagnosed disease, overuse of medications, bladder tumors, cancer or abnormalities of the urinary tract. Urinary tract infections affect both dogs and cats, although they tend to occur more commonly in cats.
Female cats and dogs experience more episodes of urinary tract infections because the urethra is shorter and broader than in males. If left untreated, urinary tract infections can lead to more serious health complications such as kidney infections and even kidney failure.
The principal sign of a bladder infection is frequent and painful urination. Your pet’s urine may appear cloudy and have a strong, pungent odor. Female dogs and cats who have cystitis may have vaginal discharge and may lick at the vulva.
Common symptoms of bladder infections include:
Frequent urination
Painful urination
Straining to urinate
Licking of the genital area
Cloudy or blood urine
Urine odor is strong and pungent
Urinating without passing much urine (only drops)
Urinating in odd places
Vaginal discharge
Fever
Loss of appetite
Herbal remedies are used to provide relief for bladder infections (including severe cystitis) and urinary tract infections; to help address symptoms of frequent urination, bladder discomfort, bladder and urinary infections; for all types of stones, crystals, calculi and gravel related to infection; to help address incontinence and to help support bladder control and healthy bladder tissue matrix in dogs and cats; to improve bladder & urinary tract health due to its antibacterial and antiseptic properties; to help address prostate problems and symptoms of burning urine; to help reduce bladder inflammation and to help strengthen the immune system.
Helpful suggestions to maintain urinary health:
Make sure that your dog or cat has toilet breaks every few hours and avoid letting them hold urine too long
Give your pet plenty of fresh, clean filtered water daily to flush out unwanted toxins and avoid dehydration
Feed your pet a high quality, nutritious, premium diet that does not contain corn, wheat, soy or preservatives, colorants or additives
Bathe your pet regularly. For female pets, it is important because their urethra is very short and as a result bacteria infects the bladder very quickly
Make sure your pet gets adequate exercise to stimulate the bladder
Keep more than one litter box in your home for your cat and make sure that they are always clean
Natura Petz suggests Yummy Tummy, Tinkle Tonic, Stix & Stones and Break It Up! to help address bladder infections in dogs and cats.
For more information on this topic and other natural health issues visit: http://naturapetz.com/blogs/
