Curing Bladder Problems in Cats

Copyright (c) 2012 Dr. Deva Khalsa

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is a
relatively common problem in pet cats that can
be worrisome and expensive. Just ask any cat
owner whose feline gets cystitis at the drop of
a hat. The good news is that there are natural
supplements and homeopathic methods to help
treat and more importantly avoid and prevent
these bladder problems.

SYMPTOMS

Anyone whose had cystitis can attest to that
feeling of 'needing to go' and it's the same
with cats. In some cases, the urine may be pink
or red. If your cat chooses a tile floor or the
bathtub, it's pretty easy to tell if the urine's
blood tinged. If the litter box is your cat's
preferred stopping place, mixing shredded white
toilet paper into the litter is a handy trick.

In the case of a 'blocked cat', urine crystals
or mucous blocks the urethra. Blocked cats
exhibit frequent but fruitless straining along
with signs of stress, discomfort and painful
vocalization. While far more prevalent in male
cats, urinary obstructions constitutes a true
veterinary emergency.

CAUSES

Researchers are still looking for the causes of
FLUTD. Over the past 20 years theories have
changed. One historic cause was thought to be
the 'ash' content in cat food but that's been
proven incorrect. Until the late 1980's,
struvite crystals were commonly found in a
urinalysis. At present, calcium oxalate stones
are also very common.

Different crystals require different treatments
so an analysis of the urine is necessary to
determine the exact crystal type. Interestingly,
as the urine sits after collection, some crystals
dissolve while others grow, just like in a high
school science experiment. When having your
cat's urine checked for crystals, best get it to
the lab as soon as possible after it's collected.


TREATMENT

In many cases the cause of simple cystitis is a
bacterial infection and your veterinarian will
prescribe antibiotics. Blocked cats must be
rushed to the veterinarian and have the urethral
passage unplugged along with supportive emergency
care. Unfortunately, cats that get FLUTD's tend
to get them more than once. Because of this,
learning some simple facts about diet and
nutrition concur with Ben Franklin's observation
that " An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure."

DIET can have a profound effect on bladder
health. Felines have a low thirst drive, having
evolved on the African savannah. Prey contains
about 70 percent water. By comparison, dry
kibble has only 10 percent water, so cats that
eat only kibble will have more concentrated
urine and a higher tendency to form crystals.
Feeding more canned food and even watering it
down a bit adds more liquid intake. Raw food
diets also provide more dietary liquid.

The pH of the urine is important because
crystals need a specific pH in which to form.
Cats prefer protein rich foods, but they evolved
eating whole prey and were conveniently provided
with vegetable matter and greens from the prey's
intestines. Unfortunately, heated and processed
pet foods, by nature of the preparation methods,
are stripped of essential plant nutrients.
Healthy plant nutrients such as Vitamin C and
Cranberry work to acidify the urine and prevent
buildup of certain crystals.

NATURES PREVENTATIVES

Vitamins K1 and D3 help metabolize and process
minerals. Working together, K1 prevents calcium
from washing into the bladder while D3 creates
efficient mineral metabolism. Vitamin D3 also
significantly improves immune function. A high
incidence of Vitamin D deficiency is now being
identified in humans so keeping an eye on our
pet's Vitamin D is essential. Vitamin D3, called
the 'sunshine vitamin', becomes biologically
active when the human body is exposed to
sunlight. But cats don't have the necessary
components in their skin to do this so they need
to get their Vitamin D3 from a supplement, raw
liver or cod liver oil. This new research
indicates that vitamins K1 and D3 may be very
important in preventing urinary crystal
formation.

PHYTOCHEMICALS are the organic components in
plants that have protective or disease
preventative properties and are now a huge focus
in scientific research. Sometimes called
'super-foods', they work to promote health in
the body for a much longer time than vitamins
and minerals. For example: Vitamin C only
acidifies the urine for a few hours after it's
taken, while CRANBERRY does the same thing (and
more) for almost an entire day. Cranberry
contains a polysaccharide called mannose, which
selectively binds to bacteria, carrying them out
of the bladder. In fact, bacteria prefer mannose
to the cells of the bladder wall. Taking
cranberry on a daily basis works to prevent and
help treat urinary tract infections

MILK THISTLE is an herb that's been used for
centuries. Its benefits on the liver are well
publicized but many are not aware that it also
works to prevent crystal and stone formation in
the bladder. DANDELION promotes urination and
flushes the urinary tract. BLUEBERRIES have a
diverse range of micronutrients, including
manganese, B6, Vitamin C and K. They have so
many health benefits that a 2007 Symposium on
'Berry Benefits' was held. Their positive
effects range from preventing urinary tract
infections and cancer to decreasing brain
damage. In fact all super-foods have a wide
range of health benefits.


HOMEOPATHIC remedies are also helpful and can
be easily found in health food stores such as
Whole Foods.

APIS MELLIFICA is a good remedy to give when
the urine is blood tinged. CANTHARIS is
excellent for cystitis that causes irritation
and frequent urging. CAUSTICUM is indicated for
chronic cystitis. They can be administered
orally 2 to 4 times a day, depending on the
severity of symptoms.

PURR-FECTING HEALTH The good news is: between
your veterinarian, correct dietary management, a
good supplement and some homeopathic remedies,
you now have some excellent tools to alleviate
and prevent FLUTD's in your beloved pets.


----------------------------------------------------
Dr. Deva Khalsa, a well known holistic
veterinarian believes that many of the chronic
problems we see in our dogs and cats can be both
prevented and treated with correct nutrition.
That's exactly why she desingned delicous and
easy to administer VITAL VITIES for cats. With
every vitamin and mineral including vitamins C
and D3, Dandelion and Cranberry.
http://www.deservingpets.com/category_s/2.htm


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