If only our cats could speak to us and tell us if they had a urinary tract infection
Today we’re going to go over how to treat your cat’s urinary tract infection. Cats are fur babies, plain and simple. They are members of our households and, yes, members of our families. When they are sick or in pain, we want to do everything we can to make them better. If only they could just tell us what was wrong, right? Since they can’t express their symptoms, we have to observe, spend time at the vet (many of which won’t even let people inside with their pets right now), and play trial-and-error to figure out what’s wrong. UTI’s, or urinary tract infections, can be one of the hardest things to pin down for a sick cat, since the early signs are often very subtle. But it is important to accurately diagnose a UTI, since it can turn into a bigger, much worse infection if left untreated.
What Are UTIs?
UTIs are caused by many different types of bacteria that makes it way up the urethra into the bladder. They are more common in male cats but also very common in any cats with underlying conditions like FIV, Diabetes, or Feline Leukemia. Often cats who are suffering from a UTI make frequent trips to the litter box but don’t pee very much. They may also pee outside of their box (accidentally, not aggressively) and the pee may smell strongly of ammonia or be cloudy. Finally, they may actually vocalize their discomfort while peeing.
Can They Be Prevented?
While some cats are more prone to UTIs than others, any cat could potentially get one. Make sure that all of your cats have access to clean water and an easily accessed litter box. If there is fighting among your cats that might be leading to litter box squabbles, separate them and give each their own box. Finally, make sure you keep your cats on a regular feeding routine and try to reduce their stress as much as possible.
Is A Vet Visit Required?
While there are some at-home remedies for UTIs, you should always call your vet and discuss your pet’s health with them first. If your cat gets recurrent UTIs, they may suggest some at-home solutions, such as making sure the cat is well hydrated (allow more wet food or give the cate broth to drink), or possibly that you add something like apple cider vinegar to the cat’s food to change their pH.
We Would Love the Opportunity to Care for Your Furry Friends!
Alexander Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital located in Severna Park, Maryland, serving the Severna Park, Pasadena, and Arnold Areas. Our goal is educating clients on the needs of their pets and understanding the importance of individualized veterinary care in order to strengthen the human-animal bond between owners and their pets.
We understand you have a choice when deciding on the care for your pets, and we strive to provide you with unparalleled services including wellness exams, vaccines, lost pet microchip ID, dental care, surgical services, digital radiography, and in-hospital laboratory services and diagnostics. Other highlights of Alexander Animal Hospital are the separate cat and dog waiting and exam rooms, as well as after-hours on-call emergency services.
Please take a look around our website and then give us a call at 410-777-8678 to set up an appointment.
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