Bladder
Care
Urinary tract disorders: How to prevent
them and how to treat them
By Gregory
L. Tilford
Photo: Gregory L. Tilford
 During
the course of a lifetime, most animals
will experience some kind of urinary tract
discomfort. Surface infections at the
urethral opening are quite common and
are typically caused when pathogenic bacteria
or fungi find their way from the animal’s
mouth or the environment to the genital
area. Localized redness, inflammation,and
perhaps a burning sensation, may encourage
your dog or cat to lick incessantly for
a few days. With a twice-daily gauze wipe
of apple cider vinegar, the problem will
likely disappear very quickly.
However, not all urinary tract problems
are minor. Chronic urinary tract disease
is a leading cause of death among domestic
dogs and cats, especially older animals.
Fortunately, most forms of urinary tract
disease are preventable or treatable when
addressed early on. The challenge is detecting
the problem quickly. In some cases, an
animal may let you know that she has a
problem. Georgina’s cat, Maddie,
for instance, never urinated outside her
litter box. One Saturday morning, however,
as Georgina was reading the newspaper
on the floor, Maddie strode over, squatted
and urinated on the paper. Georgina could
clearly see traces of blood in the urine
and called the vet.
In not so obvious cases, successful early
detection may depend on how well you know
your animal and her behavior. You may
notice her drinking more and urinating
less, urinating in unusual places, or
straining to pass urine. You may see an
arched posture while walking, hesitation
when jumping, or unusual body positioning
while sleeping. You may find small amounts
of blood or other discharge in the urine,
or the urine may be dark or especially
smelly. Your companion might be hypersensitive
to touch; if you notice discomfort when
you touch the lower abdomen or the immediate
area, your companion may have an infection
or inflammation of the bladder or kidneys.
All of these signs warrant a prompt visit
to the veterinarian.
Good urinary
health maintenance begins with diet
Effective holistic treatment starts with
a critical assessment of your animal's
diet. Many cases of urinary tract infection,
stones or kidney failure can be attributed
to chemical, microbial or immune system
imbalances associated with deficiencies
or excesses in the diet. A growing number
of holistic practitioners believe that
dry kibble cat foods may be a leading
cause of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
(FLUTD). This belief warrants merit, especially
when you consider the feline urinary system
from a holistic perspective.
 Cats,
you see, are obligate carnivores, meaning
their bodies are naturally designed to
derive much of their required water from
meat sources. Fresh meat is comprised
of 70-85% water, and when a cat eats dry
food continuously as a primary source
of nutrition, changes in urine pH and
concentration can occur. If the urine
is too acidic or too alkaline, sharp mineral
crystals can form in it, triggering inflammation
and causing possible blockage of urinary
tract passages. Likewise, metabolic waste
materials created from digestion of poor
quality pet food ingredients and chemical
additives might lead to eventual damage
of delicate tissue structures in the urinary
tract.
Some manufacturers have formulated specialized
commercial kibbles with lower amounts
of protein, but many holistic veterinarians
feel it is not the quantity of the protein
but the quality and assimilation that
is important. From a holistic standpoint,
do we really wish to deprive a carnivore
of needed protein, especially when the
real goal is to improve protein metabolism
so the kidneys and urinary tract are less
encumbred by the waste products? Further,
do we want to suppress the symptoms of
a protein metabolism problem at the risk
of inducing a state of malnutrition? The
bottom line is that prevention begins
with good nutrition; animals that receive
a balanced, natural food diet are far
less likely to suffer from urinary system
ailments. |
