Cats can be troubled by a number of urinary problems, the most common of these are UTI's, urinary tract infections. What may seem like a behavioral problem using the litter box may in fact have a medical origin that can easily be diagnosed by your veterinarian with a simple test.
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What is UTI?
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Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that enter the urinary system from outside the cat's body. These bacteria multiply and cause inflammation that cause pain, frequent urination, vocalizing at the litter box, excessive grooming and licking the genital area, and even blood in the urine. Other underlying conditions can cause urinary tract infections, such as dehydration, crystals in the urine, bladder stones, kidney disease, and tumors.
How Is UTI Diagnosed?
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Your vet will do a general exam of your cat and see if there is tenderness of the abdomen. The vet will extract some urine from the bladder and check for white blood cells, red blood cells, crystal formation, bacteria, concentration of urine, and acidity and alkalinity. These results will help your vet determine exactly what type of problem is causing the UTI.
Treatments for UTI
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The treatment for UTI will be determined by what your veterinarian has learned from the results of the tests. If the infection is bacterial in origin, your vet will prescribe an antiobiotic, usually amoxicillin, cefalexin, Baytril, or ciprofloxacin. The antibiotic should be taken precisely on the schedule given by your veterinarian to ensure that your cat gets the maximum effect of the antibiotic. If not administered properly, small amounts of bacteria can remain in the bladder causing the infection to recur. If your vet suspects that the cause of recurring infections is a lack of sufficient water in the diet, he may suggest you change to canned food which contains more water. If your vet suspects that the underlying cause of the lower tract infection is crystals that have formed, he may prescribe a special diet that helps prevent crystal formation. If your vet suspects a more serious cause for the infections, such as kidney disease or tumors, he or she may want to do further testing or X-rays to investigate further.
Prevention of UTI
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Preventing UTI should begin with a few commonsense actions. First, make sure your cat has plenty of clean water available at all times. Keep the litter box as clean as possible. Make sure your cat's fur is clean and well-groomed. If crystal formation is part of the problem of the UTI discuss dietary changes with your vet to prevent crystal formation. If UTIs continue, your vet may suggest further tests and the possibility of surgery to remove blockages.
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