Managing Feline Urinary Incontinence is Easier Than You Think
Feline urinary incontinence is a condition which carries all sorts of bad connotations.
Beyond the damage to carpets and furniture caused by frequent accidents, there is the prospect that your cat's incontinence may be a sign of a more serious disorder or the simple side effect of advancing age.
But in most cases, incontinence can be easily treated and does not have to be a cause of undo stress for you or your cat.
The most important thing to remember about incontinence is never to assume the worst.
If your pet is having difficulty containing its urine output, there may be an underlying cause.
Not every case of excessive urination is voluntary or behavioral, sometimes it is a symptom of an illness.
The only way to be sure is to take your cat to the vet for a complete exam.
Your vet is most likely to identify one of several causes for feline urinary incontinence.
Sometimes, excessive urination can be a direct result of drinking too much water, which itself can be caused by conditions such as diabetes, Cushing's disease, bladder infection or kidney disease.
If your vet diagnoses one of these conditions, he can recommend proper treatment.
Other causes for incontinence include urinary tract infection, weakened sphincter, or spinal cord damage.
Often, when there is an injury to the spinal cord, nerves can become compressed and this affects the proper function of the bladder.
If this is the case for your pet, surgery can be performed to ease the compression and this should relieve the incontinence.
In older cats, a weakened sphincter may be the culprit when it comes to feline urinary incontinence.
As cats age, the sphincter, or muscle which controls the bladder, can become naturally weaker.
If this happens, the sphincter may not be able to contract properly and hold back urine flow.
There are several forms of medications which can be used to treat this condition and help improve the function of the sphincter muscle.
By far the most common cause of incontinence is a bladder infection.
Infection occurs when bacteria builds up in the urinary tract.
In cats, bacterial build up can lead to the formation of crystals which can in turn cause blockage.
Blockage is extremely dangerous as it can become life threatening in a very short span of time.
Your vet can remove blockage either surgically or through catheterization or with the use of antibiotics.
Another way to treat bladder infections and curb feline urinary incontinence is with the use of homeopathic remedies.
Made from a special blend of herbs and other plant based ingredients such as arctostaphylos uva ursi and berberis vulgaris, these all natural products help to balance pH levels, get rid of harmful bacteria and promote overall health by strengthening the immune system.
Urinary incontinence can be an uncomfortable experience for both you and your cat, but it doesn't have to be that way.
In most cases, it is very easily treated and even prevented.
If your cat is experiencing incontinence, be sure to get it to the vet immediately and consider all your options for treatment.
By staying vigilant and being informed, you can help your cat to be happy and healthy...
for all nine of its lives!
Beyond the damage to carpets and furniture caused by frequent accidents, there is the prospect that your cat's incontinence may be a sign of a more serious disorder or the simple side effect of advancing age.
But in most cases, incontinence can be easily treated and does not have to be a cause of undo stress for you or your cat.
The most important thing to remember about incontinence is never to assume the worst.
If your pet is having difficulty containing its urine output, there may be an underlying cause.
Not every case of excessive urination is voluntary or behavioral, sometimes it is a symptom of an illness.
The only way to be sure is to take your cat to the vet for a complete exam.
Your vet is most likely to identify one of several causes for feline urinary incontinence.
Sometimes, excessive urination can be a direct result of drinking too much water, which itself can be caused by conditions such as diabetes, Cushing's disease, bladder infection or kidney disease.
If your vet diagnoses one of these conditions, he can recommend proper treatment.
Other causes for incontinence include urinary tract infection, weakened sphincter, or spinal cord damage.
Often, when there is an injury to the spinal cord, nerves can become compressed and this affects the proper function of the bladder.
If this is the case for your pet, surgery can be performed to ease the compression and this should relieve the incontinence.
In older cats, a weakened sphincter may be the culprit when it comes to feline urinary incontinence.
As cats age, the sphincter, or muscle which controls the bladder, can become naturally weaker.
If this happens, the sphincter may not be able to contract properly and hold back urine flow.
There are several forms of medications which can be used to treat this condition and help improve the function of the sphincter muscle.
By far the most common cause of incontinence is a bladder infection.
Infection occurs when bacteria builds up in the urinary tract.
In cats, bacterial build up can lead to the formation of crystals which can in turn cause blockage.
Blockage is extremely dangerous as it can become life threatening in a very short span of time.
Your vet can remove blockage either surgically or through catheterization or with the use of antibiotics.
Another way to treat bladder infections and curb feline urinary incontinence is with the use of homeopathic remedies.
Made from a special blend of herbs and other plant based ingredients such as arctostaphylos uva ursi and berberis vulgaris, these all natural products help to balance pH levels, get rid of harmful bacteria and promote overall health by strengthening the immune system.
Urinary incontinence can be an uncomfortable experience for both you and your cat, but it doesn't have to be that way.
In most cases, it is very easily treated and even prevented.
If your cat is experiencing incontinence, be sure to get it to the vet immediately and consider all your options for treatment.
By staying vigilant and being informed, you can help your cat to be happy and healthy...
for all nine of its lives!