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Felines often develop microscopic crystals in their urine, either calcium oxalate or struvite bladder stones, the more common of the two. They can cause irritation and pain upon urination. The crystals can cause obstruction of the urethra, especially in male cats. Bladder stones form when there is an overabundance of minerals within a cat's body. The tiny microscopic mineral particles clump together to form larger crystals and stones. Bladder stones can form in any cat but Burmese and Himalayan breeds appear to have a higher incidence than other cats.
A cat with bladder stones experiences moderate to severe pain. Bladder stones are formed when minerals present in the urine bind together. The most common suspect minerals are calcium, magnesium, ammonia, phosphorus and carbonates. Some bladder stones remain small, allowing the normal passage of urine to flush them out. Other bladder stones can grow as large as several millimeters, causing them to rub against urinary walls and creating blockages in the urethra. These blockages require veterinary care to either flush them out or remove them surgically.
Urinary infections are relatively common in felines. Veterinarians have found that the condition responds well to natural remedies. In the book, "Herbal Cat Care" Dr. Randy Kidd says homeopathic treatment for feline urolithiasis should be the No. 1 option. He says "this disease responds to herbs better than to anything else I'd tried previously." Herbal treatments create less harmful side effects than drugs.
Felines commonly suffer from getting stones in their urinary tract. Veterinarians will refer to the condition as feline urolithiasis, feline urological syndrome, or simply as a urinary tract infectio, which is also the terminology used to describe the human variant of this medical problem. Fortunately for our felines, mild homeopathic mediums are well suited to treat the disease. Homeopathic veterinarian Randy Kidd states in his book "Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Cat Care" that "this disease responds to herbs better than to anything else I'd tried previously."
Cats suffering from bladder stones exhibit a number of tell tale signs including straining to urinate, urinating in abnormal places, licking the genitals and blood in the urine. These are classic symptoms for what is known as feline idiopathic cystitis. Some cats exhibit no symptoms when suffering from bladder stones, but may experience bladder infections that will not resolve normally following antibiotic treatment.
Bladder stones, also called uroliths, are stones in the urinary bladder and urinary tract of cats. Formed around crystallized minerals in the cat's urine, uroliths that collect in the bladder can damage the bladder lining, resulting in infections and blood in the urine. Cats with struvite stones, the most common feline urinary crystal, typically have concentrated urine with a too high alkaline content and present with symptoms of urinary tract infection. Forcing the urine to be more acidic through a diet change can often dissolve the stones without surgery.
Many pet health conditions can be managed simply by changing the pet's diet. Specific health issues that can be managed by making dietary changes include urinary, kidney and bladder conditions. By changing some ingredients in a pet's diet, the pH can be altered, reducing the chances that bladder stones will recur. Reducing the amount of protein in the diet can slow kidney disease.
Feline bladder stones can be caused by urinary tract infections, excess minerals in the urine, certain drugs or dietary supplements, a nutritionally poor diet, limited water intake and breed disposition. Treatment will vary depending on the cause, type and the size of the stone.
Cats suffering from bladder stones (also known as struvite uroliths and calcium oxalate uroliths) require special veterinary care to treat the stones and prevent them from reoccuring. While some stones can only be treated by means of medication or surgery, others are effectively treated and managed by following a special diet.
Bladder stones in cats, commonly known as uroliths, are clusters of minerals formed into a rock hard substance. The stones primarily affect the bladder wall and the urethra of cats and can be caused by a variety of issues.
Also known as uroliths or calculi, bladder stones are collections of minerals that have gathered and hardened in the bladder. The minerals may be calcium, phosphorus or magnesium. In cats, bladder stones can become a serious condition if left untreated.
Cats can have a host of medical ailments, one of which is bladder stones. Bladder stones can be comprised of many different substances, each with their own cause and treatment.
Symptoms of urate bladder stones in cats include frequent urination and blood in the urine. If you believe your cat may be suffering from a bladder stone, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. However, there are treatments besides medication you can use to help prevent bladder stones or help treat a bladder stone once your cat has been diagnosed. Making minor changes in your cat's diet can make a huge difference in how fast he recovers from a urate bladder stone.
Bladder stones aren't just painful for cats. In male cats, they can block the urethra, causing a medical emergency and even death. Some of the symptoms of bladder stones are straining to pass urine, passing small amounts of urine or none at all, bloody urine, and urinating outside the litter box. While surgery may be necessary to remove the stones, holistic cat food can keep them from recurring.
According to the Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine, urinary stones in cats are caused by mineral collections that form in a cat's urinary tract. The most common symptoms of these stones are blood in the urine and extreme pain in the cat's stomach. There are a variety of reasons for these stones including diet or genetics. There are a couple of non-surgical options for treating these stones. After taking an x-ray and confirming that your cat has stones, your vet will try a stone dissolving diet and bladder flush to remove stones without surgery.
Bladder stones are hard, rock-like build ups of various minerals and crystals found in a cat's bladder. These stones can vary in size from small, sand like grains to larger stones, several millimeters in diameter. Bladder stones are not the same as kidney stones, and are more problematic, as a bladder stone can cause inflammation of the bladder walls and lead to possible blockage of the urethra. This could be fatal to the cat, so proper diagnosis and treatment of bladder stones is vital.
Bladder stones and urinary tract infections can be a painful experience for your cat. Some bladder stones require surgical removal, while others may be slowly dissolved through a special diet. While not all bladder stones can be prevented, there are steps you can take to ensure that your cat is protected against them as well as possible.
