Your cat has just had a bladder infection: her first UTI (urinary
tract infection). Now the vet says she has a thickened
bladder wall. He may have explained, but you still feel in
the dark. What the heck is cat bladder thickening,
anyway? It sounds worse than the UTI! Cat bladder thickening
is a symptom, rather than a disease. Left untreated, it can
create chronic problems for your pet, but it is not life
threatening. When your cat urinates but never truly empties
his or her bladder, then the bladder never fully empties and has a
constant feeling of pressure and fullness from the urine it
contains. Over time the muscle fibers of the bladder wall thicken
and grow shorter from trying to deal with the pressure and the
constant need to urinate. Over time, your cat will have more
and more difficulty controlling urination, and may suffer a range
of related problems. Ultimately the thickening of the cat
bladder stops being “just a symptom” and becomes a full blown
chronic condition in its own right. How can you treat cat bladder
thickening? Your vet will offer you several options,
including cortisone (steroid) therapy, along with antibiotics to
get rid of any lingering infections. For critical conditions
these may be your very best choice. But you should also talk
to your vet about home care, home cures, and alternative medical
treatments which are gentle and effective. The two major elements
to approach in dealing with cat bladder thickening are the issues
of bacterial infection, and the inability to empty the
bladder. Both can be approached through diet, basic pet
care, and natural food supplements. Your veterinarian can
prescribe food to help prevent urinary tract infections and cut
down on irritating crystal formation, which can also lead to
bladder thickening and inflammation.At home you need to make sure
your cat has constant access to clean, fresh water and a clean cat
box: by giving him lots of water, and a place to urinate easily,
regularly and pleasantly, you increase the odds of flushing out
bacteria that might infect the bladder. This constant
urination also dilutes the urine, reducing crystal formation. By
removing irritants and promoting regular urination, you increase
the odds of your cat actually emptying his bladder. Thin,
dilute urine doesn’t sting as much, or cause as much swelling, so
urination is easier and less stressful. The final step is to
provide natural supplements with active ingredients like Berberis,
Cantharis and Staphysagris which destroy bacteria, promote
urination, heal irritation, and soothe sore, swollen tissues. These
supplements are affordable and highly effective at reducing cat
bladder thickening [1] and preventing new bacteria from forming.
With time, care, and attention you will help your cat achieve
bladder health. When it comes to cat bladder thickening,
preventative care is the best defense of all. Laura Ramirez is a
passionate researcher of natural remedies which heal disorders and
keep pets vibrant and healthy. Find out more about safe, effective
ways to maintain your pet's urinary tract health at
www.pet-ut-health.com [2]. Ms. Ramirez is also the author of the
award-winning parenting book [3], Keepers of the Children: Native
American Wisdom and Parenting. Her book won a Nautilus Award for
books that "promote conscious living and social change." She is the
publisher of Family Matters Parenting Magazine and a keynote
speaker. [1] http://www.pet-ut-health.com [2]
http://www.pet-ut-health.com [3]
http://www.parenting-child-development.com/parenting-book.html
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