Day: July 18, 2023

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The Urinary Dilemma – FAQ Guide On Cystitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis And Homeopathic Treatment

Tanvi Shendye, Final Year Student, Bombay Veterinary College.

Does your pet show symptoms of painful urination, frequent urination, straining to urinate, excessive thirst, and /or occasional blood in the urine? There is a chance that your pet might have cystitis or urinary tract infection, or both together. Yes, there are certain other conditions as well in which these symptoms may occur, although majorly these symptoms are related to Cystitis and concurrent Urinary Tract Infection. Read more about the cause, symptoms, clinical signs, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis along with treatment and management of Cystitis and UTI in our blog below –

WHAT IS CYSTITIS?

Cystitis word is derived from the Modern Latin word – ‘Cystis’ (meaning: Bladder) and ‘itis’(meaning: inflammation). Thus, Cystitis means the inflammation or infection of the Urinary Bladder.
When does a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) occur?

A UTI happens when bacteria enter the urethra and Bladder and begin to multiply and cause localized infection leading to inflammation of the tissues.

WHAT CAUSES CYSTITIS?

There is a number of diseases and conditions that can cause Cystitis. The most common cause of Cystitis is an infection that is generally caused by bacteria. Bacteria such as Escherichia coli is the most notorious one and is the common cause of Cystitis followed by various other bacterias such as Proteus, Klebsiella, Pasteurella, Pseudomonas, Corynebacterium, etc. This is termed BACTERIAL CYSTITIS (since it’s caused by bacteria). Reversibly, these bacteria can and may also cause UTI, because of which Cystitis occurs as a secondary infection.
Bacteria enter upwards through the urethral opening. The bacteria can invade and develop when feces/dirt enters the urinary/genital area, if your dog has some wound in and around the urinary opening, or if your dog’s immune system is weak due to some other concurrent condition or due to lack of proper nutrition. In most cases, E. coli is the bacterium that causes such infections.
Other common causes of Cystitis include –
1. Bladder stones.
2. Stones in the ureter.
3. Bladder Tumours.
And other common causes of Urinary Tract Infection may include –
1. Chronic glucocorticoids administration
2. Hyperadrenocorticism
3. Kidney diseases such as Chronic kidney disease,
4. Diabetes mellitus
Female dogs are more likely to get UTIs than males since the urethral tract of females is shorter as compared to males, but male dogs may still get them.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CYSTITIS AND UTIs?
Majorly all symptoms would be related to urination; watch out for these symptoms –
1. Frequent urination
With excessive urination urge, your pet urinates quite frequently than normal. This is also medically termed Polyuria. Accidents at home (loss of control over urination or excessive urge to urinate) or increased frequency in urination may also be related to other causes apart from UTI. The Symptom of Polyuria could also be due to
  • Diabetes
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Cushing’s disease
  • Cancer
  • Trauma
    • 2. Straining to urinate
    There’s excessive straining to urinate. This is medically termed Stranguria
    3. Occasional or frank Blood in urine

    This is termed hematuria, and often, you would notice blood in the urine. This is an alarming situation, and one must contact/visit a veterinarian immediately.

    Also, it is to be noted that blood in urine can be due to stones in the Bladder or urethra, which on contact with the surface of tissue causes sloughing of tissue and bleeding, which mixes with urine hence hematuria.

    Also, tumors or polyps inside the Bladder can cause this condition.

    Poisoning (rodent poison) or Kidney Disease too can cause blood in urine or hematuria.

    Again, we should rule out any trauma caused externally (vehicle accidents, etc.) which may have damaged your pet’s internal organs.

    4. Difficulty in urinating.

    Yes, this is also a possibility wherein your pet (who may have voided urine before) may show signs of squatting again and again and trying to urinate while excessively straining to pass urine.

    Apart from UTI, It is important to rule out other causes such as –

  • Obstruction (stones, blockage)
  • Tumour in the urinary tract
  • Trauma
  • Spinal Cord Injury
    • 5. Pain
    It is observed that there is pain in urination as well as a generalized painful condition
    6. Fever 
    Since there is an active infection happening inside the body, there is a fever. Fever is a coping mechanism of the body. You can read further about fever in pets in our blog below –

    HOW TO DIAGNOSE?

    On consulting your Veterinarian, they may run a few tests and carry out certain medical procedures to rule out other causes of these symptoms and rule in Cystitis/UTIs.

    1. Blood Test

    A routine blood test – CBC (Complete Blood Count Test) along with LFT (Liver Function Test) and KFT (Kidney Function Test) is carried out to rule out other systemic causes as well as to keep an eye on kidney parameters (such as BUN- blood urea nitrogen, Creatinine, etc) to verify if whether these symptoms are due to Chronic Kidney Disease or Acute Kidney Injury.

    2. Radiography (X-Ray)

    To check for stones in the Bladder or urinary tract, an x-ray is an excellent option as your Vet can easily and quickly locate and rule out or rule in Stones.

    3. USG (Ultra Sonography)

    In USG, Bladder wall thickening, changes in Bladder, tumors, growth, etc. can be verified.
    In a bladder infection, there is occasionally sloughing off of the bladder wall with thickening of the internal walls.

    These can be checked by USG procedure.

    4. Urine Analysis.

    A urinalysis consists of tests to detect abnormalities in the urine.

    Urine culture helps your Vet to find out which and what kind of bacteria are causing this issue and subsequently helps them to make the appropriate Antibiotic choice.

    TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF CYSTITIS AND UTIs

    Treatment is generally cause-based depending on whether your pet has Bacterial Cystitis or infection due to some other concurrent infection occurring in the body. Usually, in Diabetes, there is UTI, and the treatment involves the management of Diabetes itself, and then the UTI resolves itself. Let’s focus primarily on the treatment protocol for Cystitis and bacterial UTI.

    1.NSAIDs or Anti-inflammatory Drugs.
    Your Vet may suggest anti-inflammatory drugs such as NSAID or Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs such as meloxicam to alleviate the pain and give temporary relief to your pet.

    2. Antibiotics
    With an appropriate diagnosis and figuring out the bacteria which is causing the inflammatory condition, antibiotics are then chosen based on the bacteria type.

    3. Fluid Therapy
    If your pet is anorectic (not eating), fluid therapy is offered to ensure that your pet is well hydrated and is getting prompt treatment for the same along with medicines such as Vitamin B complex, etc.

    4. Homeopathic Treatment of Cystitis in Dogs & Cats

    Our product CYSTIGO for pets is the best remedy in treating symptoms of pain (dysuria), frequent(Polyuria), straining(stranguria), urination, excessive thirst(polydipsia), and blood in the urine(haematuria). It is also very effective in cases of renal calculi and urinary tract infections in pets. Homeopathic remedies work on the principle of “similia similibuscuranter,” which means “like cures like,” so is our CYSTIGO. Hence, such formulations that cause symptoms like a diseased animal in a healthy one are used to prepare this wonder drug formula to be able to treat urinary tract infections for varied reasons

    Dosage: 20 drops 3 times a day or as directed by the doctor

    Along with conventional therapy, Homeopathic Veterinary Medicine Cystigo for Pets is an excellent cure for Cystitis and UTIs in pets.

    Cystitis and Urinary Tract Infections are extremely important medical conditions, and prompt treatment must be given as any negligence may cause major backfires such as Chronic Kidney Disease or systemic infection. On the brighter side, these conditions are easy to diagnose, and with prompt treatment, uneventful recovery is possible. However, as vigilant pet parents, it’s up to you to be prompt, aware, and quick in noticing your pet’s change in behavior and noticing the symptoms.

    Taking your pet to your Vet at the earliest results in quick diagnosis, quicker treatment protocol, and quickest recovery.

    HAPPY PETS FOR A HAPPY YOU!

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    Treatment of Blood in Pet Urine – Cystigo

    Written by Dr. Sakshi Sharma

    Case Study:

    A 7-year-old castrated male indie dog was reported by his owner to have a 2-months history of pollakiuria and polydipsia (PU/PD) and a 1-month history of intermittent hematuria. Abdominal ultrasonography from the referring veterinarian showed several small calculi and a probable mass in the urinary bladder.

    When brought to Goel Vet Pharma helpline it was prescribed a course of Cystigo for a course of 1.5 months, after which the owner noticed an improvement in activity level and the frequency of urination was brought back to 3-5 times a day with no evidence of heamturia after 23 days of treatment. However, the owner did not go for another ultrasonograph after observing a reduction in the symptoms like pollakiuria and a complete absence of hematuria. Case Study:
    A 7-year-old castrated male indie dog was reported by his owner to have a 2-months history of pollakiuria and polydipsia (PU/PD) and a 1-month history of intermittent hematuria. Abdominal ultrasonography from the referring veterinarian showed several small calculi and a probable mass in the urinary bladder.

    HEMATURIA:

    Hematuria is the presence of blood in a pet’s urine. The two types of hematuria are. gross hematuria—when we can see the blood in the pet’s urine. microscopic hematuria—when we cannot see the blood in the pet’s urine, yet it is seen under a microscope.

    If you notice blood in your pet’s urine, it can be both alarming and very worrisome for any pet owner. For many pets, blood in the urine (hematuria) could be caused by a urinary tract infection, or in male pets, a benign prostate problem. Typically when there is blood in your pet’s urine, this is due to inflammation or infection in the urinary tract which could include the upper or lower urinary tract.

    Causes Of Blood In Dog Urine

    There are many reasons why there may be blood in a pet’s urine, including:

    Upper Urinary Tract Causes

    Sometimes, hematuria can result from urinary tract issues. Sometimes blood in the urine originates in the upper urinary tract that contains the kidneys.

    Some causes of bleeding in the upper urinary tract in pets include:

    Kidney Infection

    If your pet is urinating blood, one or both of your pet’s kidneys could be infected.

    Kidney Stones

    While uncommon, kidney stones can affect one or both kidneys resulting in the presence of blood in the urine.
    Idiopathic Renal Hematuria

    The term “idiopathic” means unknown, so this condition describes an unknown cause for blood in pet urine originating in the kidneys.

    Causes could be due to medications, a kidney infection, or immune system issues.

    pet urinary problems

    Kidney Cancer

    Kidney cancer in pets is rare, but it does happen, and can be a cause for there being blood in your pet’s urine. This cancer is a type of cancer that can either be in the kidneys or spread to other parts of the body.

    Renal Telangiectasia

    The term “telangiectasia” refers to a condition where multiple small blood vessels are dilated in the kidneys. Certain breeds, such as Welsh corgis, have a genetic predisposition to this issue, which can lead to blood in the urine.

    Lower Urinary Tract Causes

    The lower urinary tract includes the bladder and the urethra (the tube that connects the bladder) and allows urine to exit the body.

    Causes for blood in the lower UT in pets include the following:

    Bladder Stones

    Bladder stones are crystals that form in the bladder and can cause inflammation, bleeding, and potential urethral blockages. These “stones” form for a variety of reasons, including diet, genetics, or chronic infections.

    Bladder Infection

    A lower urinary tract infection (UTI) is by far the most common cause of blood in a pet’s urine. It can be caused by several things, ranging from skin allergies, urethra anatomy, and hormone-related incontinence in spayed females.

    Bladder Cancer

    The symptoms of bladder cancer in pets are similar to UTIs and can cause accidents in the house, blood in the urine, or difficulty urinating.

    Prostate Problems

    Intact male pets tend to have a higher incidence of prostate problems, and prostate enlargement or infections can cause blood in the urine.

    Other Causes

    In addition to the cases above, there are some other reasons that could explain why there’s blood in a pet’s urine:
    • Infectious disease (such as bacterial, viral, or disease)
    • Idiopathic causes (unknown)
    • Trauma
    • Chemotherapy can cause hematuria
    • Coagulopathy(this is a condition in which the blood’s ability to clot is impaired, and can cause prolonged or excessive bleeding)
    • A low number of platelets or thrombocytes in the blood (a condition known as thrombocytopenia)
    • Inflammatory disease or vasculitis

    How Can I Prevent My Dog From Having Blood In His Urine?

    Taking your pet for regular veterinary checkups is the best way to keep your best friend healthy and happy, and to prevent urinary problems. Your veterinarian can tell you if your pet is predisposed to urinary issues, and if so, can test your pet’s urine regularly to make sure your fur-baby is in good health.
    It’s also a good idea to monitor your pet’s urinary habits at home, such as observing urination behaviours and habits. If you notice that your pet is urinating more frequently, having difficulty urinating, or “spotting” frequently, contact your veterinarian. These behaviours can be signs of one or more of the medical conditions listed above.

    How Is Blood In My Pet’s Urine Treated?

    Treatment depends on the specific cause of the blood, and your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics if the issue is a UTI, but in cases where there are other issues, such as bladder cancer or bladder stones, surgery may be recommended.
    Hematuria may be caused by a metabolic condition, such as excessive production of steroids by the adrenal glands, or by diabetes. Intact dogs who have a history of hematuria may have an enlarged prostate, in which case the veterinarian may recommend neuter.
    Most veterinarians prescribe anti-inflammatory or pain medicine to ease your pets’ discomfort, and may also recommend a change in diet if your pet has urine crystals or bladder stones. Nutrition is a very important approach to managing urinary tract issues in pets, and certain prescription foods can reduce stone formation and optimize urine pH.

     

    HOMEOPATHIC SOLUTION FOR UTI ISSUE IN PETS

    cystigo homeopathic medicine for pets for urination issues

    CYSTIGO FOR UTI ISSUE IN DOGS AND CATS

    CYSTIGO for pets is the best remedy in treating symptoms of painful urination (dysuria), frequent urination (polyuria), straining urination (stranguria), excessive thirst (polydipsia), blood in the urine(haematuria). It is also very effective in cases of renal calculi and urinary tract infections in pets.

    Dermisule homeopathic remedy for skin infection in dogs and cats

    DERMISULE For All Kinds of Skin Issues in Pets:

    DERMISULE for pets is the best remedy for dogs suffering from different skin conditions like eczema, allergies, rashes, lesions with hair loss, redness, dry, scaly, pus, or bloody discharge. Specific or general lesions or spots as in Mange disease can also be improved.
     
     
    Me & My SKIN & COAT Pet Supplement for skin infection in pets

    ME and MY SKIN AND COAT Homeopathic Supplement

    Me & My SKIN & COAT Pet Supplement is a peerless medicine for our pet’s skin and coat. It helps reattain natural skin and coat after injuries, chaps, cracks, scaly eruptions, or any acute skin lesion in pets. It is highly recommended to treat hair fall for any reason.
     
     
    Me & My IMMUNITY Pet Supplement for boosting immunity

    ME & MY IMMUNITY FOR BOOSTING IMMUNITY IN PETS

    Me & My IMMUNITY Pet Supplement is a unique formula of valuable supplements for Dogs & Cats which help in maintaining and raising the IMMUNITY of your lovable pets. It is made for weak and old pets as it improves immunity, helps better utilization of food, and allay minor ailments or complaints of non-specific nature. It also gives strength to the body’s mechanism for fighting against germs of all kinds.