sweaters for cats: November 2006

Pet Health: Pet Medication Difficulties

Not all pet guardians give medications and supplements as they should. Here are 9 reasons this might happen:

Forgetfulness
Inconvenient schedule
Tired of giving medication or supplement because treatment is long-term
Misunderstood instructions
Don’t like drug side effects
Stop because the pet appears better
Stop because the medication or supplement doesn’t appear to be making a difference
Stop because the medication or supplement is too expensive
Stop because the pet hates being medicated

Tomorrow the blog will have solutions for helping with these problems.

Adopting dogs

My friends who adopted the pup Charlie are heroes because they are willing to give a discarded puppy a wonderful life. Like most who have adopted cast-off puppies, they must make up for Charlie’s lack of early exposure to a variety of circumstances. They have twice the work of a family that gets a dog that had an enriching early environment. Lots of work for them, but look at the rewards—they have a dog with a great spirit.

When training adopted dogs, use positive rewards rather than scolding. Treats are the best training tools. Listen to radio programs about training dogs, such as Calling All Pets with Dr. Patricia McConnell. Dr. McConnell also has two tremendously helpful books: On the Other End of the Leash and For the Love of a Dog. Use the training methods in the Whole Dog Journal (http://whole-dog-journal.com/). Get support from friends who are also positive in their training methods. Seek the guidance of a holistic veterinarian who’ll encourage the use of Omega 3 fatty acids because fatty acids help the brain develop so pets learn. Feed sardines and fresh ground flax supplements. More than anything, continue what began the day you chose Charlie at the humane society—love him.

Adopting dogs: Charlie

My friends who adopted the pup Charlie are heroes because they are willing to give a discarded puppy a wonderful life. Like most who have adopted cast-off puppies, they must make up for Charlie’s lack of early exposure to a variety of circumstances. They have twice the work of a family that gets a dog that had an enriching early environment. Lots of work for them, but look at the rewards—they have a dog with a great spirit.

When training adopted dogs, use positive rewards rather than scolding. Treats are the best training tools. Listen to radio programs about training dogs, such as Calling All Pets with Dr. Patricia McConnell. Dr. McConnell also has two tremendously helpful books: On the Other End of the Leash and For the Love of a Dog. Use the training methods in the Whole Dog Journal (http://whole-dog-journal.com/) and the Ultimate Puppy Toolkit. Get support from friends who are also positive in their training methods. Seek the guidance of a holistic veterinarian who’ll encourage the use of Omega 3 fatty acids because fatty acids help the brain develop so pets learn. Feed sardines and fresh ground flax such as in Be Well or Missing Link to provide Omega 3 fatty acids.

More than anything, continue what began the day you chose Charlie at the humane society—love him.

Pet Medications And Supplements Safely

Tips for Giving Pet Medications And Supplements Safely

Learn

The name of the drug and what it should do.
What change your pet will experience if the medication is working.
What you will see if the medication is not working.
If there are side effects and how they can be remedied.
What to do if you forget to give the product.
If the product can be given with food.

Do NOT

Change the dose unless your veterinarian tells you to.
Suddenly stop the product. Pets experience sudden, severe effects when not weaned from some products slowly, especially if it is an anti-seizure, anti-clotting medication, or a steroid.
Put the drug in another bottle without the original label.
Give old medications you have because they worked before unless the veterinarian says the medication would be appropriate with the current problem.
Give medications that have lost potency or may have grown bacteria. That is, don’t give them past the expiration date.

Do

Reward your pet for taking its medication!

Charlie

Why isn't it easy? Life with Charlie

Believe me, I don’t know why life isn’t easy. When people ask why it’s so much effort to take care of their pets or to feed them properly, I don’t have the answer. I know it’s frustrating to slow down and add water to moisten powdered supplements so they aren’t sniffed right up the nose, but I’m flummoxed by why the world is like this. All I know is that it isn’t easy raising pets. Here’s an example of how frustrating it can be.

This week I watched my friends’ dogs who are 6 months and 24 months old. Charlie, the younger dog, provided all the challenges. Charlie defecated in the house twice. When I put the dogs in the back yard to go potty, he defecated in the water fountain. When in the front patio to go potty he began digging up the plants. Going outside to go potty meant leashes because Charlie doesn’t come when called. However, he isn’t leash trained….. On the walk he barks at girls playing with jacks on the sidewalk. Back in the house, Charlie jumps at the caged birds who are just beginning to make nests and lay eggs. He jumps on people. He scratches at the sliding patio screen.

Up goes the wire kennel in the living room and into it go Charlie and Roxie. Charlie ate the foam in the mattress. A dozen toys rested in with the foam chips and blankets, so Charlie didn’t destroy the foam because of boredom. It was, like Charlie’s other problems, a lack of education and exposure to different items when he was young. Dogs not exposed to all manner of textures, surfaces, animals, babies, toddlers, children, men, women, and the spoken voice between 2 and 12 weeks of age are an enormous challenge to teach later. It’s especially difficult to teach dogs not to defecate in the house if they grew up living in excrement.

Clearly Charlie did not have an ideal life before he was placed in the humane society and adopted by my friends. Now, my friends provide a good home where Charlie can run in the backyard as he pleases and have the companionship of a wonderful little Westie. It’s my home with more restrictions and different expectations that’s a challenge for Charlie and a frustration for me. But is it worth it? Yes. Charlie, like most pets who end up in an animal shelter, doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. He has the adorable exuberance of youth. In one week, he’s learned to sit quietly in the kitchen while his food is being prepared. He sits before receiving treats and before he is released from the kennel. He comes and sits to have his leash attached. He has stopped mouthing and biting when his harness is adjusted.

With every little step, there is more pleasure and less frustration. Isn’t that what we’re all working toward?

Pet Behavior Problems: the role of anxiety

Two elegant behavior studies are reported in the November 15, 2006 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). The studies examined changes in cat and dog behavior problems over the last 10 years. Researchers found:

Males cats (even neutered) are more likely to have behavior problems than are female cats.
Adopted cats engage in pica the first two months after adoption. For many pets with pica, enzymes, minerals, and good nutrition decrease the tendency toward pica.
Dog aggression is greatest toward owners. Dog aggression is also directed toward strangers and other animals.
Cat aggression is usually directed toward other cats, but lately there has been an increase in the number of cats that are aggressive with owners.
Males dogs are more likely to be aggressive and female dogs are more likely to be phobic.
When female dogs are aggressive, it is toward other pets in the house. When male dogs are aggressive it is toward humans, strangers and pets outside the house.
The number of dogs being treated by behaviorists is increasing, but the number of cats being treated by behaviorists is decreasing.
The use of anti-psychotic meds and pheromones are believed to be responsible for the decrease in cat problems brought to behaviorists.

Some behaviors are linked so that pets tend to have both behavior problems. For example:

Dogs that have separation anxiety and general anxiety also tend to behave aggressively.
Dogs that are noise phobic also tend to have separation anxiety.
Cats that house soil also tend to behave aggressively.

Your veterinarian can help you change your pet's behavior and choose the right medications to help you move more quickly toward that goal.

Behavior Problems in dogs & cats: training, nutrition, brain health, and liver health

All behavior problems are helped by addressing:

Training,
Nutrition,
Brain health, and
Liver health.

For dog training, find a book with a positive approach and enroll in behavior classes. For nutrition, learn about why some foods are better for developing a healthy brain and desirable behavior. For brain health, supplement with Omega 3 Fatty Acids in fish or flax seed.

Cholodin, Marin and SAMe also benefit the brain so that pets have optimum learning capacity. When optimizing brain health, it’s also helpful to strengthen the liver. The liver controls the proteins and other materials in the blood that reach the brain. Keeping the liver healthy is essential when working with a pet that needs to learn to change its behavior. Marin and SAMe nourish the liver, just as they help the brain, so they provide a double blessing. Feeding chicken, lamb, or beef liver also helps nourish the liver. The liver can be fresh or dried as treats.

Behavior Problems in dogs & cats-which breeds are likely to have behavior problems

In a 10-year long study of pet behavior problems, some breeds were more likely to have particular behavior problems than other breeds.

Dogs

Breeds most likely to have aggression problems were young male

Dalmatian
English Springer Spaniel
German Shepherd Dog
Mixed

Breeds least likely to have aggression problems

Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever

Breeds most likely to house soil

Beagle
Bichon Frise
Cocker Spaniel
Mixed

Breeds most likely to have separation anxiety

Beagle
Labrador Retriever
German Shepherd
Mixed

Breeds most likely to have phobias

German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Mixed
Female dogs over six years of age

Breeds most likely to bark

Cairn Terrier
Dachshund
Doberman Pinscher
German Shepherd
Jack Russell Terrier
Shetland Sheepdog
Mixed

Cats

Breeds most likely to have aggression problems were

Siamese

Breeds most likely to eat or suck on abnormal things (pica) were young

Siamese

Breeds most likely to house soil were

Persian
Himalayan
Mixed

Breeds least likely to have aggression problems were

Domestic shorthair

Regardless of breed, several things can be done to help pets with behavior problems. Your veterinarian can make recommendations for training and can suggest lots of games and fun things to do that also help train your pet. You both will enjoy the changed behavior and the process of getting there.

Pet Behavior: The Real Problems

Two elegant studies just completed examined changes in cat and dog behavior problems for the last 10 years. The studies asked if there were differences between the problems guardians report and the problems guardians are willing to take to the vet. The answer was “Yes!” for both cat and dog guardians. That is, the most common dog and cat pet behavior problems are not being discussed with veterinarians. Fortunately, there are many products that help with behavior problems that aren’t being addressed by veterinarians.

Dog
Guardians’ report of biggest behavior problems

Unruly behavior (barking, jumping)
House soiling

Problems taken to the veterinarian

Aggression
Anxiety

Cat
Guardians’ report of biggest behavior problems

Intercat aggression (Pets not getting along)

Problems taken to the veterinarian

House soiling

Hematuria: Causes & Treatments

Because finding blood in your dog’s urine is so distressing, we’ve looked at all the tests used to diagnose it, the causes of bleeding from every contributing tissue (kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra), poisons, genetic predisposition that leads to hematuria after exercise, and prostatic problems that can cause blood to drip from the urethra as though it is coming from the bladder or urine.

To summarize, a list of possible causes of hematuria and possible treatments:

Ten of the possible causes of hematuria:

Bleeding problems: thrombocytopenia Warfarin poisoning, hemophilia
Cancer: benign or malignant
Clots in the kidney: renal infarcts due to white blood cells, casts and protein or DIC
Infection: Leptospirosis, E. coli
kidney congestion
Medications: cyclophosphamide, NSAIDs
Parasites: Capillaria and Dirofilaria immitis
Stones
Strenuous exercise
Trauma

Treatments and supplements recommended for hematuria

antioxidants
anti-inflammatories,
glucosamine-containing products
antibiotics
urinary acidifiers, and
urinary alkalinizers.

BPH and hematuria

Benign prostatic hyperplasia and “false” hematuria

Blood can appear in the urine but not originate from the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra. A “false” hematuria can occur when male dogs have enlarged prostates. The blood appears to drip from the urethra but careful observation shows that the blood is not associated with urination. If the prostate is enlarged but no cancer or infection is involved, the condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH occurs in intact male dogs and can first appear when they are very young—as early as 1-2 years of age. The number of dogs with BPH increases so that 95% of dogs that are 9 years old have BPH.

Signs and symptoms of BPH, in addition to “false” hematuria, are straining to defecate, and thin, ribbon-like stools. Unlike humans, dogs with BPH, do not strain to urinate, but they may show discomfort when urinating, which is called dysuria. Straining to urinate is called stranguria.

Differentiating true hematuria from hematuria caused by the prostate is important because the treatment is for BPH is castration. The treatment for hematuria, on the other hand, can involve increased fluids, diet changes, lithotripsy to crush stones, antibiotics for infection, and chemotherapy for cancer. If hematuria is caused by anti-coagulant poisoning, pets need supportive care and Vitamin K to prevent further bleeding. If caused by medication, the medication is stopped.

The lining of the bladder is a mucous membrane, which means it is a layer of epithelial or skin cells that secretes mucus. We can help pets form a healthy mucous membrane in the bladder—just as we help create healthy synovial membranes that line the joints—by supplementing with glucosamine or perna.

Blood in the urine (hematuria) of male dogs: Kidneys & Ureters

Causes of hematuria from the upper portion of the urinary tract:

The upper portion of the urinary tract includes the kidneys and ureters. The ureters are thin, flexible tubes that carry urine all the way from the dog’s back near the ribs to the bladder in the distal pelvis. Bleeding can occur from anywhere along the ureters or in the kidneys, especially if there are stones or material that damages the delicate tissues.

In some dogs the stones are so large they plug the ureters and prevent urine from flowing down to the bladder. The fluid builds up in the kidney causing the ureter and kidney to become swollen. These blockages cause extreme pain and are best seen with X-rays. When blockage causes swelling, the dog is diagnosed as having a hydroureter or hydronephrosis.

Some breeds are prone to developing stones. For example, Labrador Retrievers have a genetic tendency to develop cystinuria. With cystinuria, the kidneys don’t resorb certain amino acids (cysteine, ornithine, arginine, and lysine) and these amino acids are excreted into the urine where they precipitate and form crystals or stones. With Labrador Retrievers prone to cystinuria (cystine is an oxidized form of cysteine), as with any breed prone to stones, water intake is increased. Because acidic urine reduces cystine stone formation, these dogs are given acidic materials such as increased meat and potassium citrate. Other types of stones are treated differently, some by materials that alkalize the urine. Cystine stones are diagnosed with X-ray or ultrasound, but not all types of stones are visible on X-rays.

Other conditions that cause swelling and bleeding from the upper urinary tract include infections and tumors. These can destroy blood vessels and cause blood in the urine. For example, German Shepherds are prone to developing a kidney cancer called renal cystadenocarcinoma. Other forms of cancer, such as lymphosarcoma can also occur in the kidneys. Tumors are sometimes visible with X-rays and sometimes not visible. Infections are not visible but they may cause significant swelling that is visible. Leptospirosis is a common cause of kidney infections and it—as with other kidney infections—is best diagnosed by culturing the urine.

While kidneys can be swollen and large, they can also be shrunken and small. Chronic kidney disease often leads to shrunken, irregularly shaped kidneys. Genetic diseases, such as polycystic kidney disease lead to irregularly shaped, nonfunctioning kidneys, and may cause blood in the urine.

Some breeds, such as the English Springer Spaniel, have a genetic tendency to phosphofructokinase deficiency. This deficiency leads to hematuria when they exercise. It appears that Springer Spaniels exhale enough CO2 with heavy exercise that the pH changes and becomes alkalotic, causing hematuria. Welch Corgis also have a genetic tendency to unexplained renal hemorrhage, but the exact mechanism is unclear.

Genetic disease, infections, and cancer are not the only causes of hematuria, in fact, they are probably less common than trauma, poisoning, and medication-caused hematuria. For example, dogs hit by cars, dogs that consume anti-coagulant rodent poisons, and dogs on NSAID medications, such as Rimadyl, are predisposed to bleeding. Dogs that find their family’s NSAID medications (Ibuprofen, Aspirin) can also develop hematuria.

Now that causes for bleeding from the upper and lower urinary tract have been explored, the next blog will look at another cause of hematuria that appears as blood in the urine but is not actually blood in the urine. Unfortunately, it is very common.

Blood in the urine (hematuria) of male dogs: Bladder, Urethra, Prostate

Causes of hematuria from the lower portion of the urinary tract:

After examining your pet and obtaining the tests that will help make a diagnosis, which were listed in the blog yesterday, your veterinarian will determine whether the blood in the urine was from the kidneys or from lower in the excretory system—bladder, prostate or urethra. One way this is done is to compare urine from the bladder obtained by cystocentesis with urine that was voided and passed through the bladder, prostatic section of the urethra, and the urethra. Cystocentesis involves putting a needle directly into the bladder and drawing urine out. If there is no blood in the cystocentesis sample, but there is blood in the voided sample, the problem is not the bladder, but the urethra or prostate.

To further isolate the cause, your veterinarian determines whether the prostate feels normal, enlarged, smooth, or irregular. Not all prostate problems are palpable, but ultrasound helps reveal prostatic abnormalities that veterinarians cannot find with their fingers. Among prostatic problems are benign hyperplasia, infections, and tumors.

If the prostate is free of problems, the veterinarian examines the urethra for crystals, infections, or tumors. Male dogs don’t have urethral problems that overweight females have. With overweight females, deep folds of skin surround the vulva, and bacteria become trapped within the folds. These bacteria provide a constant supply of infectious microbes that lead to urethral and bladder problems. In addition to having increased bacteria due to obesity, female dogs also have increased urethral bacteria if they scoot on their bottoms because they have itchy or sore anal area. Anal sac inflammation, for example, often causes scooting. The scooting rubs bacteria into the perineal area and abrades the skin. This increases the likelihood of urethral infections. Males may have anal sac inflammation and may scoot, but the male urethra is not near the anus so scooting and anal sac inflammation doesn’t cause bacterial contamination.

Males do have a prepuce, which is the fold of skin that holds the penis. infectious bacteria, including Ureaplasma, can hang out in the prepuce, travel up the urethra and into bladder, causing infection and bleeding. Some dogs have pus dripping from the prepuce and urethra. Others have no obvious signs of infection, but actually have infections. In addition to all infections not being obvious, some bacteria are extremely difficult to find when urine is cultured. For example, Ureaplasma is difficult to culture, and veterinarians ask the laboratory to do special tests when Ureaplasma is suspected.

What other problems might cause bleeding that originates in the bladder or urethra? Stones and crystals. Some of these are visible on X-rays and some are not. Some will be palpable and others will not be. The bladder wall may feel thickened when palpated suggesting chronic irrigation that leads to bleeding. Some bladders bleed because the normal mucus lining is not made. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Rimadyl, decrease the production of mucus and veterinarians will consider the effect of all medications pets take when diagnosing the cause of hematuria.

Today, we’ve covered possible causes of blood in the urine (hematuria) that originate in the lower portion of the urinary tract. Tomorrow the blog will look at causes of hematuria from higher in the tract, such as the kidneys and ureters.

Blood in the Urine or Hematuria: male dogs

Blood in a male dog’s bladder, which is called hematuria (heme=blood and uria=urine), is distressing and there dozens of possible causes. With so many possible causes of hematuria, this condition can be difficult to diagnose. Your veterinarian will consider all the following:

kidneys
ureters
bladder
prostate
infection
stones
drug side effects
genetic predisposition to hematuria
blood clotting abnormalities
trauma and
cancer.

Your veterinarian will take a thorough history and do a thorough exam to determine the cause of hematuria. It also may be necessary to include several laboratory tests. The history and general physical, general exam and genitourinary exam can include the following:

History and Physical

Genetic information—breed
Current medications
History of accident or trauma
History of strenuous exercise
History of previous incidents of hematuria, bladder or kidney problems
Examination of the entire body, including exam for bruising or jaundice
Examination of the genitalia: prepuce, penis, bulbus glandis
Palpation of bladder and prostate
Blood Pressure (BP), heart rate, respiratory rate, capillary refill time

General

Clotting time
CBC with differential
Blood protein level

Genitourinary tests

Observation of urination—is blood present at the end of urination or during the urination? Does the dog strain to urinate, (stranguria), urinate frequently (pollakiuria), have painful urination (dysuria)?
Comparison of urine taken from the bladder directly with a cystocentesis to urine voided through the urethra
Urine tests for blood, protein, pH, stones, bacteria (E coli, leptospirosis), parasites (Capillaria)
Urine culture. Specifically request Ureaplasma, which is difficult to culture
Urine specific gravity
X-ray of kidneys, ureters, bladder
Double contrast cystogram which fills the bladder with dye and air and illuminates stones that can’t be visualized on normal X-rays
Ultrasound (US) of prostate

Tomorrow, the blog will examine how this information fits together to yield a diagnosis.

Pet Health - Lice

A new treatment for lice is being developed in Utah. Biologists are perfecting a hairdryer-like device that uses air to desiccate the lice and their eggs. Desiccation, not heat, kills the lice in half an hour. Unlike typical insecticides that need to be used twice, desiccation works when used once. To be successful, the drying air must reach the roots of the hair where lice and the eggs are attached to the hair shaft.

Developers of the new device are worried that parents will hear about this technique and will mistakenly believe that heat is what kills the lice. Some parents may burn their children’s scalps by using hairdryers that are too hot. Dale Clayton, the biology professor at the University of Utah who helped develop the machine, says the LouseBuster works

by blowing twice as much air as a normal hair dryer blows and
by lifting the hair so that it reaches the roots where lice and eggs attach.

The LouseBuster is being developed for humans, but all manner of pets—dogs, cats, birds, horses—have lice and may benefit. Lice are typically host specific, so the lice that torment pets prefer to torment pets. Current methods of treating lice include, dips and oral, topical, and injectable medications.

Cat Vaccines

Vaccinations have become so potentially litigious and complex that the latest guidelines for feline vaccinations (AVMA Journal Nov 2006) is 35 pages long, has 213 references, and 6 appendices.

Some feel that vaccines have become problematic because veterinarians do not want to give up the income and opportunity for annual visits despite knowing that vaccines can cause harm. What we know is that core vaccines provide lifetime immunity in dogs and cats. Thus, core vaccines are not likely to need to be repeated in adult pets. This information was confirmed by the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Wisconsin under the Chairman of Pathobiology, Dr. Ronald Schultz. Cats not exposed to feline leukemia before 16 weeks of age rarely, if ever, get leukemia except when their immune systems are not working—in which case they are likely to die of something very soon anyway. Thus, the majority of cats over 16 weeks don’t benefit from leukemia vaccine. In addition, feline leukemia vaccine has caused cancer in some cats, so the wisdom of using it routinely is questionable.

In addition to causing cancer, we know that multiple vaccines in one injection are more likely to cause harm than giving a single vaccine at a time. We also know that too many vaccines increase the likelihood of autoimmune diseases: hyperthyroidism in dogs, hypothyroidism in cats, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, etc.

With vaccines acknowledged as capable of causing health problems, one wonders why the agency officially designated to receive reports of vaccine reactions was closed several years ago. Veterinarians currently acknowledge that accurate reports of vaccine reactions are not being kept.

Scared of vaccinating your pets inappropriately? Rightly so. Vaccines, like most medications and treatments in the veterinary world, have the ability to do good and to do harm. To elicit the good and avoid the potential harm from vaccines, work with a holistic veterinarian to select only those vaccines that should be used for your pets. Do not let a pushy receptionist or anyone more highly motivated by clinic income than by long-term health of your pet over recommend vaccines.

If you choose not to vaccinate, boost your pet’s natural immunity by feeding properly. Supplement with antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Bladder problems: prevention and treatment

Bladder irritation, infection, stones and crystals: prevention and treatment .

Bladder problems may include irritation, infections, and stones. Lots can be done to prevent these problems, and to treat them. Depending upon the problem, they may be treated differently, however these principles apply to all cases:

To help prevent bladder problems:

Feed moist or canned food rather than dry food, especially to cats.
Warm food rather than feed it cold.
Keep pets happy, especially cats, because research has found that angry or aggressive cats have more bladder problems than happy, peaceful cats.
Treat diarrhea immediately with probiotics to prevent GI bacteria from contaminating the urethra and causing bladder infections.
Treat anal sac problems with homeopathic or herbal suppositories that release healing materials within the rectal area to prevent scooting that roughens the perineum and allows bacteria to enter the urethra.
Give pets that urinate frequently but in small amounts on Omega 3 fatty acids to help reduce inflammation and decrease urgency.
If your pet is urinating inappropriately because it is confused, help strengthen the brain to improve thinking with Marin, Cholodin, SAMe and Omega 3 fatty acids.
If your pet is urinating inappropriately because it is anxious or stressed, your veterinarian will help you identify the cause and find a remedy.

Your veterinarian will work with your pet to ensure that its bladder problem is assessed and treated according to urine acidity, magnesium content, and the presence of bacteria or stones.

Have pets examined immediately if they urinate inappropriately.
Use antibiotics as prescribed.
Use herbs, such as marshmallow, uva ursi, horsetail, corn silk, gravel root, polyporus, poria, hydrangea, eupatorium (joe-pye weed), dandelion, and kochia as prescribed by your holistic veterinarian.

To find a holistic veterinarian who will work with you to get to the bottom of your pet's problem so that the true causes are addressed, visit the American Holistic Veterinary Medicine Association website: www.ahvma.org.

Bladder irritation, infection, stones and crystals

Bladder problems irritate dogs and cats, but that’s nothing compared to what they do to pet guardians—pet guardians relinquish pets over bladder problems. In fact, bladder problems and inappropriate urination account for more abandoned cats than any other issue.

Bladder problems fall into 3 categories:

irritation,
infections, and
stones.

Bladder irritation (sterile cystitis) is the most common problem bladder problem. Irritation causes pets to urinate frequently and in small amounts. When the urine is cultured, no bacteria are found, but the pet obviously has an irritated bladder. Both dogs and cats urinate where they normally wouldn’t and appear to have lost their housetraining habits. The treatment is to soothe the bladder. The treatment does not include antibiotics. Spayed animals are most inclined to bladder irritation and many are helped with estrogens, such as found in yams and tofu or medications.

Bladder infections are very common in females. Often bladder infections occur in pets with diarrhea because the bacteria from the stool travel in the liquid feces into the urethra. The urethra is the tube that leads from the bladder to the outside of the body. Female dogs with anal sac inflammation also develop bladder infections because they scoot on their bottoms and grind bacteria into the perineal area and it travels to the urethra. The treatment for a bladder infection are antiseptic herbs, such as uva ursi, soothing herbs such as marshmallow, or antibiotics.

Bladder stones and crystals are the most serious of bladder problems, but the least common. Stones and crystals can plug the urethra as it travels to the outside of the body so that pets cannot urinate. This is a life-threatening emergency because potassium in the urine contained in the bladder is reabsorbed and alters the heart rate. Blockages are so painful that pet guardians who cannot afford to treat pets should request euthanasia. Most veterinarians do not mind euthanizing animals with this degree of pain. Stones can also block the ureter, which travels from the kidney down to the bladder. This prevents urine from draining from the kidney and the kidney swells causing acute kidney failure. Blockage of a ureter is also excruciatingly painful. Humans report it is the most severe pain they have experienced.

Tomorrow the blog will cover prevention and treatment of bladder problems.

Fish: are they safe?

Despite the risks of contaminants, the health benefits of consuming fish exceed the risks. This information, which was published in the October 18 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association, was based on reviews of all current research from scientific sources.

Fish is a healthy food because it contains two Omega-3 fatty acids called EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). However, farmed fish and fish from polluted oceans also contain mercury, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Some are not sure whether these contaminants actually make fish so unsafe to eat that consumers are better off not eating it. What Dariush Mozaffarian, M.D., Dr.P.H., and Eric B. Rimm, Sc.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston found in their research was that the benefits of eating fish outweigh the risks.

Decrease the risks of toxic pollutants by obtaining fish from unpolluted waters. Do not buy farmed fish, which are always more contaminated with pollutants than are wild-caught fish. Suspect all pet foods of containing farmed fish unless they say otherwise. Suspect all fish oil products of containing farmed fish unless they also say otherwise. Look for products from companies like Nordic Naturals that never use farmed fish. If the label doesn't say wild-caught fish, safely assume it is farmed fish, and do not choose it for your pet.

If your pets are allergic to fish, provide them with Omega 3 fatty acids from flax.