How Your Pet’s Diet Affects Their Urinary Health
One of the most common conditions that affect cats is problems with their urinary system. A variety of urinary issues in cats fall under an umbrella diagnosis of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. Urinary conditions in cats include cystitis also known as inflammation of the bladder, bladder, and urethral stones, urethral spasm, and urethral plugs.
These conditions are at least painful and, in some scenarios, they can be fatal. Cats are also susceptible to infections of the upper urinary tract, most commonly kidney failure. Nonetheless, cats can also contract bacterial infections that can irritate their urinary system and more rarely, develop tumors or mucus plugs which lead to urinary issues.
What you feed your cat has a great impact on their urinary health. Your cat’s diet supports their urinary system by creating a favorable internal environment in which stones are less likely to form. The right diet also helps flush out their system. It is therefore important to ensure that you only feed what is right to your cat.
How Does Diet Affect Urinary Health of Your Cat?
Diet, Obesity and Urinary Tract Disease
Overweight and obese cats are more susceptible to urinary tract problems. This happens for a few different reasons, from chronic inflammation throughout the body caused by excess fat to compression of the urethra by fat nearby. Cats are lazy generally. Their diet is an important cause of obesity.
Protein and Phosphorous Content and Urinary Disease
High levels of proteins themselves are not a concern for the urinary disease. However, very high levels of protein in a cat that also has renal disease puts excess strain on the kidneys. It is the same for phosphate levels. High phosphate levels in cats with renal disease lead to kidneys becoming less capable of controlling phosphate levels. This means that high levels of phosphorous can lead to damage.
Dry cat food and Urinary Tract Disease
Cats that feed entirely on dry food have a higher incidence of urinary tract disease. Naturally, cats eat food with a moisture content of about 80%. So they are not very good at taking enough water. When on a dry-food-only diet, cats don’t always adapt to conserve water and so they produce very concentrated urine, which increases the chance of inflammation and formation of crystals. Dry food also increases the likelihood of obesity, which results in further problems for the urinary disease.
Diet Effect on Stones and Crystals
The diet of your cat affects the acidity of their urine. It also affects exactly what is dissolved in the urine, and the dilution of urine. Concentrated urine that has lots dissolved in it is more likely to allow the formation of stones and crystals. They also form better in acidic or alkali environments. The type of cat food determines how acidic the urine is.
What to Do to Improve Your Cat’s Urinary Health
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Increase the Water Intake
A higher urine water content dilutes the minerals, toxins, and urinary irritants that can result in problems. Concentrated urine is more likely to lead to the formation of crystals and urinary stones, and irritants that lead to chronic bladder inflammation. Increasing the water intake leads to a healthy urinary tract.
More water also means that your cat stays hydrated and urinates more frequently, which flush out toxins and maintain the function of the kidney. Try incorporating fresh water, canned food, fountains, and flavored water into your furry friend’s daily routine to increase their water intake.
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Reduce the Cat’s Environmental Stress
Cats are sensitive to environmental stressors which are linked to inappropriate elimination and feline lower urinary tract disease, a condition that leads to chronic bladder inflammation. Cats that are affected by this suffer from bladder pain and are at risk of developing a life-threatening urethral obstruction.
Internalized stress that manifests as urinary problems is triggered by environmental changes like a new roommate, a new pet, or a different litter brand. Eliminating simple stressors and providing an escape when your four-legged friend is fearful or anxious helps keep her urinary tract healthy.
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Schedule Regular Veterinary Appointments for Your Cat
Cats require regular veterinary care. Your vet can detect signs of underlying urinary conditions during your frequent visits. These visits are essential to maintain good health. A urinalysis can be performed at each visit to analyze the cat’s urine for signs of inflammation, infection, and kidney dysfunction. Having your feline’s blood analyzed is a great way of diagnosing kidney problems. The blood helps evaluate the kidney function of your feline.
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Provide Environmental Enrichment
Cats are natural predators and they enjoy toys. A bored cat is more susceptible to stress-related urinary conditions. Toys such as perches, food puzzles, videos, and moving toys can help to keep a bored cat entertained.
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Prescription Urinary Diets
If your cat has been diagnosed with urinary crystals, your vet may suggest changing the diet to one which encourages crystals to dissolve. These normally involve changing the pH of the urine. They may also contain ingredients to encourage an increase in urine output. It also encourages cats to urinate often, meaning the urine doesn’t stay in the bladder for too long. These diets include
- Hills C/D
- Royal Canin Urinary SO
- Purina Pro Plan UR ST/OX.
However, they should be first prescribed by the veterinary.
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Extracts and Supplements
These include ingredients such as glucosamine and L-tryptophan which are believed to be vital nutrients for maintaining the health of the bladder lining. Some also contain herbal extracts that are known for stress-relieving properties, which play a part in reducing stress which is a great contributor to these urinary problems.
Conclusion
The urinary system of your cat is very important as it works to process and eliminate waste products from their body. Any problem with the urinary system affects your cat’s comfort and overall health. Always remember to give your furry friend access to plenty of clean and fresh drinking water to ensure that its urinary system is healthy.