[Veterinarian's explanation!] Urinary problems common in winter - How can we prevent urolithiasis and cystitis?
Hello!
The weather has suddenly gotten colder recently. Did you know that with this coming season, urinary problems in dogs and cats are on the rise?
This time, we will explain the causes and solutions to urination problems!
Bow Wow Place offers a wide variety of foods that contain the nutrients your dog needs to stay healthy. We hope you will use the correct information to help maintain your dog's health!
1. Reasons for the increase in urinary problems
1.1 Drinking less water
When it gets cold, both dogs and cats drink less water. When they drink less water, the amount of urine produced decreases, which inevitably makes the urine more concentrated. This "concentrated urine" can cause cystitis and urinary stones.
1.2 Reduced frequency and duration of walks
For example, if your dog prefers to relieve himself outside, reducing the frequency and duration of walks will cause him to hold his pee longer. Holding in his pee can also lead to cystitis.
1.3 The toilet is in a cold place
Even if your dog or cat excretes indoors, if the litter box is located in a cold place in the house, they may end up holding in their urine. This can also lead to cystitis, as mentioned above.
2. What are urinary tract problems?
Among urinary problems, diseases that occur from the bladder to the urethra are collectively called "lower urinary tract diseases." This time, we will explain the three most common types. For all diseases, drinking water to urinate a lot and not holding in the urge to go to the toilet are essential for treatment.
2.1 Urinary stones
As the name suggests, this is a disease in which stones form in the bladder. When the balance of minerals in the diet is not appropriate, or when the pH of urine is extremely acidic or alkaline, the crystals that form stones can form. If the crystals are not excreted and remain in the bladder, they will eventually gather together and become stones.
2.2 Cystitis
When crystals or stones damage the bladder mucosa or there is a bacterial infection in the bladder, the condition in which the bladder mucosa becomes inflamed is called "cystitis." If you have symptoms such as frequent urination, accidental urination, or pain when urinating, you may have cystitis. Cystitis is a disease that is common in girls who have short urethras.
2.3 Urethral obstruction
When bladder stones or damaged, exfoliated bladder mucous cells get stuck in the urethra and block the passage of urine, it is called "urethral obstruction." This condition is common in boys with long urethras. If the dog is completely unable to urinate, in the worst case scenario, it can be life-threatening due to acute kidney failure or bladder rupture. If your dog goes to the toilet multiple times but is not urinating at all, it is dangerous, so take him to the vet immediately.
3.What are the countermeasures?
3.1 Increase your fluid intake
Even if you tell your dog or cat to drink water, they won't drink it easily... So, it is effective to increase the water content of their food by making some adjustments! It may be a good idea to soften dry food, try wet food, or give them soup for dogs and cats.
Another good idea is to provide fresh water in containers that are the right shape and height for each dog or cat to easily drink from.
3.2 Toilet training
It is also important to toilet train your dog indoors so that it can urinate properly regardless of the weather. Training becomes more difficult as your dog gets older, so it is important to start training as young as possible.
3.3 Place the toilet in an easy-to-reach location
As mentioned in Chapter 1, the location of the litter box is also important. If the litter box is in a cold place or far from the area your pet usually spends time in, reconsider its location. Also, if the size of the litter box or the height of the step leading up to it is not appropriate, this can cause urination problems. We recommend that you carefully observe how your dog or cat approaches the litter box to see if there are any barriers in the way.
summary
This time, we explained about urinary tract problems that are common in winter. What did you think? Once you have urinary tract problems, they tend to recur, so it is important to prevent illness before they occur. If symptoms appear, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible, so please check your dog or cat's excretion status carefully.
We will continue to provide accurate information from a veterinarian's perspective, so please stay tuned! Bow Wow Place also now offers a selection of additive-free, safe and secure dog food.
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