The Bladder Needs Love Too!

The importance of a healthy bladder is so often overlooked, until there’s a problem.

I saw an incredible amount of really sick animals at my clinic that I could trace back to puppy UTI's (urinary tract infections) to which the original cause was often vaccine-induced. Never the less, it’s where it all begins, with your dogs' first course of antibiotics.

This holding container (the bladder) is responsible for many functions, it’s the kidney’s main squeeze and best friend. The kidneys remove urea (a waste product) from the blood and combined with a water substance, travels down the tubules and into the bladder where it’s eliminated through urination. The bladder also contributes to controlling levels of electrolytes in the body (hugely important to cell life or death and vital hydration) and it helps to regulate blood pressure. 

Who knew this overlooked little organ was so important! 

Most women know all too well about getting bladder infections after having sex. This happens because the vagina is closely situated to the urethra. When having sex, the urethra can open or stretch making easy entrance of bacteria, often E Coli, to travel up the urinary tract.

Also, as men and women age, hormones are reduced and the urethral sphincter becomes weaker making it easier for bacteria to find its way into the bladder. Hence, many elderly people always on antibiotics for UTI’s.  

Ok … too much info for some! But, I’m mentioning this is because dogs that are spayed or neutered have fewer sex hormones and that leads to weaker sphincter = bacteria entering the bladder more easily and unnaturally.

Then ... 

The Bladder infection = antibiotics = destroying healthy microbiome and increasing unhealthy bacteria and high alkaline urine leading to urinary crystals and a huge decrease in the overall immune system. This leads to more drugs = ear infections, hotspots = more drugs and vet prescribed food leading to malnutrition and gut trauma = issues like arthritis, skin disease, autoimmune diseases and worse.

Poor male cats that have been neutered have almost the opposite issue. Yes, they have reduced sex hormones but because their poor urethra stops growing when neutered, the size of space that allows the urine to pass is SO TINY! 

Therefore, if, or should I say when (if they are eating dry food), their urine becomes alkaline from this processed, dehydrated, disease-causing food (can you tell I just cannot stand dry food for cats?), they form crystals. These crystals then scrap the inside of the urethra (OUCH!) and it becomes inflamed and swollen, spasms and your cat blocks and he can no longer urinate which is a life-threatening emergency situation!  

Then your cat’s sedated or anesthetized and a catheter is inserted to release the urine. This often scars the urethra and makes it even smaller which then creates a lifetime of pain and suffering for your kitty. Thank goodness many veterinarians are now giving pain meds and antispasmodics to release the spasm first to see if they unblock but many are still doing this invasive procedure as the first course of action.

So many male cats live than on lesser than ideal quality of vet prescribed food for crystals that definitely do not support health and longevity.

In way too many situations they may need what’s called a Urethrostomy, a surgical procedure that creates a permeant opening cut at the perineum.

Loads of female kitties also have crystals but are less likely to block because of the physiology of their bodies. But they’re still in chronic distress! That can look like behaviour issues of inappropriate urination, aggression, hiding, over-grooming etc.  

How to keep a bladder healthy - the number one key is a raw species appropriate diet or for cats at least a high quality, no grain and NO dry cat food!

These supplements and herbs work wonders!

CRANBERRY

• Study in dogs proved that oral administration prevented development of UTIs
• Prevents e.coli adherence to MDCK cells

D-MANNOSE

• Does not affect blood sugar
• Binds to bad bacteria to carry it out of the bladder in the urine

N-ACETYL GLUCOSAMINE

• Targets inflammation response in the smooth muscle of bladder wall & lining

MARSHMALLOW ROOT

• Rich in mucilage
• Helps to coat the mucous membranes
• Protects delicate tissues

UVA URSI

• Contains natural compounds called arbutin
• Is a known astringent
• Is known to help decrease inflammation

NETTLE LEAF

• Tonic herb
• Used as anti-inflammatory, astringent
• Diuretic
• Supports the kidneys

MULTI-STRAIN PROBIOTIC BLEND

• 1 billion CFUs
• Provides beneficial bacteria to establish a colony and keep bad bacteria at bay

Take home from this ~ Every system of the body is as equally important because it is all interconnected.