Investigating Clues As To Why Cats Get Bladder Stones
Why do cats get bladder stones is a question many pet owners will need answers to at some point. Cats, dogs, and people all fall prey to bladder stones and in this informational article we will give you an overview of the types of stones, what might have been the underlying cause, and what can be done to avoid their formation.
Stones can range in size from tiny crystals, which pass harmlessly out the body, to very large stones which can be two inches in diameter. They are more likely to form in cats which suffer from chronic bladder infections or those who may have a partial obstruction. The two most common types of bladder stones in cats are struvite and calcium oxalate. We will not cover uric acid stones in this article even though they comprise about 8 percent of cases.
Struvite: Struvite stones are a combination of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate and often go hand in hand with urinary tract infection. This may have something to do with the fact that female cats are the most likely to develop a struvite stone. High pH levels in the urine over 6.8 also seem to play a role in their formation. Struvite stones have no particular age demographic having been found in cats under one year of age as well as advanced senior citizen felines as old as 20. About 50 percent of all feline stones fall into this category as well as 85 percent of all urethral plugs.
Calcium oxalate: Calcium oxalate stones are a combination of calcium an phosphate and tend to be found more often in aging males. Male cats over the age of 10 are at increased risk with 12 to 15 year nurtured males being in the highest risk category. Acidic urine is one of the major contributing factors. This type of stone is the culprit 40 percent of the time with Persians, Himalayans, and Burmese being at the highest risk.
As to why do cats get bladder stones there are a number of common causes. Let’s take a few moments to explore a few of these.
Foods containing high magnesium levels: Magnesium is the primary culprit in struvite formation and high magnesium foods and/or dietary supplements should be avoided. Examples are table scraps, fish, shellfish, and cheese.
Too much protein: Excessive amounts of protein can be a contributing factor and opting for a more balanced diet comprised of 60 percentage fiber is a good preventative step.
Fluid intake: For tiny mineral deposits known as crystals to turn into stones they must have an environment which allows them to bind with other crystals. Also, bladder infections are a contributing factor in stone formation. Both of these causes can dramatically reduced if the urinary tract is flushed regularly. Adding either cranberry or blueberry juice to your pets water can help prevent infection. Additionally, opting for wet food instead of dry or adding water or chicken broth to their food will increase hydration and reduce the chances of stone formation.
Lack of exercise: When asking why do cats get bladder stones lack of exercise certainly can’t be left out. Felines who are inactive are twice as likely to fall victim to a stone. Exercise achieves two goals, it boosts immune system function, increases fluid intake, and reduces stress. All three are contributing factors.
In summary, when asking why do cats get bladder stones there certainly are many broad ranging causes some of which we haven’t mentioned such as bacterial infection from dirty litter boxes, birth defects, distended bladder, and bladder thickening. Because of the broad range of causes it is difficult to come up with one simple step to avoid feline bladder stones. Nevertheless, many pet owners have found success by implementing a three step approach including increased fluid intake, diet modification, and a homeopathic remedy containing the herb uva ursi. To learn more about a herbal remedy containing uva ursi click here.
Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of natural health products and natural living
with over 10 years experience in the field of natural pet health and wellness.
Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at
purchaseremedies.com/PetCare.html
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