Pyelonephritis in a cat: symptoms and treatment, nutritional features

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

All living beings tend to get sick. However, cats, unlike humans, cannot tell their owners that they are unwell. Therefore, any owner should carefully monitor how his pet feels. Any change in physical condition and behavior (lethargy, refusal of food, excessive need for sleep) are signs of ill he alth. Pedigree animals are especially prone to colds and kidney pathologies. This article is about pyelonephritis in cats.

What is a disease?

This disease is usually of bacterial origin. Pyelonephritis in cats is an inflammatory process in the kidney area, affecting all parts of these organs. The most common cause of the lesion is an ascending infection. It originates in the lower urinary tract. In more rare cases, microbes enter the kidneys through the bloodstream fromanother organ in which inflammation has occurred. The likelihood of developing pyelonephritis in cats increases in the presence of systemic pathologies that impair immunity, metabolic disorders.

Causes of the disease

The main provoking factors can be listed:

1. Birth defects associated with the structure of the urinary system.
2. Calculation.
3. Exposure to microorganisms (E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus).
4. Cystitis.
5. Mechanical damage to the abdominal cavity.
6. Urine retention.
7. Exposure to excessively low temperatures, radiation.
8. Poisoning with household chemicals (such as varnish or paint), poisonous plants, junk food and other types of toxic substances.
9. Side effects of drugs, allergic reactions.

If the treatment of pyelonephritis in a cat is not carried out in a timely and competent manner, the disease leads to sad consequences. The animal has severe impairment of kidney function. Therefore, owners should immediately contact a specialist if the pet has signs indicating the presence of an ailment.

You should not try to treat your pet yourself. The wrong therapy will only worsen his condition.

The main manifestations of the disease

When pyelonephritis in a cat, the symptoms in the initial stages of the pathology are usually not pronounced. They do not affect the quality of life of the pet. However, whenWithout therapy, the disease leads to the development of blood poisoning. Sepsis is the cause of death of animals suffering from an advanced form of the disease. How to recognize acute pyelonephritis in a cat? You can suspect this ailment if you have the following signs:

1. Fever, elevated temperature.
2. Permanent weakness, apathetic state of the animal.
3. Increased thirst.
4. Increased urine output.
5. Signs of intoxication (repeated bouts of vomiting, frequent and loose stools).
6. The animal shudders and breaks out when touched on the back and peritoneum.
7. Cat refuses food.
8. The process of excretion of urine is accompanied by discomfort. This is evidenced by the mournful meow that the animal makes.
9. The cat's breathing becomes too frequent. Heartbeat speeds up.
10. Changes the color of urine and its smell.

With this disease, all symptoms are observed, as a rule, in a complex. Even the owner of the animal, far from veterinary medicine, can notice them. At the first signs of the development of the disease, you need to contact a specialist.

Methods for detecting pathology

Diagnostic methods to identify pyelonephritis in cats include:

1. Laboratory analyzes of biological material (urine, blood).
2. Renal biopsy.
3. Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity and urinary system.
4. Urography.
5. X-ray.
6. Urine collection from the renal pelvis (to detectpathogens).

The necessary diagnostics to determine the presence of an ailment should be prescribed by a doctor. The choice of methods depends on the severity of symptoms and the animal's medical history.

In addition, factors such as the conditions of a veterinary clinic, the presence or absence of special medical equipment are taken into account. If, during the diagnostic process, stones in the kidneys or bladder were found in the pet, you need to get rid of them and only then begin therapy. Otherwise, it will not be able to give a positive effect.

When a cat has pyelonephritis, the symptoms and treatment depend on the severity of the disease, the age of the animal, the individual characteristics of its body, and comorbidities.

Therapy Methods

There are several ways to deal with this disease. In any case, with acute pyelonephritis in a cat, treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian. With a severe form of the disease, the animal should be placed in a hospital.

If the pet is at home, he needs to provide a calm environment. The cat should lie on a warm bed.

The owner needs to ensure that there are no drafts in the room. To eliminate discomfort, veterinarians usually prescribe no-shpu or baralgin. At the initial stage, pararenal blockade is carried out. In addition, the animal is given antibiotics: amoxicillin, penicillin. The first week of therapy they are used in double dosage. Then they take a break for 10 days. Then the coursetreatment is resumed. But the dosage is reduced by half. Sulfanilamide preparations and agents that enhance urinary excretion (diacarb) are also prescribed. In addition, infusion therapy is carried out using potassium chloride, glucose. The purulent form of the pathology is treated with intravenous saline, corticosteroids.

To eliminate the signs of the disease, not only medicines are needed, but also a diet. What to feed a cat with pyelonephritis?

It is recommended to give the animal light food that is quickly digested: low lipid dairy products (kefir, whey), boiled vegetables.

Folk Therapy

To treat this pathology and prevent its development, you can use infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants. One of the effective drugs is prepared as follows. You need to take dried dandelion grass and birch leaves in a ratio of 2 to 1, chop and mix well. A large spoonful of raw materials is placed in a deep plate, poured with a glass of boiling water. Insist on a water bath for 30 minutes. The mixture is then cooled down. Strain the mass to remove the remnants of grass and leaves. The resulting liquid is combined with a glass of cold boiled water. Give the animal 4 times a day in a warm form 30 minutes before feeding. Therapeutic dose - 10 milliliters, prophylactic - 5.

In addition, to eliminate the symptoms of pyelonephritis in cats, infusions and decoctions of juniper berries, birch buds, wild rose, calendula are used.

However, you should not treat the animal with these remedies on your own. Please consult your veterinarian before use.

How to prevent the development of pathology?

In order to avoid the occurrence of this dangerous condition, it is necessary to treat any ailments in a timely manner. Colds, gynecological diseases, cystitis and other disorders of the urinary system can cause pyelonephritis. If any changes in the well-being of the animal occur, you should immediately show it to the veterinarian. One of the effective measures to prevent the inflammatory process in the kidneys is proper pet care. The cat must be kept clean and warm, remove the tray in time and change the filler.

Regular walks and a nutritious diet rich in vitamins and minerals also promote he alth.

Conclusion

Purchasing a pet, the owner takes on a great responsibility. The main manifestation of love for a four-legged friend is an attentive attitude to his well-being. By taking care of your cat's he alth, you can recognize the disease at an early stage, treat it in time and prevent serious complications.