Cat Food/diet Related To Urinary Tract Infections
If your cat develops recurrent urinary tract infections or if he or she is also diagnosed with bladder stones or crystals, your veterinarian might recommend a diet change and increasing how much water your cat drinks.
Cat food for urinary health addresses the issue in several ways.
There are no diets that treat or prevent urinary tract infections, but your veterinarian may recommend a diet aimed at urinary health based on other findings on the urinalysis. Therapeutic urinary diets are limited in certain minerals to prevent the development of stones and crystals. These diets also address urinary tract health by adjusting your cats urinary pH to help prevent or reverse crystal and stone formation.
The right diet depends on which type of urinary tract disease your cat has.
While they can also help to prevent episodes of bladder inflammation, most diets focus on bladder stones and crystals.
The most common types of bladder stones and crystals found in cats are calcium oxalate and struvite. These crystals can be identified by their shape when viewed under a microscope. The type of bladder stones present can only be identified by sending it to a diagnostic lab after removal.
Luckily, many diets are now formulated to prevent both struvite and calcium oxalate crystals, so its much easier than it used to be to treat appropriately. If bladder stones are present, they will usually have to be removed surgically to prevent a blockage, chronic infections, or discomfort..
Are Any Tests Needed
A urine sample can confirm the diagnosis and identify the germ causing the infection. Further tests are not usually necessary if you are otherwise well and have a one-off infection. However, your doctor may advise tests of your kidney, prostate gland, or bladder if an underlying problem is suspected.
An underlying problem is more likely if the infection does not clear with an antibiotic medicine, or if you have:
- Symptoms that suggest a kidney is infected .
- Recurring urine infections. For example, two or more in a three-month period.
- Had problems with your kidney in the past, such as kidney stones or a damaged kidney.
- Symptoms that suggest an obstruction to the flow of urine.
- Blood-stained urine which persists after treatment with antibiotics.
Tests may include:
What Causes A Kidney Infection
The commonest cause of kidney infection is the bacteria called E coli . The mode of infection is ascending of the germ from the anogenital area.
The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters , urinary bladder, and the urethra . These bacteria can enter the urinary tract via the urethra. The infection can occur during sexual intercourse or because of poor hygiene habits after bowel movements. On entering the urethra, the bacteria can migrate upwards to infect the bladder and the kidneys . Although pyelonephritis is rarer than cystitis, it is a serious condition and needs prompt medical management. Kidney infections can even occur in the absence of a bladder infection. This may be seen in conditions, such as kidney stones , and with weak immunity, such as diabetes and HIV.
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Can I Become Immune To The Antibiotics Used To Treat A Uti
Your body can actually get used to the antibiotics typically used to treat a urinary tract infection . This happens in people who have very frequent infections. With each UTI and use of antibiotics to treat it, the infection adapts and becomes harder to fight. This is called an antibiotic-resistant infection. Because of this, your healthcare provider may suggest alternative treatments if you have frequent UTIs. These could include:
- Waiting: Your provider may suggest that you watch your symptoms and wait. During this time, you may be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids in an effort to flush out your system.
- Intravenous treatment: In some very complicated cases, where the UTI is resistant to antibiotics or the infection has moved to your kidneys, you may need to be treated in the hospital. The medicine will be given to you directly in your vein . Once youre home, you will be prescribed antibiotics for a period of time to fully get rid of the infection.
Tracking Down Relief For A Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections are common infections that can cause serious health problems if left untreated. The infection can spread to your bladder or kidney within three days, which is why women should seek care immediately for a quick diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Urinary tract infections are common infections that can cause serious health problems if left untreated. The infection can spread to your bladder or kidney within three days, which is why women should seek care immediately for a quick diagnosis and prompt treatment.
By visiting with a doctor right away, you can start antibiotics before the infection spreads. According to Bindi Shukla, MD, an urgent care doctor at Duke Urgent Care Croasdaile, If you think you may have signs of a UTI and develop body aches or lower abdominal pain, you should see a doctor soon.
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Urinary Tract Infection Pyelonephritis And Kidney Infection
Pyelonephritis or kidney infection can cause back pain. It is a type of urinary tract infection . UTIs are urinary tract infections that often disperse to the kidneys and the bladder. Due to bacteria going into your urinary tract and infecting your bodys organs, pyelonephritis can cause pain deep in your abdomen or possibly in the lower back. Different conditions may also cause this symptom, begging for prompt medical help. The different causes of back pain from kidney infection may include UTI, hemorrhoids, hernia, and lumbar nerve root compression.
When To See A Gp
See a GP if you feel feverish and you have pain in your tummy, lower back or genitals that will not go away.
You should also see a GP if you have symptoms of a UTI that have not improved after a few days, or if you have blood in your pee.
Contact a GP immediately if you think your child may have a kidney infection.
Kidney infections require prompt treatment with antibiotics.
Page last reviewed: 06 January 2021 Next review due: 06 January 2024
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Managing Low Back Pain And Incontinence
If youre experiencing back pain, incontinence, or even both, go speak to your doctor. They may be able to rule out any serious conditions contributing to the issues and they can put together a proper treatment plan.
In some cases, incontinence can be treated and with physical therapy to relieve pain and Kegel exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles may go away over time. In other cases, incontinence can only be managed.
Generally, medications can assist with back pain and urinary issues, but a back brace or postpartum compression garment are all-natural solutions for relieving pain as well.
Lifestyle changes can be beneficial for assisting with both back pain and incontinence symptoms. Try to become more active, with at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise about three times a week. Try swimming, riding a bike, or simply even walking to get moving.
Also, a healthy diet to relieve pressure on your digestive tract. Caffeine, items high in sugar, spicy foods, and alcohol can increase incontinence symptoms. Try adding more water, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet to relieve constipation and pressure on the bladder. The added nutrition may help with your low back pain as well.
What Is The Prognosis For A Person With A Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections typically respond very well to treatment. A UTI can be uncomfortable before you start treatment, but once your healthcare provider identifies the type of bacteria and prescribes the right antibiotic medication, your symptoms should improve quickly. Its important to keep taking your medication for the entire amount of time your healthcare provider prescribed. If you have frequent UTIs or if your symptoms arent improving, your provider may test to see if its an antibiotic-resistant infection. These are more complicated infections to treat and may require intravenous antibiotics or alternative treatments.
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A Pharmacist Can Help With Utis
You can ask a pharmacist about treatments for a UTI. A pharmacist can:
- offer advice on things that can help you get better
- suggest the best painkiller to take
- tell you if you need to see a GP about your symptoms
Some pharmacies offer a UTI management service and can prescribe antibiotics if theyre needed.
Treatment Of Urinary Tract Infections
Mild urinary tract infections do not require treatment because they resolve on their own after a few days. If it does not go away on its own, you may need small doses of regular antibiotics. The results of your urine culture diagnostic test can help your doctor choose the best antibiotic treatment for the type of bacteria that is causing your infection.
The length of time you need to take antibiotics is determined by the severity of your infection. Typically, it takes 3-7 days, but in more serious infections, it may take 7-10 days.
If your urinary tract infection relapses after treatment, you may be prescribed different types of antibiotics.
You may also need to make lifestyle modification to prevent recurring episodes of UTI such as:
· Drinking plenty of water to help wash bacteria out of the urinary tract
· Not having coffee, alcohol, or spicy foods
· Quitting smoking
You can follow some simple preventive measures to lower the chance of getting UTIs:
- Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids every day, especially water
- Urinate immediately after sex
- Take showers instead of tub baths
- Clean the genitals before and after sex
- Consume probiotics
- Drink cranberry juice as it can help in decreasing the frequency of UTIs
- Women should not use scented bath products and hygiene sprays
- Wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes to help keep the area around the urethra dry and prevent the growth of bacteria.
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How To Prevent Back Pain When Urinating
While many causes of lower back pain when urinating are challenging to prevent, there are a few things you can do to prevent urinary health problems in general. For example, you can reduce the risk of a UTI by staying well hydrated and urinating directly after sex . In addition, if your doctor identifies that you have a history of kidney stones, they will likely recommend a suitable diet and medication that prevents kidney stone formation.
How Are You Tested For A Uti
The two most common tests to detect UTIs are a urinalysis and a urine culture with antimicrobial susceptibility testing: Urinalysis: A urinalysis is a group of physical, chemical, and microscopic tests on a sample of urine. These tests look for evidence of infection, such as bacteria and white blood cells.
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Does Urine Infection Cause Back Pain We Have The Answer
Anyone is at risk from urine infection. While women, for anatomical reasons, are more prone to urinary tract infection, UTIs in men can be serious when they take place. Many people who complain about urine infection also suffer with back pain. This is why some individuals ask if urine infection is related to back pain such that the former causes the latter. Through this article, we will have a better understanding on the possible relation of urine infection and back pain. And we can answer that Does Urine Infection Cause Back Pain?
The urinary infection, commonly called as the urinary tract infection , is an infection of any part of the urinary system that consists of bladder, ureters, kidneys, and urethra. This infection in the urinary tract is also otherwise referred to as bladder infection. Urine infection is among the top complaints by adults. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the urinary tract infection is the second most common body infection that accounts to at least eight million health care visits every year.
Contents
Not Being Able To Empty Your Bladder
If youre unable to empty your bladder fully, any bacteria that get inside may not be flushed out when you go to the toilet and can multiply more easily.
You may not be able to empty your bladder fully if:
- you have a blockage in your urinary system, such as a bladder stone
- youre pregnant, as the baby may be pressing on your bladder
- you have an enlarged prostate gland that presses on the urethra
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How Are Urinary Tract Infections Diagnosed
Your doctor will use the following tests to diagnose a urinary tract infection:
- Urinalysis: This test will examine the urine for red blood cells, white blood cells and bacteria. The number of white and red blood cells found in your urine can actually indicate an infection.
- Urine culture: A urine culture is used to determine the type of bacteria in your urine. This is an important test because it helps determine the appropriate treatment.
If your infection does not respond to treatment or if you keep getting infections over and over again, your doctor may use the following tests to examine your urinary tract for disease or injury:
- Ultrasound: In this test, sound waves create an image of the internal organs. This test is done on top of your skin, is painless and doesnt typically need any preparation.
- Cystoscopy: This test uses a special instrument fitted with a lens and a light source to see inside the bladder from the urethra.
- CT scan: Another imaging test, a CT scan is a type of X-ray that takes cross sections of the body . This test is much more precise than typical X-rays.
How Is Interstitial Cystitis Treated
There is no cure for interstitial cystitis. A wide array of treatment options exist for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, although well-designed clinical trials to evaluate effectiveness are largely lacking 32). Multimodal therapy that includes pentosan polysulfate sodium , a tricyclic antidepressant, and an antihistamine is a relatively new approach to symptom relief based on advances in understanding of the complementary pathophysiologic mechanisms, but it remains to be evaluated in well-designed clinical effectiveness trials 33). It is important to set realistic goals and expectations with patients because individual responses vary and the evidence base is weak.
You may need to try several treatments or a combination of treatments before you notice an improvement in your symptoms.
Table 3. Multimodal Therapy for Interstitial Cystitis
| Agent/dosage |
|---|
Most people feel better after trying one or more of the following treatments:
Oral Medicines
Intra-Bladder Therapies
Intravesical hyaluronic acid is a natural proteoglycan used in Europe and Canada for the treatment of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, but it is not approved for this use in the United States because supporting clinical trial data were lacking 45). An uncontrolled European trial demonstrated that intravesical hyaluronic acid treatments in combination with chondroitin sulfate led to markedly decreased pain and urgency at 12 weeks 46).
OTHER ADJUNCTIVE THERAPIES
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What Should I Do If I Have Signs And Symptoms Of Uti
- Contact your health professional right away for advice on treatment.
- Always provide your health professional with a urine sample for testing. The test results are needed to prescribe the most effective antibiotic to treat the specific bacteria that is causing the UTI. The test also helps to make sure that the infection is not being caused by other health problems.
- Collect the urine sample in a sterile cup using a sterile catheter. Do not collect the urine from a leg bag or night bag.
- After youve collected your urine sample, give it directly to your health professional within 2 hours of being collected. If there is a delay, keep the sample cool or refrigerated.
Can A Urinary Tract Infection Cause Back Pain Symptoms And Treatment Options
One of the most typical bladder infections, particularly in women, is a urinary tract infection . Most UTIs are brought on by bacteria that enter the urinary tract and cause irritation and discomfort.
UTIs can make it difficult for people to enjoy preferred activities, focus at work or school, and sleep soundly at night due to the frequent urge to use the restroom, pain during urination, lower abdomen pressure, and other associated pains.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Kidney Infection
- Pain in the lower back or groin
- Frequent or urgent urination
Symptoms can also vary by age. For instance, very young children may only have a high fever, while senior adults may not even show any of the typical signs. Instead, they may experience cognitive problems such as difficulty speaking and confused thinking.
Treatment For Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are typically treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are drugs that combat infection and eradicate bacteria. The medication chosen by your doctor will be the one that works the best against the specific bacteria causing your infection.
Nitrofurantoin, Sulfonamides, Amoxicillin, Cephalosporins, Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole, Doxycycline, and Quinolones are a few examples of regularly used antibiotics.
You must take the medication according to your doctors instructions. Dont stop taking antibiotics just because you feel better and your symptoms disappear. It may return if the whole course of antibiotics is not used to treat the illness completely.
If you have a history of recurrent UTIs, your doctor could prescribe antibiotics for you to take as soon as your symptoms appear. In addition, to avoid the infection, doctors may prescribe antibiotics to other patients to take daily, every other day, or after sex.
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