Symptoms, Treatment, & Prevention of Cat & Dog Cystitis

1. What Causes Feline and Canine Cystitis?

The most common causes of feline and canine cystitis can be categorized into the following five groups:

（1）Pathogenic Bacteria: Gramnegative bacteria are most common, with a small percentage being Grampositive. These microorganisms typically enter the urinary tract via an ascending route, particularly in male animals during the breeding season.

（2）Irritating Substances or Medications: Examples include coal tar;

（3）Uroliths: Stones in the urethra can block urine flow, leading to bacterial infections. Stones in the bladder can also irritate or injure the mucous membrane, causing bacterial infections, or serve as a hiding place for bacterial microorganisms, perpetuating the infection.

（4）Trauma

（5）Tumors

（6）Idiopathic Cystitis

2. What Are the Clinical Symptoms of Feline and Canine Cystitis?

Animals with cystitis often exhibit varying degrees of frequency in urination, accompanied by slow and painful urination. They may frequently assume a urination posture but produce only small amounts of urine. The urine may appear cloudy and sometimes contain blood or clots. In severe cases with purulent lesions, fever may also be observed.

There will always be other systemic symptoms if it's not just a simple cystitis. If the upper urinary tract (ureters, kidneys, etc.) is also infected by bacteria, the animal may show symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, and dehydration, among other clinical signs related to uremia.

3. How Is Feline and Canine Cystitis Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of cystitis can be made through urine tests, abdominal ultrasound, complete blood count, and blood chemistry to determine the severity of the disease and whether it has affected other organs. The presence of granular casts and leukocyte casts in the urine sediment suggests that the cystitis has spread to the kidneys. If there is a high number of bacteria (10^5 per milliliter) in the excreted or voided urine, these bacteria can be identified as the culprits of the infectious cystitis.

In cases of cystitis without purulent lesions or kidneys that have not yet been affected, blood and serum chemistry results are usually within the normal range. When the bladder is affected by purulent inflammation, the white blood cell count increases. When the kidneys are also damaged, not only will BUN and CREA levels rise, but the affected animal may also show signs of anemia.

4. How Is Feline and Canine Cystitis Treated?

The most effective treatment is to identify the cause of the condition and then treat it accordingly.

At home, owners can provide care by encouraging their pets to drink more water, which helps to flush out inflammatory substances and increase bladder irrigation.