What Foods Cause Urinary Tract Infection

Cat Urinary Infection Causes

Avoid grain foods when feeding a cat. If your male cat has urinary blockage, it means their urethra the tube that drains urine from the bladder to the penis and out of the body is blocked by inflammatory material.

Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy for Cat Urinary Tract

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Avoid Delays In Urinating

Do not allow yourself to hold your urine because you think you are too busy to urinate. When you sense the urge to urinate and hold in the urine instead, you can put yourself at risk for major urinary tract issues. Retaining the urine also allows germs that are floating in your bladder to remain there. Emptying the bladder promptly flushes out bacteria.

For more information about UTI symptoms and treatments, or to make an appointment to see an OB/GYN in Little Rock AR, contact us by calling the Womans Clinic at 664-4131.

Foods To Eat For A Uti

In order to recover from a UTI as soon as possible, you may want to try consuming the following foods:

• Berries. Although researchers are still studying their effectiveness, its believed that eating cranberries, blueberries, and raspberries can help fight off a UTI. They contain proanthocyanidin, which has been shown to prevent infection-causing bacteria from adhering to the lining of the urinary tract.
• Probiotic-rich foods. Try incorporating foods like plain Greek yogurt, pickles, and sauerkraut into your diet, since they contain good bacteria that can help combat an infection.
• High-fiber foods. Foods that are high in fibersuch as bananas, beans, lentils, nuts, oats, and other whole grainscan help remove harmful bacteria from your body. They also encourage regular bowel movements, which can help relieve some bladder pressure.
• Salmon. Cold-water fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation caused by a UTI. Fish oil supplements are another great alternative for individuals who dont eat fish always consult your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet.

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Risk Factors For Urinary Tract Infections

And now a brief note about reproductive parts: Although people with penises do get UTIs, people with vaginas are more at risk. It all boils down to the anatomy, Minkin says.

Bacteria that cause UTIs often make their way from the back door to the front and then up the urethra to wreak havoc on the urinary system.

Because the male reproductive system has a longer urethra than the female reproductive system, the bacteria have farther to travel, which makes it more difficult for a UTI to develop.

But regardless of anatomy, once youve had one UTI, youre more likely to get another, especially if you have a vagina. Hickling DR, et al. . Management of recurrent urinary tract infections in healthy adult women.

Can Drinking Alcohol Cause A Uti

You may know that beer, wine, and liquor can irritate your stomach if you’ve got reflux or an ulcer, and alcohol can irritate the bladder, too, particularly if you have a bladder infection. Though you want to get plenty of fluids when you’ve got a UTI, it’s important to avoid alcohol. So, take a hiatus from cocktails at least while you’re trying to flush out the bacteria and recover from a urinary tract infection.

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Can Eating Too Much Salt Cause A Urinary Tract Infection

According to the National Institutes of Health, urinary tract infections cause an estimated 8.3 million physician visits every year. Some people do not have any symptoms, while others may have to urinate a lot, but in small amounts, have a burning pain when they urinate, or have urine which has a strong smell or is pink.

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Why Do Women Get Urinary Tract Infections More Often Than Men

Women tend to get urinary tract infections more often than men because bacteria can reach the bladder more easily in women. The urethra is shorter in women than in men, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel.

The urethra is located near the rectum in women. Bacteria from the rectum can easily travel up the urethra and cause infections. Bacteria from the rectum is more likely to get into the urethra if you wipe from back to front after a bowel movement. Be sure to teach children how to wipe correctly.

Having sex may also cause urinary tract infections in women because bacteria can be pushed into the urethra. Using a diaphragm can lead to infections because diaphragms push against the urethra and make it harder to completely empty your bladder. The urine that stays in the bladder is more likely to grow bacteria and cause infections.

Frequent urinary tract infections may be caused by changes in the bacteria in the vagina. Antibacterial vaginal douches, spermicides, and certain oral antibiotics may cause changes in vaginal bacteria. Avoid using these items, if possible. Menopause can also cause changes in vaginal bacteria that increase your risk for urinary tract infection. Taking estrogen usually corrects this problem but may not be for everyone.

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Antimicrobial Treatment Of Subclinical Bacteriuria

Currently, the clinical relevance of subclinical bacteriuria is uncertain, and its optimal treatment requires clarification. In healthy women, and in women and men with comorbidities, asymptomatic bacteriuria is common. Several randomised clinical trials and meta-analyses with high numbers of patients have shown that antimicrobial treatment does not benefit asymptomatic individuals but is instead associated with negative effects, such as adverse drug reactions and increased antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, guidelines for antimicrobial use in human medicine contain strong recommendations against screening for and treating asymptomatic bacteriuria. In one study of older cats, subclinical bacteriuria was not adversely associated with survival despite withholding antimicrobial treatment.

What Foods Can I Eat That Will Prevent A Uti

Consuming foods high in antioxidants has been known to help prevent a urinary tract infection. Foods high in antioxidants include cranberries, blueberries, oranges, dark chocolate, unsweetened probiotic yogurt, tomatoes, broccoli, and spinach. Smart drink choices are decaf coffee cranberry, blueberry, or pomegranate juices and black and green tea. Of course, plenty of water is also essential when fighting off a UTI.

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How Does Diabetes Cause Damage To My Kidneys

Diabetes can harm the kidneys by causing damage to:

• Blood vessels inside your kidneys. The filtering units of the kidney are filled with tiny blood vessels. Over time, high sugar levels in the blood can cause these vessels to become narrow and clogged. Without enough blood, the kidneys become damaged and albumin passes through these filters and ends up in the urine where it should not be.
• Nerves in your body. Diabetes can also cause damage to the nerves in your body. Nerves carry messages between your brain and all other parts of your body, including your bladder. They let your brain know when your bladder is full. But if the nerves of the bladder are damaged, you may not be able to feel when your bladder is full. The pressure from a full bladder can damage your kidneys.
• Urinary tract. If urine stays in your bladder for a long time, you may get a urinary tract infection. This is because of bacteria. Bacteria are tiny organisms like germs that can cause disease. They grow rapidly in urine with a high sugar level. Most often these infections affect the bladder, but they can sometimes spread to the kidneys.

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S For Maintaining Your Cats Urinary Health

Cats are notoriously plagued by urinary problems. Kidney disease, chronic bladder inflammation, and urethral obstruction are common feline medical conditions, and many owners want to know how they can maintain their cats urinary health and keep these problems at bay. Whether your cat has a history of urinary trouble, or you hope to prevent disease development, use these five tips:

#1: Increase Your Cats Water Intake

A higher urine water content dilutes the toxins, minerals, and urinary irritants that can lead to problems. Concentrated urine is more likely to form crystals and urinary stones, and irritants can contribute to chronic bladder inflammation. Increasing your cats water intake is one of the most important steps toward keeping her urinary tract healthy. More water also means your cat will stay hydrated and urinate more frequently, which will flush out toxins and maintain kidney function.

Try incorporating these ideas into your cats daily routine to increase her water intake:

#2: Reevaluate Your Cats Diet

Before changing your cats diet, consult your family veterinarian. Many urinary diets are available, and she can help you choose one that is appropriate for your cats needs. She can also counsel you about gradually changing your cat to a new food so she will accept it. Cats are creatures of habit and may not do well with a sudden switch.

#3: Reduce Your Cats Environmental Stress

#4: Provide Environmental Enrichment for Your Cat

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Foods High In Vitamin C

What we commonly call Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid, which can reduce the acidity level in urine, helping to prevent UTIs. Many foods contain Vitamin C, including oranges, grapefruits, tomatoes, broccoli, red berries, spinach and cauliflower to name just a few. Starting your day with orange juice or including vegetables in your salad at lunchtime will help you get the Vitamin C you necessary to keep your urinary tract healthy.

Treatment Usually Involves Antibiotics And Pain Relief

Treatment for a urinary tract infection in cats is generally an antibiotic and possibly anti-inflammatory medications and/or pain medications. Exactly which antibiotic is used for cat urinary tract infections depends on the type of bacteria present.

Since a urine culture and sensitivity test takes several days to run, your veterinarian may choose to start your cat on an antibiotic that is effective against the most common bacteria seen with urinary tract infections. If the urine culture shows the bacteria not sensitive to that antibiotic, your vet might switch your cats antibiotic if there has not been a good response to treatment.

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What Can I Do If I Have Bladder Pain From Foods

Living with bladder irritation can be uncomfortable. But you can take steps to remove irritants from your diet and reduce pain. Avoid foods that irritate your bladder, and remember that water is important. Drinking enough water helps you feel more comfortable after you eat foods that irritate your bladder.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Bladder discomfort can be frustrating and even embarrassing. Conditions like IC can make you feel like you need to pee even after youve already gone to the bathroom, and your bladder can hurt a lot. But you can get help to reduce irritation. Talk to your healthcare provider about your bladder irritation and possible food and drink causes.

Youre Using Certain Methods Of Birth Control

When it comes to UTI prevention, not all birth control methods are created equal. Luckily, only one method is associated with UTIs: a diaphragm.

Because of where the diaphragm sits, it puts pressure on the urethra, which might lead to an increased risk, says Minkin. The good news? There are plenty of other great birth control options.

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What Are Other Possible Causes Of Painful Urination

A painful burning feeling when you urinate is often a sign of a urinary tract infection . However, painful urination can occur even if you dont have an infection. Certain drugs, like some used in cancer chemotherapy, may inflame the bladder. Something pressing against the bladder or a kidney stone stuck near the entrance to the bladder can also cause painful urination.

Painful urination can also be caused by vaginal infection or irritation. You might be sensitive to chemicals in products such as douches, vaginal lubricants, soaps, scented toilet paper, or contraceptive foams or sponges. If it hurts to urinate after youve used these products, youre probably sensitive to them.

The Special Case Of Corn Gluten

According to Kathy Fatheree, corn gluten is added as a protein source. However, it is not the type of protein that benefits cats the most. As a grain-based ingredient, it may cause difficulties.

One reason corn gluten is commonly used as a protein source is its low cost. However, it is low in other nutrients necessary for good health, such as amino acids. Ingredients with low nutritional value serve more like fillers than nutrients.

Corn gluten can be rightfully described as a type of filler. Any possible merits as a protein source pale in comparison to meat-based proteins, which are far more beneficial to cats.

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Youve Got A Cold The Flu Or Allergies

You may be tempted to curse your seasonal sneezes, a cold, or the dreaded flu for making your life even more miserable with a UTI, but these ailments arent the cause. The meds you take to manage symptoms could be.

Though theyre the bomb at keeping your runny or stuffy nose in check, antihistamines and decongestants might make you go less by causing urinary retention. And see No. 6 that may lead to a UTI.

Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites Urinary Tract Support

Bonus Review: Making sudden changes to your dogs diet can upset his stomach and might do more harm than good if hes already suffering from health problems. If your veterinarian doesnt think your dogs diet is a problem but he still has urinary issues, you might consider simply adding a urinary health support supplement to his daily routine.

These Zesty Paws Cranberry Bladder Bites come in a delicious chicken flavor and are formulated to balance your dogs urine pH while also supporting other aspects of his urinary health.

This supplement features Cran-Max with patented Bio-Shield technology to flush out bad bacteria and promote healthy bladder and urinary function. Simply follow the feeding instructions on the package to give your dog 1 to 3 chews a day. Its that simple!

The Basics About Urinary Tract Health in Dogs

Aside from the territorial aspect of it, peeing is a normal behavior for dogs. When you notice changes in your dogs urinary habits, it should be cause for concern.

Here are some of the most common things that can affect urinary tract health for dogs:

Urinary habits vary greatly from one dog to another, so just because your dog only pees twice a day doesnt necessarily mean something is wrong.

Here are some other warning signs that your dog might have a urinary health issue:

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Things You Can Do Yourself

To help ease pain:

• takeparacetamolup to 4 times a day to reduce pain and a high temperature for people with a UTI, paracetamol is usually recommended over NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aspirin
• you can give childrenliquid paracetamol
• rest and drink enough fluids so you pass pale urine regularly during the day, especially during hot weather

It’s important to follow the instructions on the packet so you know how much paracetamol you or your child can take, and how often.

It may also help to avoid having sex until you feel better.

You cannot pass a UTI on to your partner, but sex may be uncomfortable.

Taking cystitis sachets or cranberry products has not been shown to help ease symptoms of UTIs.

Antimicrobial Treatment Of Recurrent/complicated Cystitis

In cases of complicated UTIs, identifying and addressing the primary reason for bacterial colonisation is critical to avoid treatment failure or recurrent infection. While the previous version of the ISCAID guidelines recommended long-duration treatment for all cases of recurrent cystitis, the 2019 guidelines acknowledge the broad range of conditions encompassed in this category and state that long-term therapy is no longer automatically warranted. Depending on the severity of clinical signs, analgesics could be considered for these patients as well, while awaiting culture results.

If empirical treatment of recurrent cystitis is necessary, the same drugs are recommended as for sporadic/uncomplicated UTIs. A treatment period of 35 days should be considered in cases of reinfection, while 714 days may be reasonable when treating persistent or potentially relapsing infections. When longer treatment periods are applied, the benefit of urine cultures during treatment is unclear as the clinical outcome is of greater importance than the culture results per se. Urine cultures 57 days post-treatment in animals where clinical cure is documented may, if positive, help to differentiate between relapse, reinfection and persistent infection, but do not necessarily indicate the need to continue treatment .

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Diagnosing A Urinary Tract Infection

If you notice any cat urinary tract infection symptoms, its important to seek immediate veterinary care. If youve ever had a UTI yourself, you know how painful it can be.

You also dont want to allow a urinary issue to go untreated. Urinary tract infections can progress rapidly, putting your cats healthand in the case of a urinary blockage, his very lifeat risk.

Why Cats Are Prone To Urine Crystals And Bladder Stones

Urine crystals and bladder stones form when more magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, or protein exists in your catâs urine than its system is able to effectively dissolved. Special diets that prevent the formation of one kind of crystal can actually cause the other, so it is best to avoid such diets for your cat.

A great deal of research has been on-going as to the relationship of diet to urinary tract health, and the thinking has changed over a period of just a few years. Originally it was thought that diets high in magnesium and ash contributed to the problem. Now, more emphasis is being placed on the pH of urine . Veterinarians recommend a range between 6.0 and 6.5.

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