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How can I help my cat with a UTI?

apricot — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:43:07 -0800

I think my cat has a UTI. Is there anything I can do until I can get her to the vet? My cat has been going to the litter box every 20 minutes or so, but only squeezing out a tiny bit of pee each time. She doesn't show any signs of discomfort, and she's not lethargic and doesn't seem sick. She is eating and drinking normally, and her poos seem normal. She is not peeing in inappropriate places. She is a spayed female.

This started last night. We, she and her littermate/sister and I, spent 7 hours in the car yesterday driving out of town to friends. My friends have a grumpy cat who doesn't play well with others so my cats are in one room with their litter box and food. That's how I'm so attuned to how much she has been trying to pee! My cats and I have visited these friends before, and my cats are excellent travelers. There may be a psychological component to this, but I'm not sure. My cats are usually extremely easygoing and mellow.

I have found a few cat health websites and think that she might have a UTI. None of the websites have said anything about self-care, or tips about how to help your cat feel better. Does anyone have any experience with this who could give me some advice? I am driving home on Monday so could take her to the vet on Tuesday. Obviously, if she gets worse before then I'll try to find an emergency vet or take her on Monday. I just want to help her out before then if I can.

UTI + discharge?

faeuboulanger — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:24:07 -0800

Urinary tract infection? (potential TMI filter) For the past 4 or 5 days, I've been displaying a the signs of a UTI (mostly, burning when peeing, wanting to pee a lot, and some burny discomfort located around my urethral opening). I've also noticed some white, leucorrhea-like discharge. I realize this is often this sign of an STD, but I'm 99% certain it's not an STD. I suppose it could be a yeast infection, but I don't have any itchiness to speak of. I've poked around the interwebs, and couldn't find any connection between UTIs and discharge. Today, I started drinking copious amounts of cranberry juice, which, within a few hours, reduced my discomfort, desire to pee, etc. So, that leads me to think it's a UTI, but the discharge is really freaking me out. Any thoughts on what this might be?

Is there anything wrong with a butch bitch... and other peepee questions

taz — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:25:19 -0800

My girl lifts her leg to pee sometimes, she also "marks". Does we haz a problem? My inclination is "no" ... but my vet seems unsettled about it. We've had our wonderful, adorable rescue dog for six months (age unknown, but definitely fully adult between 2-5 years old). After she had been with us for about three or four months, instead of just peeing once in a big stream per walk, she seems to have started "marking"... she sniffs out where other dogs in the neighborhood have peed and pees over that, usually two or three times during a walk.

In the past month or so, she has also started to occasionally lift her leg to pee on a tree, tire or other vertical object where another (presumably male) dog has peed.

I'm not inclined to be worried about that... yet, she does at this point have a urinary tract infection, which is being treated. My questions are these:

How unusual is it for a female dog to mark and lift her leg to pee? I mean, should I always worry that this behavior might mean that she has a urinary tract disturbance of some kind, or is it possible that she has this non-typical (for other female dogs) peeing behavior, plus a urinary tract infection right now, but these two things aren't necessarily related?

Can it be that "saving" her urine for marking is what is causing the infection? In other words, she doesn't fully empty her bladder because she is rationing it out along the walk, and maybe by the end of the walk she hasn't expelled it all?

My Vet seems worried by the marking and lifting-leg thing, but I'm not convinced that it's a big deal. I will watch to see if any of that behavior changes after she gets a complete clean bill of health after the antibiotics and special diet to cure the UTI, but I think she's just become more dominant, and is displaying more of her real personality now that she's all settled and feeling secure. I see it also in her interactions with other dogs; she is much more confident and assertive.

One thing to note is that I don't live in the U.S., and vets here tend to be bit more old fashioned about things, which may or may not be relevant.

about the UTI: I don't know why. She has fresh water in two clean bowls, refreshed daily; we have at least two walks a day, but beyond that she always has access to an outside area where she knows she can pee or poo if she needs to. She has a great home-cooked, fresh food diet. She's totally healthy, happy, energetic and beautiful - even now, when we know she has an infection. The only thing that made me realize that she needed to be checked was that she peed inside one day, right in front of me, which was totally out of character - and since there had been no upset, disturbance or unusual activity in the house or our schedule, I figured she might have a UTI, and I was right.

How worried should I be?

coppermoss — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:17:49 -0800

I know you're not my doctor. I had a UTI diagnosed today -- neglected to mention that when I've wiped, the tissue has occasionally (read: 3 times today) come away a very, very pale pink. Pee is normal colored. Am I bleeding? Should I go to the ER? I took my first antibiotic a few hours ago, FWIW.

UTIs, sex and alcohol

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:56:02 -0800

Questions about drinking and sexing before a UTI is completely treated. 20-something female, ended up with a raging UTI after a fun weekend with the boyfriend. Went to the doctor first thing Wednesday morning (the UTI showed up Tuesday night) and had ciprofloxacin prescribed, which has worked wonders. Have also been taking a powerful probiotic to counteract the dreaded GI/diarrhea side effect, and that has worked amazingly well too.

I'm taking 2 500mg doses of cipro per day. Started Wednesday and will be finished Tuesday. My doctor told me that if my symptoms cleared up, I could finish the course of medication on the 5th day (Sunday) instead of the 7th and final day (Tuesday). I'm already feeling pretty spiffy, but don't plan to stop the meds early; I want to be sure I knock this sucker out.

I am, however, curious about two things.

1. Is it safe to drink a little this weekend? I've heard mixed perspectives on mixing alcohol and antibiotics. Are there dangerous side effects that could occur, or is it cautioned against because the drug will be flushed out of my system sooner if I drink alcohol? I've already been peeing a helluva lot with all the extra water I've been drinking, so I imagine that's been flushing out the drug somewhat, too. Is it safe to have one beer? It'd be on the 4th day of my meds.

2. I've also heard mixed opinions about having sex while recovering from a UTI. I've heard everything from "It's totally safe; just pee afterward" (from my doctor) to "Abstain for 2 whole weeks AFTER your symptoms disappear." I don't get to see my boyfriend very often, so we're always eager for sexy time. Is it okay to romp around before my meds are finished? If not, is it just penetration that's a no-no or is everything (oral, touching) off-limits? I imagine that if penetration isn't okay then nothing is, but it'd be nice to know exactly what our options are.

It wouldn't be difficult for me to abstain from alcohol and sex if absolutely necessary, but naturally it'd be great I could have a little fun this weekend. I'm NOT looking for answers that say "why risk it?" -- if that were the case, I'd abstain without bothering to ask my question. I'd actually like to arm myself with knowledge. Thanks for any info you can offer.

Is more than cipro needed for this UTI/kidney thing?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:02:24 -0800

Starting to freak out about whether a UTI has spread to my kidney, and whether the antibiotics I have are enough. Supposed to be on a LONG plane ride in a day to a place where I don't speak the language and may not get good medical care. Help please? I *have* seen a doctor, but I still need some help. Monday I was prescribed Bactrim for UTI symptoms because the first pass analysis looked pretty clean (no blood, low leuks, but they didn't culture), so they weren't sure I even had anything. Today I went back in since things were still unpleasant. After a "sensitivity" culture, they (finally!) determined that the bacteria is not only present, but is Bactrim resistant. I was given a prescription for 7 days of Cipro, and took the first one 3 hours ago.

I'm freaking out because for the last hour or so, my left lower back has been hurting. Not insanely, but enough so that I'm noticing. I'm supposed to fly halfway across the world on Friday. A UTI that's being treated is ok. A kidney infection probably isn't. If I'm ALREADY on Cipro, is the possible progression from UTI to kidney something that requires another doctor's trip? Is there more they could/would do for me? Should I be considering canceling my trip?

I'll go in to the doctor tomorrow morning, particularly if it still hurts. But any advice would help me get to sleep tonight.

What's up with my weirdo kitten?

sunimplodes — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:26:12 -0800

A couple of questions from a new cat owner. I have a 14-week old early-neuter long-haired orange male tabby. We bought him at 11 weeks from a cat rescue program who had him neutered, dewormed, and got him all his shots. He's exhibiting a few strange behaviors, and I'm having trouble finding answers on the internet, in that most of the stuff I'm finding doesn't seem to quite fit his behavior.

1. The last few days, he seems to have an excess of dark brown earwax coming out of one of his ears. We've gently cleaned him out with a q-tip, but I'm wondering if this is normal, or an indicator of ear mites or some other problem.

2. He makes a lof of unusual mewing sounds, specifically when he's hyper and running around, and also whenever he jumps, but there don't seem to be any physical indications of pain, as he's very playful, very friendly, and seems to have pretty normal body language.

3. He's been urinating out of place a little bit lately. He's very good about using his litter box, and it's cleaned daily, removing 2-4 "deposits" at a time. Nonetheless, he has peed on the couch a couple times, and also on some clothes in the bedroom more than once. It's infrequent. He seems friendly and happy, so I don't think it's a behavioral thing, and it doesn't seem frequent enough to be a urinary tract infection. Any ideas?

With all this said, we have an appointment scheduled at the vet, but I'm looking to go in with some idea of what's going on so I can ask better questions, and I'm also looking to see if there's anything I can do in the meantime.

Thanks!

Festive Red Colouring - Not always a "Good Thing"

dancinglamb — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:16:32 -0800

Cipro or Christmas Tree causing the Red Itchies? I was diagnosed with a UTI on Saturday (four days ago). I filled the script for Bactrim DS and started it immediately (I also took some AZO). Late Monday afternoon the doctor's office called, saying they needed to switch the script to Cipro based on the urine culture results.

I picked up the script Tuesday morning and was told to take it ASAP by the pharmacist I told her that I had already taken the Bactrim that morning. She said that it wouldn't make a difference since it wasn't working against the infection. Besides, I wasn't feeling better, anyway.

I took the Cipro around 12:30pm. By 6:30pm, my face (mostly my cheeks and along my jawline) was kind of hot, red, swollen and itchy and looked/felt like a prickly heat rash. I'm allergic to penicillin and erythromycin but those send me into big hives and vomiting.

The complication in all of this is that I was virtually buried in my Christmas tree for most of the afternoon (the fucking thing kept falling over and I was trying to fix it). I don't if it was a reaction to the sap or the meds. So, I waited till about 9:30pm, and called the doctor, who said to take Benadryl and wait it out. He doubted it was the Cipro since I've taken it before with no problem. He said that since it didn't seem like a major reaction, it was more important to get the abx going to try and knock out the UTI before it got any worse.

The red itchies still haven't really gone away, nor has the swelling. Problem is, I've stayed away from the tree until this afternoon. I finished decorating it and all the itchy nonsense is about 60% worse. But now added to that is now flank pain (didn't have that until a few hours ago) and the UTI nonsense is still in full force. I took the Cipro this morning. I'm on 500mg dosage.

Any ideas? And yes, I'm swilling water. And cranberry juice. Low sugar cranberry juice. And I hate yogurt, so I'm not eating it, even though I know I should be.

How do I deal with the depression stemming from a really bad year?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 14:56:17 -0800

I have been beset by crappy luck and chronic health problems in the past year. It's been extremely stressful, worsened by the fact these very health problems prevent me from employing my normal methods of dealing with stress. I'm spiraling quickly downward into mood-swings and depression and I don't know what to do. How did you deal with your stressful periods? In the past year, I've contracted HPV, had surgery to deal with the subsequent cervical dysplasia, developed bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections on multiple occasions, and due to the necessary multiple antibiotic regimens I'm now into the eighth month of a yeast infection that is not even responding to strong anti-fungals. In the past six months I've also managed to pick up ovarian cysts and chronic kidney stones. I have two sports injuries that prevent me from doing any exercise besides slow walking and just found out I have a repetitive stress injury in my forearms. I've had multiple emergency-room trips for some of these conditions, as well as one a few months ago for an absolutely vicious bout of food poisoning. To make matters worse, in the past year I've also been sexually assaulted and a victim of check fraud, both which were a multiple-month legal headache to deal with, not to mention the psychological toll.

My schoolwork is suffering. I'm completely stressed out--I have never had health problems and they're now all piling on at once. I could deal with any one just by itself, but the sheer mass of them is driving me crazy. I get a lot of relief from hard exercise, but the sports injuries prevent any form--really, any form, I've tried. I get relief from sex, but that's only been possible twice in the past three months due to the yeast infections. Can't drink because of the anti-fungals. Can't even bake, cook, pet my cats, or escape to the internet due to the RSI. I've tried coping with ice cream, but that provides short-term relief, long-term stress due the expanding waistline, and I gotta cut that out again in another effort to treat the yeast infection (I was on a meat-eggs-vegetables diet, the infection died down, I included the sugar again and it's come back with a vengeance).

I'm incredibly depressed. I'm getting inexplicable mood swings. I hate my sick, deteriorating body and want to escape it. I want to lie down somewhere and cry. I have had deep depression before, beat it, and have remained pretty optimistic and upbeat--but after a year of this shit I can't anymore. I've joked with my boyfriend that I hope I get cancer, as that would be a sure sign from the universe that it didn't want me in it and I could take it as a cue to just kill myself.

What did you do with your bad luck year? Do you have any suggestions for dealing with the stress (besides meditation--that hasn't worked)? I'm living my life waiting for the next thing to come around the corner and punch me in the face, while attempting to nurse the bruises I've already received. It's no life at all.

Not-so-LOLcat

desjardins — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:15:09 -0800

How do I prevent future urinary tract infections in my male (neutered, indoor) cat? About a year ago I took Damon to the vet because he was urinating all over the house. The vet said he had an infection, gave me antibiotics and switched his food.

In the year since then, we've gotten a (male, neutered, indoor) kitten and moved to a larger house. Damon got along with Ninja at the old place; they fight a lot at this place. Then Damon started urinating in the new place - almost entirely on clothing or blankets we'd left laying out. I thought this was behavioral because of all the recent stress, so I gave him more attention and play. (The kitten had been getting a lot, so I thought he might be jealous.)

Turns out he has another UTI. The new vet has recommended I switch his food from Science Diet C/D (old vet's recommendation) to Royal Canin Urinary SO. (He also says I can give kitten the leftover C/D food - does this sound right?) He gave me antibiotics. Hopefully this will clear up this infection - but how do I prevent it in the future?

Are antibiotics the only cure for an UTI?

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 10:09:01 -0800

Can an UTI go away on its own without treatment? I'm female, moderately sexually active. Around last Thursday, I started experiencing symptoms that - upon research on the net - resembled those of a mild UTI. Constant need to pee but very little urine actually passed, burning feeling when peeing, mild discomfort around pelvis area, etc. These symptoms sort of came and went in terms of intensity, sometimes unbearable, sometimes barely there.

I started showering whenever they became unbearable and that usually stemmed it for a bit, and I had decided to go see a doctor on Sunday. However, for most of Monday I felt nothing, and I woke up Tuesday completely fine.

Complications: I was messing around with the boyfriend Thursday a few hours prior to the symptoms, which would sort of make sense with how UTIs develop. I also started my period Thursday - it's early, so I didn't realize till after the aforementioned messing around.

I plan on waiting and seeing how I feel tomorrow morning before making a final decision re: doctor, but I just wanted an opinion on whether or not it was possible to develop an UTI that quickly, and whether a mild infection can simply go away on its own? Thanks!

Cunnilingus and UTI: must it be so?

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 06:51:46 -0800

My girlfriend gets an UTI after almost every time I go down on her. Help us save our sex lives! Me and my girl have a great relationship. We are quite comfortable with each other in bed, but a problem has come up: we found out that if I go down on her, with VERY high likelyhood, she develops an UTI.

Stimulating her orally has done wonders for our sex lives -- she loves it, I love it, and it is a great way to get things going. We noticed, however, that she would get UTIs strangely frequently after I started going down on her. She had never had someone go down on her before, so it was a little while before she was comfortable with me doing it, and she enjoys it immensely. It wasn't long before we noticed that oral sex seemed to be the cause of the UTIs, though.

We've have tried everything: brushing our teeth before sex, using mouthwash as well, staying away from the clit and the urethra during oral sex, washing ourselves immediately before and after. The post-oral UTI eventually comes back. We have also followed the standard suggestions too: urinating after intercourse, drinking cranberry juice. But this has had little to no positive impact.

We are clean people. We don't do anal, so I am sure this is not caused by possible bacteria from the anus. There is a very clear correlation between me going down on her and the onset of UTI.

It seems like we invariable find ourselves in the emergency room over a weekend, because for whatever reason that is when the UTI symptoms come up. It causes her incredible discomfort, and I hate to be the cause of it. I love this girl to death, and I want to be able to please her, make her comfortable, and not make her tremble at the thought of horrible pain and discomfort in the days following sex with me. It feels like this is having a serious impact in our sex lives, and I am afraid this will lead to problems in our relationship.

What could be the cause of all this? Is there something I can do to reduce the chances of giving her an UTI to next to nil? If it must be like this, is there anything that comes close to cunnilingus as far as intimacy and pleasure?

I'm tilted!

nadawi — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 23:57:26 -0800

[Girlie filter] I'm tilted! So, this question brought up some interesting questions. I was told when I was 16 or so that I have a tilted uterus. I was told that this would make childbirth slightly harder but that's about it. Upon reading some things online it seems that it can also cause painful sex and frequent UTI's.

It should be mentioned that I was born with a UTI that went untreated until I was about 3 months old. I was very sick and wouldn't gain weight. As soon as they fixed it I was healthy as can be, however, I have constant UTI's. Some doctors are suprised how advanced they can be without me noticing. I also notice pain with (oh the TMI) deeply penatrating sexual positions. To add to this I have incredibly painful periods. The cramps are intense and it feels like it's just about as painful as it can get every time. It's also suggested that the tilt has some relation to endometrisios, which my mother had and her uterus was removed when I was young because of. It was said by her doctors that she should have aborted me because her condition would have killed her and me. Luckily, neither happened.

Yes, I've been to doctors. Some say it's in my head. Some say that birth control may fix it (but all it did was make me insane and fat). But none have suggested that it's because my tilted uterus. So ladies, those of you that tilt (it's suggested that it's 20% if us) what have you noticed? Am I just a hypochondriac?

Help with recurrent UTIs?

heatherann — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 09:04:18 -0800

Recurrent urinary tract infections. I've had four in the last year or so. I know about going to the washroom within 10 minutes after sex, and that condoms with spermicide increase your chances of getting a UTI. I know to stay away from sugar, spicy food, caffeine, citrus, etc., while I have one. I have heard that cranberry juice (without sugar) or cranberry pills can help, and it has helped calm it down in the past, but never actually stop it. I don't want to be on antibiotics this often. Should I be taking a cranberry supplement? Is there anything else I can do to stop them? Should I be concerned about how often I'm getting them?

Pertinent info: 24, female, monogamous straight relationship, Depo-Provera, Toronto.

P.S. I'll ask my doctor about this, but: He called me in 2 weeks after my physical because he thought I had a UTI. I said that it had been 2 weeks and I would have noticed something (perhaps BURNING and BLOOD). So, he inquired if I'm having regular periods (though he gives me the Shot every 3 months), because they "clean you out." I'm not certain that he grasps the disconnect between the urinary tract and menstruation (and I'd think that, if anything, the urinary tract would be unhappy about blood in the general area), and I'd like to know what he thinks my period is supposed to "clean out" other than shedding the uterine lining. I'm switching doctors in January.

antibiotic dangers

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 14:56:50 -0800

Medical question: How dangerous is taking unprescribed antibiotics? I know, I know, it's not a good idea, but what I want to know is all the dangers that could be associated with this.

Here's my situation:
I have what mostly likely is a urinary tract infection (blood in urine). I know it isn't a STD because I
have been tested while donating blood recently and haven't had sex since (nor use needles). I also have access to
some antibiotics (for reasons too complicated to go into) which, from what I read here would be able
to treat the infection (14 250mg tablets of ciprofloxacin, enough for a 7 day treatment of a mild/moderate infection).
I have taken ciprofloxacin once before, (infectious diarrhea while traveling) if that matters, and did not experience troubling side effects.

What I don't have is medical insurance.

My idea is to try the 7 day treatment with what I have, and if it clears up, no problem. If it doesn't then
I guess I need to find a way to see a doctor. How stupid is this? Very or kind of?