Urinary Tract Infection in Cats and Dogs

Urinary Tract Infection is a painful condition that results in the cat running to the litter box often even though he doesn't always have to go. It's seen primarily in male cats because they have a smaller urethra. The cysts that develop are unable to pass thru, and thus create a blockage.

Cats need lots of moisture in their diet. Unfortunately a cat fed primarily dry food is not getting the amount of water he needs. They also wouldn't drink extra water to make up for what is lacking in its food. Thus the kidneys will have to work harder to flush wastes out.

UIT is also attributed to alkalinity in the urine, which helps in the formation of stones, thus resulting in blockage. Now how has this condition come about?
Dr. Weiner gave some very interesting points with regard to UIT in Pat Lazarous Book ( ). Many commercial foods have a lot of grains, and grains create an alkaline urine. In addition commercial cat and dog foods have more debris and toxins that the kidneys have to filter out, which can also weaken them.

When my friend took her other cat with UIT to a vet, he recommended Purina UIT prescription formula kibble dry food for her cat pal! How could an educated professional not know that grains itself can make urine more alkaline. How dare he recommend that kind of food as the cat's primary diet!
What's even more ridiculous is that many conventional vets prescribe antibiotics to cats with UIT. How is that so?? UIT is not caused by bacteria! Any idiot should know that by now!!!
Dr. Pitcairn (Natural Healthcare for cats and dogs) has never found it necessary to use antibiotics for over 17 years in his practice. He also points out that others claim that ash in food is responsible for UIT. Yet current scientific research show that the problem is from the urine being too alkalaine. Yet, many pet food manufacturers have increased the acid content in their food in the hopes of treating it. So that's why we see dry food bags marked "Specially formulated for cats with UIT". However DR. Pitcairn states that these extra acid formulations only has side effects and all it does is cover up the problem without curing it.

I think that vets do know that there is a correlation between feeding dry commercial food and UIT Disorders. But yet again, another cat bites the dust, the Pet food industry gets a profit; the UIT vet doctor she visited gets a nice fat check!!! Not to mention future fat checks since the UIT disorder will keep reoccurring if kept on a low quality diet. Sheesh, sounds like a conspiracy to me..

It's incidents like this that tempt me to just throw all the cat food off the shelves and into the garbage, because that's where it originated. But I know that is just a silly move on my part. I just turn up my nose at the shelves of pet food and walk on. Doing a web page may get more people interested in what really goes on in Pet foods and the industry.

It is clear to me that much of this problem originates in feeding pets poor-quality food with a resulting toxicity and excessive elimination load on the linings of the urinary system. Almost invariabley, the first attack follows a history of feeding dry commercial foods over a long period. Sometimes I say that if you want to increase the chance of a bladder problem, feed dry food and leave it out all the time
Dr. Pitcairn, DVM
Home | Food/Diet | Vaccinations | Homeopathy | Neuter | Vets | Chronic Illness
Declawing | Pet Related News | Books | Fish | Animal Abuse | Contact