Monday, March 26, 2012

Is Your Cat Drinking Enough?










Is Your Cat Drinking Enough?

Did you know that many cats are water avoiders? That’s why
keeping hydrated is so essential for feline health. When cats aren’t getting enough moisture in their diet or drinking enough water, they can become dehydrated. Water helps them digest food and eliminate waste. When cats are dehydrated, they have an increased rate of developing urinary tract infections or forming urinary crystals and they can also become constipated. Senior cats, especially, require proper hydration to help protect their kidney function. A dehydrated cat may appear lethargic with poor skin elasticity. While the current temperature, activity level and type of food all have an effect on a cat’s hydration, a bout of vomiting or diarrhea can cause a cat to become dehydrated quickly.

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Cats maintain proper hydration either through moisture in
their food or through drinking water. Some cats can be very particular about the water they drink, the water bowl and the taste of the water. This can result in the cat not drinking enough. Listed below are suggestions on how you can increase your cat’s water intake.

How to Increase Your Cat’s Water Consumption
· Incorporate high moisture canned or raw food into your cat’s diet
· Use an automatic water fountain as many cats prefer running water
· Keep fresh clean water available and change the water frequently
· Try using different types of water bowls
· Use a variety of water such as bottled or filtered to determine your cat’s preference

Keeping your cat hydrated will help ensure your cat stays happy and healthy. If you suspect your cat may be dehydrated, be sure to seek out the advice of your veterinarian.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Bif Has Found His Forever Home!
























From Abandoned and Scared To Cherished & Loved: Sweet Bif has found his forever home!

Pictured above is Bif, a 3 year old Beagle / Basset Hound mix. Bif came into the Orange County Shelter as a stray. He was very underweight from not having enough food to eat when he was living on the streets. His fur was very dry and coarse. His skin was in very bad condition due to having fleas and very dirty fur.

Bif spent a month at The Orange County Animal Care Center. Many dogs got adopted during that time, but no one could see what a special dog Bif was. That is when Ariel Rescue stepped in and adopted Bif. Bif was no longer the overlooked dog. He was given good food to eat. He was also given a "beauty bath".

A brand new dog emerged from all that dry, dirty hair. Bif now had soft, shiny fur and was the picture of health. Bif was a happy, healthy dog ready to play and have fun! Bif was adopted by two loving women and their Chihuahua, Lola. Since Lola and Bif will be together, Bif never has to worry about being scared and alone ever again. He is now the pampered, cherished pup that he deserves to be.

Ask Ariel Your Pet Nutritionist promotes and supports the rescue of unwanted cats and dogs in shelters. Please consider adopting your next pet from an animal shelter. Homeless pets of all breeds can be found on http://www.petfinder.com/

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Friday, March 9, 2012

Preventing Chronic UTIs, Cystitis and Bladder Crystals in Dogs and Cats

Many cats and dogs suffer from chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis is a condition in which the bladder wall becomes inflamed and may even hemorrhage. No sooner do you finish a round of antibiotics, your pet starts showing the common “signs” of discomfort which can include frequent urination, straining to urinate, waking up in the middle of the night to urinate, arching the back, urinating outside the litter box and/or blood in the urine. Some pets that are normally housetrained may have accidents or urinate right in front of you because they can’t hold their urine. Some may develop urinary incontinence on a regular basis.

Can holistic care help with interstitial cystitis and chronic urinary tract infections? Absolutely. Holistic care should not be a replacement for conventional veterinary care but rather an extension of it. Holistic care offers you more choices and treatment options to help your pet but it is important to work with your veterinarian to monitor your pet’s progress using laboratory testing. The Pet UTI Prevention Kit has worked successfully for many cat and dog owners.


With interstitial cystitis, there may be an infection or the “start of infection” and sometimes there may be no infection at all. With chronic UTIs and interstitial cystitis, there may be bleeding in the urine which can be caused by a variety of factors such as bladder stones, crystal plugs, kidney disease, stress and/or a congenital defect. Regardless, your pet’s bladder and urinary system may have a great deal of inflammation and quite possibly infection which can become very hard to treat and very uncomfortable for your pet.

Conventional veterinary treatments for interstitial cystitis and chronic urinary tract infections generally involve the use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Depending upon the other factors that may be involved, your veterinarian may also recommend that your pet be on a special diet that controls the pH of your pet’s urine. Stones, crystals and infections tend to develop depending upon the urinary pH. For example, if your pet’s urine is highly alkaline (pH is 8 or more), there is a possibility that struvite crystals form or that your pet may have urinary tract infection. Having a high urinary pH does not necessarily mean that your pet has an infection. Urinary pH can vary throughout the day as your pet eats, exercises, etc. A normal urinary neutral pH is between 6.5 and 7.0. Consistently high or low urinary pH could be a problem and it is recommended, if possible, that you learn to check your pet’s urine at home using pH testing paper. This will provide valuable information for your veterinarian.

Can holistic care help with interstitial cystitis and chronic urinary tract infections? Absolutely. Holistic care should not be a replacement for conventional veterinary care but rather an extension of it. Holistic care offers you more choices and treatment options to help your pet but it is important to work with your veterinarian to monitor your pet’s progress using laboratory testing.

View Ask Ariel's Urinary Tract Support Products