All pet owners want the best for their favorite furry friends. Many pet owners do everything but set a place at the dinner table with candle light and music playing, consisting cat love songs of course. But when it comes to urinary tract health and pets most of us don’t take the preventative step needed to avoid a problem in the future. After all what could possibly go wrong?

Ironically, the list of what could go wrong reads like a who’s who of cat health problems such as bladder stones, kidney stones, urinary tract blockage, and bacterial infections. This would likely account for the unsettling statistic that amongst pet owners, with pet insurance, the number one claim filed was that of urinary tract infections.

There is another consideration when discussing urinary tract health in pets and that is age. With age so many things can go wrong in this sensitive area which can lead to major quality of life issues both for your beloved animal and your family. Examples would include such things as urinary leakage, incontinence, increased risk of infection and bladder or kidney issues.

So ultimately our goal is to avoid infections and keep the urinary tract in tip top working order as long as possible. To do this we don’t need to pull out our slide rule, calculator, or dictionary, we simply need to implement a number of simple steps before we are faced with a problem that does require a calculator and/or a dictionary.

Water consumption: It is easy to overlook this simple step. After all we assume our pet is drinking enough water. But an under hydrated animal is a disaster looking for a place to happen. Water is vital in keeping the urinary tract free from infection by flushing bacteria before it has a chance to gain a foot hold. Water also is critical in eliminating crystals before they have a chance to bond and form urinary stones. Most veterinarians suggest slight over hydration as a vital tool for maintaining general health.

Avoid confinement: Sometimes we must leave our animals alone. This can be especially dangerous for those pets that have arthritic joints. They simply will not void as often due to the challenges involved with their painful joints. If possible ask a neighbor or friend to take your pet for a walk or check on them to make sure they are doing their business often enough.

Diet: This is a tricky one. While supplying your pet with proper nutrition is vital to good health some nutritional formulas actually increase the chances of bladder and kidney stones. The most common examples of this are pet food formulas high in calcium and magnesium. Check with your veterinarian he/she may have some excellent suggestions.

Additionally, supplementation for urinary tract health can prove to be a great addition to any prevention plan. While there are many excellent supplements for urinary tract health and pets perhaps the most high regarded is homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies contain natural tonics that are effective in strengthening, conditioning and maintaining a healthy urinary system. Also, there is a substantial amount of anecdotal evidence suggesting their effectiveness in fighting off bacterial infections. If you have been searching for a safe natural option homeopathy is an area worth considering.

R.D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate of alternative natural health products and supplements with over 10 years experience. To learn more about natural pet health visit Purchase Remedies.com

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