Cystitis

16.7 Cystitis This is a general term used for an infection of the urinary bladder.

Symptoms: The animal may have a fever, will urinate frequently and may have pus or blood in the urine. The animal may also strain and appear in pain when trying to urinate. If pus is seen in the urine, a proper history must be taken. This is because an animal with a uterus infection will also have pus in the vagina (which may also appear in the urine).

Diagnosis: Based on symptoms. Or, you may take a urine sample and examine it with a microscope for the presence of white blood cells.

Treatment / Control: Antibiotics should be given; and the animal should be given lots of water to drink. Some people also put a few grams of magnesium sulfate, or other salt, into the water for the animal to drink. This makes the animal thirsty so that it drinks lots of water, and then it will urinate more than usual. This helps to flush out the organisms and rinse the wounds that may be in the bladder. Other drugs like Lasix and local medicines may also help the animal to urinate more.

Systems of the Body and Associated Veterinary Problems