Chronic Bladder Infections
Posted on June 14th, 2016In both humans and animals, the most common cause of chronic bladder infections, is caused by bacterial infections.
In humans, chronic bladder infections are more commonly caused by the E. coli bacteria which reside in the intestinal tract.
This type of E. coli bladder infections seem to be more common in woman because their urethral opening, is closer to their rectum, than the male, causing them a greater anatomical, possibility of exposure.
Female dogs also seem to have more chronic bladder infections due to this anatomical, possibility of exposure.
With cats, the vagina and rectal openings are in close proximity in both males and females and both seem to have a similar exposure rate.
Young women show an increase in cystitis from 75 to 90 % due to increased sexual activity.
This is often referred to as Honeymoon Cystitis.
The use of spermatocides, even if only rarely used, can cause a cystitis.
CLINICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS of CYSTITIS
In both humans and animals the following may be noted:
- Painful urination
- Frequent urination
- Incontinence
- Blood in urine
- Cloudy urine
- Dilute or concentrated urine
OTHER CAUSES OF CLINICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS FOR A CYSTITIS
- Diabetes mellitus
- Diabetes insipidus
- Enlarged or infected prostate
- Lack of circumcision in the human male
- Constipation
- Trauma
- Spinal injury causing urinary dysfunction
- Immune mediated
- Schistosomiasis (a parasite found both in the urinary and intestinal tracts)
- Bladder stones
HEMORRHAGIC CYSTITIS
THE CLINICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Infection
- Cancer
- Radiation
- Medications
- Toxins
EOSINOPHILIC CYSTITIS
THE CLINICAL CAUSES
- Infection
- Medications
- Food allergies
The actual CAUSE of eosinophilic cystitis will be discussed in this article, because the actual CAUSE, is thought to be unknown.
There are proper medical, treatment protocols, for all the other types of chronic bladder infections but not for this one!
The cause of eosinophilic cystitis which is much more common than you think, comes from an antibody deficiency in the bladder of the mucous membrane antibody referred to as IgA.
This is an antibody that is produced by the B lymphocyte along with other antibodies referred to as immunoglobulins.
This IgA deficiency is much more common than is believed and can affect any tissue or organ in the body where IgA is there for protection.
Without even considering an eosinophilic cystitis, this antibody deficiency can be seen in the gums of patients that have in inflammation of the gums, called periodontitis in people, and a gingival flare in dogs and cats. For further information on this subject please go to www.drplechmer.com and the article entitled Gingival Inflammation May Indicate Other Health Problems.
This is a very common finding in cats with chronic bladder inflammations, but is usually not recognized.
Cats that are having chronic bladder infections that do not respond to normal antibiotics, 70 % of the cats will have visible gingival flare.
This gingival flare indicates and IgA deficiency and can be easily viewed at the juncture of the gums and their reflection on to the enamel of the teeth.
This may be difficult to view if the cat has pigmented gums.
30 % of the dogs with chronic tooth and bladder inflammations, will demonstrate this gingival flare.
Other dogs and cats that seem to have this IgA, inflammatory, bladder infections, often indicate only blood in their urinalysis and when an actual urine culture and sensitivity if performed, it may come back with no growth.
When an IgA imbalance is present due to a reaction from foods, insect bites, flea and heartworm chemicals, toxins and vaccines, may all elicit blood in the urine and cause a chronic urinary inflammation.
Many times blood may occur in the urine which may be evident or not visualized.
Non-visualized blood is referred to as occult blood, and can be a very subtle indication of a reaction that is occurring in the bladder that can lead to major problems.
I remember a case of a dog named Diik, who only showed beginning signs of occult blood in his bladder if he ate a food that caused an allergic reaction.
Whenever a new food was introduced to Diik’s diet, since blood could not be visualized in his urine, the owner would bring in a urine sample and have it tested. If Diik was allergic to a new food, occult blood would be present in the urine sample and if the food did agree with Diik, his urine sample would be negative.
Please remember that the IgA is in all the mucous membranes of the body and the impact area, inflammation, can occur wherever there is an IgA deficiency and that is why a food allergy in the intestinal tract, can also cause a reaction in the bladder.
How does the B lymphocyte become deregulated, so that its production of immunoglobulins become deficient?
This occurs because of a middle layer adrenal cortex, imbalance in its production of natural cortisol. When the imbalanced cortisol can no longer fund the negative feedback to the pituitary gland, the pituitary gland continues its production of its hormone, referred to as ACTH.
When this happens, the inner layer adrenal cortex respond with a positive feedback, and produces excess amounts of adrenal estrogen that deregulates the B lymphocytes ability to produce immunoglobulins including the production of IgA. For further information on diagrams of these cycles, please go to my website and under ABOUT and Early Research go to Endocrine Immune Surveillance – PULSE 1978.
Q and A Section
Q) I am concerned that my older spayed, female Labrador retriever, has a bladder infection, even though her urinalysis is normal, however every morning when she gets up, there is a large amount of urine in her bed. Do you think she may have a bladder infection?
A) It sounds like your dog does not have a bladder infection, based upon her negative urinalysis, however, she may have urinary incontinence.
This can happen at any age and often the culprit is deficient estrogen caused by her ovario-hysterectomy. It is very simple to determine this merely by having your veterinarian put you dog on an oral anti-incontinent product called phenylpropanolamine. If this product does not work, you may want to have your veterinarian x-ray her bladder and her abdomen, to make sure the position of her bladder is normal, and there are no bladder stones or tumors present.
If all these test are normal, often giving small amounts of estrogen every few days, will create continence.
Q) My male dog seems to react to certain food allergens, which can make him urinate with visual blood and even if a urine culture and sensitivity is done, there is no bacterial growth. How do I determine what foods not to feed him?
A) Food allergies and urine with blood, can be quite common.
It would be best to consider all foods to be considered guilty until proven innocent.
The best way to do this is an elimination diet that is listed under Articles/Others and under Foods and Supplements.
An elimination diet might begin with one part cottage cheese, to four parts of boiled white potatoes for seven days.
If during that time, there are no signs of an upset gut, increased itching and scratching or blood in his urine, you have successfully begun the elimination diet.
Next, you add a new protein like chicken or fish to the cottage cheese and potato diet, every day for seven days, making sure each seven day ingredient is non allergenic.
Once you have determined this, than you can find a commercial diet that contains the same non allergenic ingredients.
NOTE: Please remember to continue any new ingredient for seven days, unless an allergic reaction occurs within that seven days.
You will find if you include one snack today and not again for seven days, you can elicit a reaction seven days later, because a food allergen can cause a delayed reaction.
Also foods containing natural plant estrogen referred to as phytoestrogens can cause inflammation of the bladder.
These food are listed under Foods and supplements and the main offenders found in manufactured pets foods, include sweet potato, carrots, apples and soy products.
Q) My male cat has terrible gums and also has had bladder infections that have caused him to have urinary obstructions.
I finally had a surgery done to help him pass the abnormal products that come from a bladder infection, however even though he can now not become obstructed, he still has a bladder infection, with different antibiotics.
- It sounds like your cat has an IgA deficiency, easily seen as a gingival flare in his mouth, where the gum tissue reflects upon the enamel of his teeth.
This same IgA deficiency that is not protecting his gingival tissue, is also not
protecting, his bladder.
I would request that you veterinarian do a simple blood test that will identify this imbalance and get it corrected, so that your cat recovers from his chronic bladder infections and also retain his teeth.
Q) I am concerned about my female cat who urinates all over my house and
sometimes even backs up, and sprays her urine on the wall.
I thought if she had a bladder infection she would make frequent trips to her
litter box, but this seems not to be the case. I did have her urine checked
several times, and it always came back from the laboratory, as normal Do you
have any suggestions?
- It sounds like your female cat is making her territory. This can be a common occurrence with an endocrine immune imbalance. Please check her gums for a gingival flare because 70 % of the cats will show this imbalance in their gums. This indicates an IgA imbalance that not only causes a reduced IgA, but also with a cortisol imbalance, the pituitary ACTH not only stimulates excess adrenal estrogen, but also excess androgen, which is the female counter part, to male testosterone.
The excess androgen is why she is marking her territory. Many times in a multiple pet house hold, the other cats will try to attack the androgen producing cat, because this excess hormone in her urine, makes her smell to the other cats, like she is an invading tom cat!
This condition can be easily corrected by having your veterinarian do the endocrine immune blood test, and get the cortisol imbalance controlled so the excess estrogen and androgen become normal and the IgA and other immunoglobulins, also return to normal.
Hopefully this information will help you better understand, chronic bladder infections.
Sincerely,
Dr. AL Plechner
