#treat urinary tract infections

[healthglorious]

Baking Soda: Uses, Health Benefits, and Side Effects

Introduction Baking soda, commonly known as sodium bicarbonate, is a common home commodity. It has a somewhat salty and alkaline flavor and is a white crystalline powder that is soluble in water. It has numerous applications, including baking, cleaning, and personal care. In this post, we will look at the different uses as well as their health advantages and side effects. Uses  Baking soda is a…

[healthwelnes]

🍒 CRANBERRY: The Natural Secret to Women's Urinary Health🌿

Welcome to Health & Wellness! Today, we're going to delve into an essential topic: urinary health. And to do so, we're going to discover how Cranberry, a fruit rich in nutrients and with incredible properties, can be a powerful ally for your well-being.

Let's explore all the benefits it can offer!

Did you know that more than 50% of women experience urinary discomfort at some point in their lives? In this video, we talk about the power of the cranberry, a fruit rich in proanthocyanidins, which helps fight urinary infections by preventing the adhesion of the bacteria E. coli in the urinary tract.

Scientific studies show that regular cranberry consumption can reduce the risk of infections by up to 40%, especially in women over 40.

Learn more about how cranberries can strengthen your urinary health and how they can be incorporated into your routine, whether in the form of juices, capsules or products such as the *FemiPro* supplement. For those who want to know more about the studies mentioned, check out the links to the scientific sources here in the description.

🔴 Did you like the content? Don't forget to like the video, subscribe to the channel and leave suggestions for topics you'd like to see here in the comments!

References and Scientific Sources:

1.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology: (https://www.ajog.org/)

2. Journal of Urology: (https://www.auajournals.org/journal/juro)

3. Journal of Natural Products: (https://pubs.acs.org/journal/jnprdf).

#Cranberry #UrinaryHealth #Women'sHealth #FemiPro #NaturalCare #uti #urinarytractinfection #urinaryhealth #utiprevention #naturalremedies #bladderhealth #Women'sUrinaryHealth #cranberrybenefits #cranberrysupplement #UrinaryInfectionWomen #UrinaryIncontinence #FemaleUrinaryIncontinence #urinaryincontinenceinwomen #Urineleakage #cranberrysupplement, #female urinaryincontinencehometreatment #femaleurinaryincontinencehowtotreat #femaleurinaryincontinencenaturaltreatment

[pregnancycounselors]

Learn about UTI during early pregnancy including symptoms, potential risks and safe treatment options. Understand importance of medical care to maintain a healthy pregnancy.

[nuhospitals24]

Hospital Treating Urinary Tract Infection for Men | NU Hospitals

Urinary incontinence is a condition where an individual loses control over their bladder, leading to uncontrolled urine leakage. Commonly occurring conditions often create embarrassing moments for those who are affected, including all ages and genders. NU Hospitals offers expertise treatment for Urinary Tract Infection for Men.

[drdemonprince]

I grew up with abstinence-only sex education, and it did a real number on me. But I’ve shaken off enough of my old cultural programming to realize that the transmission of bacteria and viruses is a thing that sometimes just happens when animals come together, no matter how stringently we might try to prevent it.

I have gotten urinary tract infections when a stray microbe found its way into my urethra after sex. Lube and bodily fluids have disturbed my vagina’s pH and caused a yeast infection many times. So has wearing a bathing suit for too long without drying it, yet another “risk” worth the pleasures of swimming along the sea wall.

Once or twice I’ve had an outbreak of cold sores, just like 80% of humans. If I’m like most people, I probably caught oral herpes when I was very young, sharing a sippy cup or rolling around at a sleepover.

None of this makes me disgusting, irresponsible, evil, or dangerous to others. It just makes me a living creature that exists in close contact with other creatures. I believe I have a responsibility to get tested regularly, to alert people who have been close to me when I get sick, and to use preventative measures like condoms, PreP, vaccines, toys, and masks to prevent the spread of infections as best I can. But I never imagine I can lead a life without risk — or that such a life would even be desirable.

There is no such thing as completely “safe” sex. A friend of mine can’t use condoms because they give her bacterial vaginosis. She chooses instead to fuck raw and take PreP and get anything else she catches treated. A guy I know who masks and tests religiously caught COVID while fisting someone (with a gloved hand!) at an air-filtered party. HPV is so prevalent that most sexual wellness clinics don’t bother testing for it, and can’t do much for a patient if they do have it. Our bodies are teeming at all times with various endemic viruses and microbes that we will never have the power to purge.

Then there are the possible costs of not having sex — vaginal atrophy, pelvic floor weakening, reduced access to endorphins, loneliness, touch starvation, the despair of harboring dreams that one never dares try. I can’t decide for anyone else which dangers loom the largest, but for me a gonorrhea shot is a fair trade for the hours of leg-cramping, bed-staining, hypno-kinky sex that led to it. There’s no guarantee that the next time I have sex it will be anywhere near as much fun, but the potential keeps me throwing the dice.

I hear quite frequently from sexually inexperienced Autistic people who crave an intimate connection, but desperately wish to remain responsible and “safe.” They want there to be a set of iron-tight rules they can follow that will guarantee they remain a virtuous person who never hurts anyone’s feelings, and never catches any sexually transmitted infection.

I understand why they want someone to impose order onto an unpredictable, terrifying world. But I can’t give that certainty to them, nor can anyone. All I can suggest is that they be honest with themselves about what they want, inform themselves of the costs and benefits to pursuing their desires, and then venture forward — proudly welcoming the correct risks into their life, rather than trying to avoid any risks at all.

Life is nothing but a negotiation of risk. If a person has gender dysphoria and they want to combat it, they must risk a transition they could one day regret. If an abolitionist wants to take a stand against the police state, they must plan for the possibility of arrest or political repression. When we open our hearts to love, we expose ourselves to grief — our partners will keep changing and growing, sometimes away from us. Each step that we take forward in life closes off potential paths. There is no avoiding this.

Instead of chasing after the false promise of “safety,” trying to remain completely insulated from harm and challenge forever, we must get better at admitting risk into our lives.

I wrote about all about the messy business of risk mitigation, and how the pursuit of perfect safety is used to justify isolation, theft of bodily autonomy, and political repression. It's free to read (or have narrated to you by the app!) at drdevonprice.substack.com

[reasonsforhope]

"An international research team has found almost a million potential sources of antibiotics in the natural world.

Research published in the journal Cell by a team including Queensland University of Technology (QUT) computational biologist Associate Professor Luis Pedro Coelho has used machine learning to identify 863,498 promising antimicrobial peptides -- small molecules that can kill or inhibit the growth of infectious microbes.

The findings of the study come with a renewed global focus on combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as humanity contends with the growing number of superbugs resistant to current drugs.

"There is an urgent need for new methods for antibiotic discovery," Professor Coelho, a researcher at the QUT Centre for Microbiome Research, said. The centre studies the structure and function of microbial communities from around the globe.

"It is one of the top public health threats, killing 1.27 million people each year." ...

"Using artificial intelligence to understand and harness the power of the global microbiome will hopefully drive innovative research for better public health outcomes," he said.

The team verified the machine predictions by testing 100 laboratory-made peptides against clinically significant pathogens. They found 79 disrupted bacterial membranes and 63 specifically targeted antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

"Moreover, some peptides helped to eliminate infections in mice; two in particular reduced bacteria by up to four orders of magnitude," Professor Coelho said.

In a preclinical model, tested on infected mice, treatment with these peptides produced results similar to the effects of polymyxin B -- a commercially available antibiotic which is used to treat meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis and urinary tract infections.

More than 60,000 metagenomes (a collection of genomes within a specific environment), which together contained the genetic makeup of over one million organisms, were analysed to get these results. They came from sources across the globe including marine and soil environments, and human and animal guts.

The resulting AMPSphere -- a comprehensive database comprising these novel peptides -- has been published as a publicly available, open-access resource for new antibiotic discovery.

[Note: !!! Love it. Open access research databases my beloved.]"

-via Science Daily, June 5, 2024

[vivalarevolutionxd]

Plants that unalive people.

Project 2025 (if it is voted in) will get rid of a woman's right to divorce her husband and her rights to her own body. This means we need to protect women from dangerous men. Here we go:

-Abrus Precatorius (Aka Crabs eye, rosary pea, Indian licorice, ect) causes vomiting, convulsions, liver failure, and death. Even one seed will cause it.

-Aconitum (Aka Wolfsbane, aconite, monkshood) causes disabled nerve endings, low blood pressure, cardiac irregularities, vomiting, and of course death.

-Actaea Pachypoda (Aka dolls eyes, or white baneberry) which basically paralyzes the cardiac muscles, not always deadly.

-Ageratina Altissima (Aka white snakeroot, white sanicle, richweed) causes milk sickness, which if you don't know it causes significant weightloss, polydipsia, vomiting, appetite loss, difficulty standing/walking, coma, and then death. Death occurs 2-10 days after eating it.

-Arnica Montana (Aka mountain tobacco, leopards bane, Mountain Arnica) causes bleeding in the intestinal tract, inflammation of the liver, paranoia, accelerated heart rate, muscular weakness, and death. Though a lot of the seeds/plant need to be digested for it to kill, though little amounts for long enough time can cause cancer.

-My personal favorite,Atropa Belladonna (Aka deadly nightshade) it's a long list but it causes: dilated pupils, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, slurred speech, dry throat and mouth, tachycardia, loss of balance, staggering, headache, urinary retention, constipation, confusion, delusions, hallucinations, convulsions, necrosis(limb death), paralysis, and death.

-Brugmansia (Aka angels trumpet(cause you will see the lord)) causes hallucinations and losing connection with reality. Not 100% deadly by itself but causes severe paranoia, hallucinated pain, and delusions. The most notable case of Angel's trumpet is a young man self amputating his leg with pruning shears after consuming the tea of just two flowers, he died.

-Caltha Palustris (Aka marsh-marigold, kingcup) causes convulsions, burning of the throat, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, blisters, inflammation, gastric illnesses, and patients usually die to the symptoms.

-Cerbera Odollam (suicide tree) the one just kills you within a few minutes, muted taste, undetectable in autopsies, and can't be treated once consumed.

-Chelidomium Majus (Aka Greater Celandine) this one also just kills you, but you need at least 18mg per kilogram of body weight, so a 50kg (110lbs) person needs at least 900mg to kill them.

-Cicuta (Aka water hemlock, cows bane, wild carrot, snake weed, poison parsnip, child's bane) this one causes just over and over seizures until death. Can't be treated.

-Colchicum Autumnale (Aka Autum Corocus, Meadow Saffron) causes burning in mouth and throat, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, kidney failure, multiple system organ failure, hypovolemic shock, fluid loss, damage to the gi tract, bloody urine, low white blood cell count (damages the bodies ability to fight off infections), anemia, muscular weakness, respiratory failure, and death. Death occurs in 42-74hrs from consumption.

-Another one of my favorites, Conium Maculatum (Aka Hemlock, spotted parsley, spotted cowbane) for the following symptoms to occur you need to consume at least 6-8 leaves or half a gram of the roots. Symptoms include but not limited to, necrosis (limb death) within 30 minutes of initial dose, and paralysis of lungs, this causes suffocation within the hour.

I'll make a pt. 2 later.

[redditreceipts]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ftm/comments/1axfywm/dont_yall_love_it_when_you_are_concerned_you_have/

"Hey guys, I have a urinary tract infection, but they force me to acknowledge my female genitals :( I don't know why a doctor would have to know my genitals for treating an infection of the urinary tract"

but I have to applaud the majority of commenters begrudgingly accepting that this person has to fill out the "transphobic" option to get treatment.

But logically speaking, this is just the result of the entire "biological sex is fake, trans men are just as male as cis men, sex is not a binary" rhetoric that the community has been pushing for years. It's no surprise to me, honestly.

[lavvylove]

So we learn in Criminal Minds that Spencer Reid is allergic to Carbenicillin.

Carbenicillin is a bacterial antibiotic, usually given by IV but can be given orally if needed. Now, I spent a while in the ER a few days ago and when you do that they give you a red band that labels any medications you’re allergic to.

I was looking at it and went down a rabbit whole about what it treats. Then I remembered the Carbenicillin and I went down a rabbit hole about that.

Carbenicillin is a bacterial antibiotic used primarily to treat urinary tract infections or protatitis (extreme uti essentially). At first I was kinda shocked until I really remembered what Spencer’s childhood and early adulthood was like.

All of his time has always been devoted to everyone and everything else, his mother or his school or his job. If his mother is having an episode, how is he supposed to go to the bathroom? If he’s working and his entire focus is on that, why would he stop for something as menial as a potty break?

All this to say, I think Spencer had (or very likely could still have) issues with going to the bathroom when the need arises. He gets busy and avoids it and when he was younger it led to the discovery of his allergy. Did MGG or the writers intend for some 18-year-old girl to deduce all this? Probably not, but I think it’s so genuinely interesting and a very cool insight into what seems so small but could be one of his many sources of worry like “Did I go pee earlier? Do I have to know..? Oh god not another uti..” and as a girl with chronic bladder issues I feel seen

@nereidprinc3ss please read this I think you’d find it so intriguing and I’m sorry if it’s creepy that someone you don’t know is tagging you😭🙏🏻

[anotherdayforchaosfay]

Medical stuff below the cut...

As many of my followers may be aware of, I've been dealing with a UTI for about six weeks now. I did a single round of antibiotics, but still deal with the symptoms. Difficulty urinating, frequent urination, and leaking. Wearing a (reusable) pad has been absolutely necessary. I take a cranberry supplement and drink cranberry juice daily, plus lots of water and tea, and go to the bathroom a lot. I was on Flomax for four days, but had an allergic reaction. It was helping with the symptoms, but fucking e up. Also did a round of Azzo's two-day treatment for UTI symptoms.

Someone came into my asks, requesting I not reply publically, with some helpful information. They said they're a doctor who specializes in treating chronic conditions related to the bladder and kidneys, and that they see what I'm dealing with very frequently. Except...it's the fullness of what I've been dealing with for a year: a side effect of my ADHD medication. Said side effect is constipation, which has been worsening. I use metamucil, benefiber, drink plenty of fluids, lots of fiber in my diet, and still I require a glycerin suppository any time I need to shit.

What I wasn't aware of is this can lead to another side effect, which is urinary retention disorder. Having a UTI started the issue, but the UTI could have been caused by a combination of stress and the constipation. The ADHD medication is making things significantly worse, and it's resulting in all the previous symptoms stated above.

My doctor never mentioned this as a possibility, and likely due to it not being a common side effect in those of us with a vagina. It's more common if you have a penis because the pressure from the bowels can fuck with the prostate, and that gets pushed into the urinary tract. It's not unheard of for folks with a vagina though, just uncommon.

They suggested I contact my doctor and ask for another round of a different UTI antibiotic, just in case there's still an infection. That infection will be resistant to the previous antibiotic. They also suggested I inquire about coming off the ADHD mediction for two to four weeks, to clear it out of my system so my body can clear things out, and follow up with a different medication later.

I've sent my PCP an email regarding this, that I want an antibiotic and to come off the ADHD medication. She incorporates hollistic medicine with her practice, and it's been wonderful, so I know she'll be more open about this than most doctors I've had to deal with. I've also informed my husband about this so he can prepare for me to revert to what I was like last year. One missed dose, which was a few days ago because he forgot to pick up my medication before the pharmacy closed, and I was back to what I was like before. It wasn't fun. It won't be fun this time around either. Yeah, I feel bad for him, but he's very understanding, especially with the lack of confidence and security the leaking has caused me.

Thank you, blog follower, for the info. I'm sharing it here so others may be made aware of the issue. Some of them may be dealing with the same exact issue, and the info here will help them as well.

[hurt-and-comfort-me-please]

Alternative Ways to Inflict Pain!

Everybody uses the ol' broken bones, lashes, flu, or concussion to hurt their whumpees, here are some underutilized afflictions.

-Pinched nerves; As someone who has had a severe pinched nerve, let me tell you those damn things will not stop hurting. White hot electric pain running down your whumpee's limbs, damn near inescapable and very difficult to treat, will last for weeks if not months, often caused by joint or spinal injuries, especially herniations and dislocations.

-Urinary tract infections; Embarrassing and painful. Can be serious, or could just be a real pain for a little while. Nobody wants to admit they've got bathroom problems, so real good if you want to make getting help embarrassing. Caused by a variety of factors, but mainly involving urination, such as holding for too long or using an improperly sanitized catheter.

-Vertigo; Pressure in the ear canal that can make someone very dizzy or nauseous. Usually only lasts for a few seconds at a time, but can be recurring. It can be triggered by stress or anxiety, and can result in vomiting.

I am not a doctor, but neither are most of you so.. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[tiredwitchplant]

Everything You Need to Know About Veggies and Fruits: Cranberries

Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon)

*Kitchen *Medical *Feminine

Folks Names: Bog fruit, Marshworts

Planet: Mars

Element: Water (juice), Fire (berry)

Deities: Astarte, Marjatta,

Abilities: Healing, Protection, Love, Lust, Positive Energy, Courage, Passion, Action

Characteristics: Native to Eastern North America and northern Asia. Small, slender, evergreen shrub growing to 1 ft with oval, dark green leaves, pink flowers and round/slightly pear-shaped red berries.

History: This jewel-toned gem of the bog is native to North America and a traditional food from Samhain through Yule. Its association with the American Thanksgiving meal is long rooted in tradition, but there is no historical evidence proving it was actually served at that first Thanksgiving celebrated by the Pilgrims. Despite this, cranberry something or other is commonly found on Thanksgiving and Christmas feast tables all across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Cranberry garlands made by stringing hundreds of the hard round red berries with a needle onto a long sturdy string is a traditional Christmas decoration. It is believed that cranberries got their name due to cranes always eating them and the blossoms of the berries look like the head of cranes. It is considered a sacred fruit in some indigenous circles such as Algonquian and Iroquois.

How to Grow:

Easy to Plant: Relatively

Rating: Moderate

Seeds accessible: Sometimes seasonal

How to Plant Cranberries

Video Guide

Where to Buy Seeds

Magical Properties

Can be used as a substitute for wine

Dried cranberries can be used in a charm to honor the wisdom of elders or as an offering to ancestors

It’s bright color signals energy, passion, courage, rejuvenation and rebirth

Can lend abundance, love and healing in kitchen spells

Since they are from the bog, it said to be feared by evil spirits and can offer protection

Placing a bowl of cranberries under one’s bed can restore depleted energy and cure an illness

Drinking the juice with your partner on a dark moon can keep your relationship free of trouble and continue to go strong

Can help link wisdom and guidance of ancestors

Can be utilized in energy cleansing rituals to remove negative energies from the aura

Is said to restore chakra alignment balance and create harmony

Burning bundles of cranberry stems can purify the energy of space and promote spiritual well-being during rituals and meditating

Medical Usage:

A classic remedy for urinary tract infections and can prevent and treat problems such as cystitis and urethritis

Can help to disinfect the urinary tubules and may be taken for problems associated with poor urinary flow such as enlarged prostate and blade infections

Can be used long term to prevent the development of urinary stones

Research in 1994 showed that cranberry juice helped really well with UTIs in women

Sources

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

another anti-psych post from your neighborhood patient-therapist

In my last post I talked about the kinds of basic needs people and communities have, and asked what it might look like in your community to meet those needs as a baseline. This time we're going to talk more about what happens when communities and individuals are chronically un-/under-served.

Okay so let's break it down this way. We're gonna try looking at just one medical symptom of chronic stress: autonomic dysregulation. It's not going to feel like we are, but I promise that's all we're doing. This is a *serious* symptom and it often comes clustered with others due to the way it functions within the body, which is why I think it is a useful case study here. Autonomic dysfunction, especially chronic dysfunction, can temporarily (though for long spans of time if the dysfunction remains chronic rather than acute) alter the functioning of other systems within the body such as the endocrine system, the reproductive system, cognitive functioning through the hippocampus and amygdala, and muscle functioning, nerve functioning, and others. It is no joke to suggest that long term autonomic dysfunction can often lead to major long term health consequences that are life altering for the person experiencing them. While some can be treated, managed, or even cured, not all can be and this is something I want us all to keep in mind as we consider the need for building communities that do not cause this kind of harm to their people.

Let's look at some potential medical outcomes of autonomic dysfunction, per the Mayo Clinic:

Dizziness and fainting when standing, caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Urinary problems, such as difficulty starting urination, loss of bladder control, difficulty sensing a full bladder and inability to completely empty the bladder. Not being able to completely empty the bladder can lead to urinary tract infections.

Sexual difficulties, including problems achieving or maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction) or ejaculation problems. In women, problems include vaginal dryness, low libido and difficulty reaching orgasm.

Difficulty digesting food, such as feeling full after a few bites of food, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal bloating, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing and heartburn. These problems are all due to changes in digestive function.

Inability to recognize low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), because the warning signals, such as getting shaky, aren't there.

Sweating problems, such as sweating too much or too little. These problems affect the ability to regulate body temperature.

Sluggish pupil reaction, making it difficult to adjust from light to dark and seeing well when driving at night.

Exercise intolerance, which can occur if your heart rate stays the same instead of adjusting to your activity level.

Some common comorbid conditions may include Diabetes, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Parkinson's, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or an autoimmune disorder. In each of these cases I want you to remember the lens of an individual body being denied, in some way, its base needs (an edocrine hormone, a nutritional component, the internal security of homeostasis, etc), to such an extent that it begins to experience an internal catastrophic failure, as this lens may often be supportive of accommodating your disabled comrades, or yourself, in the future.

I also want us to consider some common social statistics relevant to these conditions. Nearly 4% of the world experiences and autoimmune disorder. Most are women, and Indigenous, Black, and Latina women are at risk than most for several of these. In the United States, there are suspected to be 37.3 million people with diabetes. Diabetes is also considered an autoimmune disorder by researchers, and is one that the Indigenous, Filipino, Indian, Latine, and Black communities are all at higher risk for than white people are, however, risk is also heavily influenced by poverty, and by a family's location with respect to food deserts which grow more and more common. In a truly wild statistic, 80% of lesbians versus 32% of heterosexual women had polycystic ovaries in one study, and 33% of lesbians versus 14% of heterosexual women had progressed to PCOS. Some studies find that transmasculine folks are more likely to PCOS as well.

When we consider the marginalization these groups experience, and the way that marginalization plays out in the social forum, the political forum, in the financial forum, and in the emotional forum, are we really surprised to learn that it plays out in the embodied forum too?

This is what people mean when they talk about social murder. These are health conditions that don't just change lives, they end them. A system that churns out people so chronically sick that their bodies are desperately killing themselves trying to stay alive is a society that has become desperately sick. Diabetes is something we have attributed to individuals, to families, and even every once in a while to corporations, but at what point have we sat down and looked at a society that produces this murderous autoimmune disorder at such high rates and asked the real question: how are we making so many people sick?

The answers are many, and that can feel overwhelming, but I encourage you to start in one place and learn your way around it as well as you can before you even consider moving on. Maybe start with food deserts. They're probably familiar to you, you've heard about them in passing before I imagine, even if you're not really too into this stuff. But ask yourself WHY food deserts are able to exist? What are the mechanics of one being born? How does one stay free from the stain of a grocery store or food market? Are there any places like that near you? If so, what points of leverage might there be in that location for you to break the homeostasis of the food desert? How can you add your weight to efforts already occurring, or stir up sentiment around the idea of a new homeostasis where a grocery store exists? Can you put up flyers or attend town hall meetings? Can you knock doors or phone bank? Can you bring some sugar by your neighbors and comment how frustrating it is you all have to go so far to get your groceries and wonder what's up with that and maybe start scheming together? What kind of store should it be? Bring in a local market? A chain? Build a co-op or merchant's stalls for a four season farmer's market?

Get really into one idea, and get others in on it with you. I bet you aren't the only one who'd like a better status quo.

[petsync]

Keeping Cool Cats: Essential Tips for Caring for Felines in Warm Weather

It's critical for cat owners to give their feline friends more consideration as the sun's rays intensify and the temperature rises. Cats are susceptible to heat-related illnesses, just like people are, so it's important to take preventative measures to keep them comfortable and safe during hot weather. We'll go over the most recent advancements and practical advice for taking care of cats in warm weather in this blog article. We'll also cover potential risks, advantages, and other important details of summertime cat care.

Recognizing Cats' Heat Sensitivity: It's important to comprehend why cats are especially susceptible to warm weather before delving into specific care instructions. Cats cannot effectively control their body temperature by perspiration, in contrast to humans. Rather, their primary means of dissipating heat are panting and searching for cool surfaces. Furthermore, cats with thick fur coats are particularly vulnerable during the hot summer months since they are more likely to overheat

Possible Dangers to Cats from Hot Weather: Heatstroke: If cats are exposed to extreme temperatures for extended periods of time, they may swiftly pass away from heatstroke. Excessive panting, drooling, fatigue, vomiting, and even collapse are some of the symptoms. Heatstroke is a medical emergency that needs to be treated by a veterinarian right away. Dehydration: Cats are more likely to become dehydrated in hot weather, particularly if they don't have access to a sufficient amount of fresh water. Serious health problems, such as renal problems and urinary tract infections, can result from dehydration. Sunburn: Light-colored or thin-coated cats are more prone to sunburn, especially on their noses, ears, and other exposed parts of their bodies. Cats who spend a lot of time in the sun are more likely to develop

 skin cancer.

Benefits of Proper Care in Warm Weather: 

You may help prevent potential health issues and maintain your cat's overall well-being by taking proactive steps to keep them cool and comfortable during hot weather. Benefits of receiving the right care include:

Enhanced Comfort: Giving your cat access to a cool, shaded space keeps them calm and comfortable, lowering stress levels and encouraging improved mental and physical health. Prevention of Heat-Related Illnesses: You may drastically lower your cat's risk of heatstroke and dehydration by keeping an eye on their behavior and implementing preventative steps like giving them access to cool areas and fresh water. Stronger Bond: Taking care of your cat's needs, particularly in difficult situations like the heat, makes your relationship with your animal companion stronger and promotes trust.

Essential Tips for Caring for Cats in Warm Weather:

Make Sure Your Cat Has Access to Clean, Fresh Water: Make sure your cat has access to clean, fresh water at all times. You should also think about setting up many water bowls around your house. Another way to keep the water chilly is to add ice cubes to it. Construct Cool Retreats: Provide cool, shady spots for your cat to hide from the heat in your house. This may be giving your cat access to cold, tiled surfaces or installing a fan or air conditioner in an area they frequently use. Limit the amount of time spent outside: Keep your cat inside during the hottest hours of the day to reduce their exposure to the sun and the heat outside. If your cat likes to be outside, you might want to think about getting an outside cage for them or letting them play outside under supervision.

Regular Grooming: To keep your cat cool, regularly brush their fur to get rid of stray hair and avoid matting. But take care not to entirely shave your cat's fur since this can put them at risk for skin injury and sunburn. Give Your Cat Frozen Goodies: To help your cat stay hydrated and cool off, give them frozen goodies like ice cubes or specially-made cat ice cream. Keep an eye out for overheating symptoms: Watch closely for any indications of heat-related discomfort in your cat, such as increased panting, sluggishness, or vomiting. Move your cat to a cooler location right away and call your veterinarian if you think they may be overheated.

It takes diligence, attention to detail, and a proactive attitude to care for cats in warm weather in order to assure their comfort and safety. You may contribute to your cat's health and happiness this summer by being aware of the possible risks associated with heat, appreciating the advantages of good care, and putting some basic cooling techniques into practice. Recall that keeping your cool cat comfortable during the summer requires a little additional attention.

[lurkinghell]

Trick or treat

you know what sure why not

trick! you get...

a urinary tract infection!

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We had a bit of bad news about Barney’s health a week ago... It’s not terrible, he is doing OK currently but yeah, we’ve all been a bit sad these past few days - which is why it’s taken me a while to write about it.

In the past year Barney’s needed to have quite a few courses of antibiotics, to treat a urinary tract infection, which just would not clear up for months - although he was finally given the all-clear a while back. Just over a week ago, I decided to get a new urine sample from Barney tested because... eh, I don’t really know why, to be honest. There didn’t seem to be anything majorly wrong (Barney was - is - frail but happy in himself, eating well, keen to go outside etc). I just felt something was slightly off with him & recently, if Barney’s been “under the weather”, a UTI has been to blame.

I expected to get told by the vet that either the sample was all clear & I was fretting for nothing, or that yes, Barney’s UTI was back & he needed another load of antibiotics. When we had the call back that afternoon, it was to say there was no infection but they’d found both blood & protein in his urine & it was too dilute. The vet was concerned & wanted to do a blood test. 

Barney had bloods done the next day & the morning after, the vet called back & confirmed that the poor old guy now has chronic kidney disease. I think we’ve caught it fairly early, which is obviously good... but still, this isn’t a condition which is curable & I know, sooner or later, it will get worse :( We have now got Barney on a specialist renal diet (thank goodness, he loves it!) & he’ll go back to the vet in a month for a check-up. Hopefully we can manage any symptoms & keep him happy for as long as possible. Barney’s 16 & I know I’m unbelievably lucky he’s been with me for so many years & that at his age, every extra day we have together is a gift... but it is just never long enough & this news has been hard to hear. Hug your dogs.