We study the instructions for use of the drug “Furadonin” for cystitis

Cystitis is a serious disease that involves inflammation of the bladder. It is common not only among people, but also among animals, including dogs. Representatives of different breeds and ages are susceptible to it. Cystitis in dogs occurs for various reasons; the sooner its symptoms can be identified and treatment begun, the less discomfort and pain the pet will experience.

What causes cystitis in dogs?

The main reasons that provoke inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder are:

1. Hypothermia. Cold is tolerated differently by different breeds. Large, hardy dogs with good immunity will calmly endure a walk through puddles in the downpour. Half an hour of such pastime may be enough for a decorative dog to get sick.

Even at home you can become hypothermic, especially if you sleep on concrete or a cold floor. This is often encountered by dogs living in uninsulated enclosures.

1. Diseases of the genitourinary system. Cystitis can occur as a complication. It is often provoked by urolithiasis, in which urine stagnates in the bladder. The stones themselves also damage the sensitive mucous membrane.
2. Infections. The most common cause (occurs in 70% of cases). Bacteria enter the bladder in different ways: through the blood, from the kidneys, and from the urethra. Infection can occur against the background of other diseases. This form of the disease is called bacterial cystitis.

A female dog is more likely to develop cystitis than a male dog. This is explained by the structural features of the urethra: it is wider, shorter, and located closer to the anus. Also, bitches often develop cystitis during pregnancy, especially if it occurs with complications.

Analogs and price

Furadonin has several analogues:

• Furazidin is a drug that is characterized by an antimicrobial effect; in addition, the substances help to increase phagocytes in the body;
• Furasol can also be taken for infections and inflammation of the genitourinary system;
• Furamag has a wide spectrum of action and is prescribed for gynecological infections, urological diseases, burns;
• Furagin is prescribed for severe infectious diseases.

Furadonin tablets with a dosage of 50 mg cost approximately 55 rubles.
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Symptoms of the disease

It is not easy to detect the first signs, but due to the rapid development of the inflammatory process characteristic of cystitis, the animal’s condition quickly deteriorates. The main symptoms are:

• frequent urination, false urge to urinate;
• painful sensations - when urinating, the dog begins to whine;
• blood clots, pus in urine;
• painful sensations in the abdomen, the pet does not allow you to touch it;
• unpleasant specific smell of urine;
• loss of appetite, lethargy, loss of strength;
• increase in body temperature.

Signs of cystitis in a male dog can be easily determined by the position in which the dog defecates. Due to painful sensations, he cannot lift his paw as usual, he has to squat.

Cystitis or estrus how to distinguish

It is more difficult to distinguish cystitis during estrus because many of the symptoms of the disease and menstruation coincide. To diagnose the disease, it is necessary to pay attention to the presence/absence of such features, which occur only with inflammation of the bladder:

• severe pain when urinating (when the bitch is in heat, she goes to the toilet calmly);
• urine has a specific smell;
• There is a false urge to urinate.

Other signs, for example, blood clots in the urine, loss of appetite, loss of strength, increased body temperature, are present with cystitis and estrus.

Sometimes frequent urination and some other symptoms of cystitis occur as a complication in a neutered dog. They usually go away on their own and may require treatment. It is also easy to confuse cystitis after castration with complications of surgery. Therefore, animals that have undergone sterilization or castration require mandatory diagnostics so that the veterinarian can determine the signs of bladder problems.

Clinical picture

A specific symptom of acute cystitis is urinary incontinence. Due to severe damage to the mucous layer and the spread of inflammation to the muscle layer, the bladder cannot fully perform its function and retain accumulated urine. As a result, the dog often asks to go to the toilet, and sometimes urine leaks out involuntarily. The same is observed during exacerbation of chronic inflammation.

In addition, pathology can be recognized by other signs:

• pain, due to which the dog whines while urinating, and males change their position when urinating (sit down, as lifting the limb becomes painful);
• urine is excreted in small portions;
• mucus, blood, and purulent inclusions may be found in the liquid;
• urine is cloudy and has a strong unpleasant odor;
• thirst;
• decreased appetite;
• feverish condition;
• tense abdominal wall.

The dog becomes indifferent to everything, but at the same time apathy can alternate with irritability and aggressiveness.

Types of cystitis

Based on the duration of the disease, there are two types:

1. Acute cystitis. Within a day after the onset of the inflammatory process, the first symptoms appear, the dog feels discomfort when urinating, and the pain syndrome rapidly increases. If left untreated, purulent cystitis occurs. This form of acute inflammation indicates the development of complications.
2. Chronic cystitis. It is permanent and the animal requires maintenance therapy prescribed for life. An exacerbation is often associated with hypothermia; a dog with a chronic form of the disease needs special care. Treatment of chronic cystitis consists of preventing its exacerbation.

Based on the reasons for the appearance of the disease, there are two types:

• primary (idiopathic) cystitis – develops as an independent disease, mainly due to infection entering directly into the bladder;
• secondary - occurs against the background of other diseases, for example, when an infection enters the organs of the genitourinary system from the intestines or other internal organs.

Hemorrhagic cystitis is also isolated - a form of acute cystitis, accompanied by copious bleeding. This occurs due to injury to the vascular wall of the bladder. Allergic cystitis occurs extremely rarely in animals. Its causes may be complications from asthma, problems with the respiratory system, or various allergic reactions.

Why is it dangerous?

Cystitis is dangerous due to the development of complications, the main of which is pyelonephritis - a kidney disease accompanied by a strong inflammatory process and purulent formations. The disease causes discomfort and severe pain to the dog. The bilateral form of pyelonephritis is often fatal.

When cystitis occurs as a result of infection, the danger lies in the increased risk of spread of pathogenic microflora to neighboring organs. It often affects the kidneys and genitals. As a result, there is a need to treat several diseases at once.

Diagnostics

Cystitis manifests itself in a pronounced way, so at the first suspicion of the disease, you must take your pet to the clinic. Diagnostics helps the veterinarian confirm the presence of an inflammatory process in the bladder, and on its basis a treatment regimen is developed. It includes:

• urine test: first general, then additional, as prescribed by the doctor;
• smear for the presence of genital bacteria;
• Ultrasound of the kidneys.

Often the symptoms of cystitis are confused with urolithiasis, so an important part of the diagnosis is ultrasound. If there are kidney stones, they will be visible on the image, which will confirm the diagnosis of ICD; if not, inflammation of the bladder.

Dosage

The amount of medication prescribed depends on the disease, as well as the weight and condition of the animal. Before administering the medicine, it is imperative to establish the exact body weight of the animal.

The course of treatment and dosage should be prescribed by a qualified veterinarian.

Cats usually eat the medicine well if given with a favorite treat or food that is palatable to the pet. If your pet refuses to eat the tablets, you will have to force them by placing them on the root of the tongue and closing the jaws.

Together with Furadonin, cats are often prescribed antibiotics. The drug is well compatible with them, but it is advisable to support the body by taking bifidobacteria. Also, during treatment, you can take a course of vitamins for cats with your animal . Sometimes, along with Furadonin, the doctor may prescribe other antibacterial agents.

Treatment at home

In most cases, when the dog's condition is not critical, treatment at home is prescribed. Hospitalization is required only when complications have developed, so that IVs and other procedures performed under the supervision of a specialist are required.

When treating at home, it is important to provide the pet with proper living conditions. If the dog lives on the street, it must be taken into the house. The sleeping place is insulated, it is advisable to add several bedding to it. Drafts are eliminated in the room where the animal is located. Only under such conditions will the drugs used be effective.

On average, recovery takes 10-14 days, in advanced cases it takes longer. Quick treatment of cystitis is impossible; it takes time to suppress the inflammatory process.

Drug treatment

The basis of drug treatment is the use of antibiotics. Their action is complemented by antispasmodics, which eliminate pain and alleviate the dog’s condition. Veterinarians usually prescribe:

1. Furadonin. The dosage is calculated based on the weight of the dog: a representative of a decorative breed weighing 1 kg will need a quarter of a tablet per day, weighing 60 kg - 4 pieces. The medicine is given along with food.
2. Biseptol. The product is effective in that it fights both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, therefore it is universal. The whole tablet is designed for a single dose for an animal weighing 50 kg; for small dogs the dosage is calculated individually.
3. Furagin. It is available in several dosage forms; injections based on it against cystitis are especially effective; the course of their use is a week. The drug has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
4. Canephron. Alcohol tincture on a plant basis, intended for internal use. Dogs should be given a few drops of the drug per 1 kg of weight. The duration of treatment is 2 weeks.
5. Cyston. Plant-based tablets, recommended to be taken orally after meals: 2 tablets 2-3 times a day. The drug is intended for long-term use, on average for 1-3 months, and is effective after recovery for prevention.
6. Dexamethasone. A hormonal drug most often prescribed for allergic cystitis, the active ingredient is disodium phosphate. A single application is enough for 1-2 days. In addition to anti-allergic, it has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect.

You can also give your dog Nolitsin - a universal drug used to treat different animals. The duration of use is always short - no more than a week.

Furadonin

The active ingredient of this drug is nitrofurantoin. It can have an antimicrobial effect on the urinary tract. Nitrofurantoin acts directly on bacteria and disrupts the conductivity of their membranes, and also interferes with protein synthesis.

Furadonin is absorbed after entering the gastrointestinal tract and excreted by the kidneys. It is able to penetrate into the milk of a lactating cat and into the placenta during pregnancy. The drug gives a dark color to your pet's urine.

Excipients included in Furadonin:

• twin 80;
• starch;
• Aerosil;
• stearic acid.

The drug is available in blisters and glass jars. Any types of Furadonin are packaged in cardboard boxes. Usually the drug is available in tablets, but now a suspension has also appeared.

Feeding a dog during cystitis

It is important to know which foods a dog needs for cystitis and which are contraindicated, because diet plays an important role in successful recovery. It is recommended to adhere to the following rules when choosing a daily diet:

• do not give fatty, spicy, salty foods;
• exclude sausages and smoked meats;
• limit the addition of salt;
• if you use food, choose only high-quality food;
• add vegetables to your diet;
• if the characteristics of the breed allow it, give your pet cottage cheese and fermented milk products;
• introduce additional intake of vitamin complexes;
• Provide constant access to clean water.

Feeding your dog dietary foods is also important due to antibiotic treatment, which negatively affects the functioning of the digestive system.

Possible side effects

Knowing how to take the pills, most patients do not experience any side effects. In some cases, it is possible to affect various body systems:

1. Nervous system – increased drowsiness, headache, dizziness, neuropathy.
2. Respiratory organs - bronchitis, coughing and/or asthma attacks, changes in the lungs at the cellular level.
3. Hematopoiesis – a decrease in the number of leukocytes, platelets, erythrocytes.
4. Digestive organs - decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea. Very rarely, hepatitis and cholecystic jaundice.
5. Allergies – skin rash, fever. Quincke's edema is very rare.

Important! If such side effects occur, you should perform gastric lavage and take antihistamines. Be sure to consult a doctor.

Prevention

Prevention includes taking the following precautions:

• adhere to the principles of proper nutrition;
• give only clean water;
• make sure that the dog does not drink water from puddles or unknown sources;
• walk your dog 2-3 times a day without skipping it;
• provide a comfortable, warm place to sleep and rest, even if the pet lives in an enclosure;
• Allow mating only with verified animals.

It is also important to have regular routine checkups with your veterinarian to ensure any problems are caught early.

Cystitis in dogs is a common disease, which is easy to cope with if its symptoms are detected in a timely manner. It occurs most often due to infection, less often due to hypothermia or concomitant diseases. The basis of therapy is antibiotics, supplemented by drugs from other groups; it is also important to follow a diet.