Chemical composition
"Furagin" is an antibacterial drug intended for the treatment of lower urinary tract infections. Its active ingredient is furazidine. According to its chemical structure, the drug belongs to the group of drugs that are derivatives of nitrofuran.
The drug is active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including salmonella, trichomonas, amoebas and some types of coccidia. The main effect of Furagin is bacteriostatic. In high doses it also has a bactericidal effect.
Did you know? One of the easiest ways to reduce bladder discomfort is to eliminate high-acid foods and common table salt from your diet.
Biological properties
The drug is used in the treatment and prevention of acute and chronic lower urinary tract infections, including cystitis, urolithiasis and other serious diseases when the use of other antibacterial drugs is ineffective.
Find out more about how to treat urolithiasis in cats.
The action of furazidin is multifaceted. It interrupts bacterial protein synthesis and damage to bacterial DNA, as a result of which bacterial reproduction stops. Furagin also activates the body's immune system. The spectrum of activity includes a number of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Causes
Causes and factors of cystitis in cats:
- Kidney diseases (pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis can also occur in cats)
– in this case we are talking about the descending nature of the infection.
- Ascending infectious processes - they are usually associated with hypothermia.
- Infection by hematogenous or lymphogenous route.
Both male and female cats suffer from cystitis. But manifestations of the disease in cats are more common. This is due to the anatomical features of the body. In cats, the urethra is wide, straight and short, which means salts are almost freely excreted in the urine. The urethra of cats is longer, has narrowings and bends, therefore, mucous and salt plugs often appear in it, blocking the release of urine (obstruction).
Castrated cats, whose genitourinary system functions differently than those of non-castrated cats, are more predisposed to cystitis. Stagnation of blood in the genitals leads to swelling, and this leads to spasms and urinary retention, stagnation in the bladder, salt loss, urolithiasis and chronic cystitis.
In the practice of veterinarians, it is noted that the spread of the infectious process does not matter - the principles of treating cystitis are always the same.
The main thing is to diagnose the disease in time, since it is much easier to be treated in the early stages . But there are problems with this - a pet will not complain to you like a human. Therefore, when treating animals, early diagnosis is difficult.
How does cystitis manifest? Signs and symptoms
The most characteristic symptoms of cystitis are pain when urinating and frequent urge . You will see how a domestic cat, having gone “to do a little need”, will make plaintive sounds and angrily scratch the “toilet” with its claws.
Be sure to pay attention to the nature of the discharge - with cystitis (especially with severe manifestations of this disease), bloody discharge, impurities of pus, and a foul odor may appear in the urine.
This is what a sick cat looks like
If you suspect cystitis in cats, you must definitely palpate the stomach - in the case of an acute form of the disease, the animal will feel a sharp pain in the lower sections (when you press on the cat’s stomach, the area located closer to the tail will hurt).
Regarding the characteristics of the course, the disease has an acute and chronic nature. But, in any case, this disease is very dangerous for the life and health of the animal, since the possibility of extensive damage to the organs of the urinary system cannot be ruled out.
In addition, the owner must not forget that microorganisms that cause cystitis in cats can cause inflammatory processes in the urinary system in humans.
Important Note
– owners of cats who prefer to take them outside are less likely to detect symptoms in their pets in time (since the cat “walks on its own” outside). In this case, it becomes clear that something is wrong with the animal only when the cat is already lying down and meowing pitifully, without expressing any desires.
Directions for use and dosage
You should always use medications as prescribed by your doctor. Do not exceed the recommended doses - this will not increase the effectiveness of Furagin, but may harm the health of the pet.
The course of treatment for a cat can last 7 days, taking 2-3 tablets per day. If symptoms worsen or do not improve during this time, tell your doctor so they can make adjustments. When treating advanced forms of illness, sometimes they take a break and after 2 weeks a repeat bite is prescribed.
The tablets should be given to the animal with food. If the pet refuses to eat, then an injection form of treatment is used. Furagin is not prescribed to kittens under 1 year of age, pregnant or lactating cats.
Important! "Furagin" is not recommended to be used simultaneously with antibiotics. This increases its toxicity.
Dosage of the drug
The daily amount of Furagin for cats is prescribed by a veterinarian individually and depends on the weight of the pet. The average dosage of Furagin for cats consists of 2-3 tablets daily. Injections are performed in a hospital setting. The dose of the injection is also determined individually for each cat.
The course of treatment does not exceed seven days. If therapy is delayed for a longer time, total intoxication of the cat’s body with undesirable symptoms may occur. If intensive therapy with Furagin is ineffective, the veterinarian will prescribe a more potent medicinal analogue.
The instructions for the drug describe in detail that Furagin can be combined with other medications. The attending physician can prescribe complex therapy for cystitis and obvious urinary incontinence to a sick cat. For example, to achieve a greater effect from treatment, Furagin can be supplemented with the use of vitamin complexes. This method of treatment will protect the cat from any negative consequences . If Furagin is combined with antibiotics for a cat with cystitis, then you can lead the sick cat to food poisoning with severe symptoms.
The drug penetrates well into organ tissue. After a few hours, its concentration in the body reaches its peak and then gradually begins to be eliminated from the body. Furagin is excreted mainly through the kidneys, part of the medicine is excreted along with feces. After 42 hours, the substance is no longer detectable in the urine.
A person who has ever taken Furagin must remember that a human dose for a sick cat is dangerous. It is best to contact your veterinarian with questions about dosage and treatment regimen.
Side effects and contraindications
The use of Furagin is contraindicated in the following cases:
- diabetes;
- renal failure.
If you experience any side effects while taking it, you must inform your doctor. Like all medicines, Furagin can cause these reactions, although this is not necessarily the case.
Among the main side effects are the following:
- nausea;
- vomit;
- decreased appetite;
- dizziness;
- drowsiness;
- allergy;
- blurred vision;
- chills.
It is imperative that the animal has constant access to water - this can reduce the intensity of negative reactions. Usually, side effects go away quickly or immediately after stopping the drug.
Shelf life and storage conditions
The shelf life of the drug is 5 years. Do not use drugs that have expired. They should be stored out of the reach of children or animals. Remember that cats are excellent jumpers and are also very curious. The temperature in the storage room should be below +25°C.
Important! Clinical studies have shown that drugs of the nitrofuran group have a negative effect on testicular function - they reduce sperm activity. Therefore, if you are using a cat for mating, plan it for a period when the animal is completely healthy.
Price and analogues
Preparations of the nitrofuran group can be interchangeable. There are quite a lot of such products available, but their active ingredient may be the same or similar in purpose. The price of “Furagin” is about 200 rubles.
Some analogue drugs:
- Nitrofurantoin has a bactericidal effect in urine in therapeutic doses. Used to treat urinary tract infections. Its dosage for dogs and cats is 4.4 mg/kg. The medicine is given orally for 4–10 days. In standard dosages, the drug has no side effects. The cost of the drug is 125–140 rubles.
- “Furacilin” generally corresponds to “Nnitrofurantoin” in terms of its mechanism of action, antimicrobial spectrum, activity and physicochemical characteristics. Used to combat intestinal bacteria and coccidial infections. Cost - 68 rubles.
- Furazolidone is a nitrofuran with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity. It is also used to treat intestinal infections. The cost of the drug is 89–111 rubles.
- "Furamag" is also an analogue of Furagin with higher bioactivity. The cost of packaging is 712 rubles.
When using any medicine, pay attention to the well-being of your pet. And in case of unexpected reactions, be sure to consult your veterinarian.
Principles of treatment and prevention of cystitis in cats
It should be noted that the treatment of cats with cystitis is not much different from the therapeutic approaches of human medicine and can occur at home.
The most important point in treating a disease is the destruction of the pathogenic microorganism
.
This is achieved with the help of antibacterial drugs - in this case they are taken: cephalosporins (ceftriaxone, cefoperazone) or fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin). The recommended frequency of administration is twice a day with an interval of twelve hours (the recommended schedule is 8 am and 8 pm). The dosage is calculated purely individually, depending on the severity of the animal’s condition, age and body weight.
In addition, be sure to use uroseptics - they complement the action of antibacterial drugs, thereby potentiating the therapeutic effect. Furagin, furamag or furazolidone are used. Taken morning and evening, preferably before meals. You can use feed additives (“Stop-Cystitis”) to normalize and improve the functioning of the urinary system.
Don't forget about probiotics. Linex, Lactovit or yogurt are taken three times a day, otherwise the cat will have to be treated for dysbiosis.
It is strictly not recommended to treat an animal yourself at home without consulting a veterinarian and to use traditional medicine. Their effectiveness has not yet been proven, and in this case, delay could cost your pet his life.
Prevention
Taking into account the fact that in cases of cystitis, in cats, chronicity of this disease is observed, close attention should be paid to the prevention of relapses of this pathology. Be sure to keep your cat warm, do not allow him to go outside (at least in the cold season) and protect him from drafts. It is recommended to take drugs and herbal medicines for maintenance therapy - canephron, trinephron, urolesan. Use the same drugs during the rehabilitation period, after a successful course of treatment.
Timely contacting a veterinarian if you suspect the presence of symptoms of cytitis and following the necessary recommendations will help keep your animal healthy.
