The antibacterial effects of silver have been recognized since medieval times when coins were placed in milk to stop it from souring. According to an 1919 article in The Lancet, colloidal silver was used in World War I to treat trench fever, but its use was dramatically reduced by the discovery of penicillin in 1928. Many claims are made for colloidal silver but none have been proved by scientific research.
Colloidal silver
Colloidal silver is a preparation of microscopic particles of silver suspended in de-mineralised water. It is active against single-cells organisms and some believe it works against bacterial infections. It is available as spray or oral solutions and is most commonly sold at a strength of 10 parts silver to one million parts of water. It has been used in cats to treat feline urinary tract infections, but most veterinarians advise against this.
Colloidal silver is not recognised by any of the current US or UK professional drug guides for either human or animal medicine. Anecdotal evidence exists as to the effects and benefits of colloidal silver, but no scientific trials have been carried out in either humans or animals. In addition, other accepted, effective treatments exist for feline urinary tract infections. According to a team working in the Bamalete Lutheran Hospital in 2004, the "claims of colloidal silver's antimicrobial potency are misleading and there is no place for it as an antiseptic."
Anatomy
The urinary tract in the cat comprises; two kidneys; two ureters --- the tubes which transport urine to the bladder; one bladder and one urethra --- a tube which takes the urine to the outside. Infections can occur in any one or more parts of the tract and in the cat are most commonly found in the bladder.
Infection
Infection of the bladder is called cystitis. Infection of the feline urinary tract as a primary condition is rare and most infections occur secondary to bladder stones, tumours or a form of cystitis, which is not due to an infectious agent, called idiopathic hemorrhagic cystitis.
More than 50 percent of cases the infection are caused by E Coli, Staphylococcus or Proteus species of bacteria. Other bacteria which may be involved include Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Psuedomonas, Enterobacter and Corynebacterium species. Occasionally infection due to fungal spores may occur.
Signs
You cat may go to its litter tray frequently and pass only small amounts of urine. It may cry out in pain while urinating or urinate in unusual places. The urine may be cloudy or bloody and may smell more strongly than usual. If your cat is distressed or straining repeatedly but failing to pass urine please contact your veterinarian immediately. The condition can be life-threatening.
Warning
No manufacturers or sellers of colloidal silver supply dose rates for cats but some mention using a "small amount" in animals. Colloidal silver may also affect many of the friendly bacteria in your cat's gut.
If your cat does not appear to be getting better or if the signs become more severe, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Side effects
Silver is toxic to cats and humans in larger doses. In small doses it appears to be harmless, but no safe levels have been scientifically determined. It accumulates in the skin, organs and eyes, causing a condition called argyria which makes the skin turn grey. This and the lack of proof as to its antimicrobial effects led, in 1999, to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banning the use of colloidal silver or silver salts in products that could be bought without prescription. The ruling also stated that silver products could still be sold as "dietary supplements" provided that no health claims were made for them.
References
- "Colloidal Silver as an antimicrobial agent; fact or fiction?", Journal of Wound Care; P. van Hasselt, B. A. Gashe, J. Ahmad J.; 2004
- Rulemaking History for OTC Colloidal Silver Drug Products
- "Colloidal silver in trench fever", The Lancet; J. H. Lloyd; 1919
