Urinary Tract Infection In Dogs
Causes and Treatment for a Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs
You do your best to take care of your canine pal, but even the best care can sometimes mean that urinary tract infection in dogs still occurs. Studies show that around 14% of dogs will get a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives. They are very common, but knowing how to spot them, prevent them, and treat them can help you and your pet.
So what causes a urinary tract infection in dogs? They occur when bacteria starts to permeate your dog’s immune system. Bacteria can enter your dog’s system in several ways, but most commonly through ingestion from water or food that is contaminated. Bacteria can also be transmitted through blood as well. As a result, the bacteria escherichia coli can get inside of your dog’s bladder and if it isn’t flushed out naturally then it can lead to an infection.
Of course, escherichia coli isn’t the only kind of bacteria that can lead to your dog getting a urinary tract infection. Other bacteria like klebsiella, coagulase positive straphylococcus, pseudomonas, proteus mirabilis, and esterococcus are also linked to urinary tract infections in canines, too.
A urinary tract infection in dogs can appear in the part of the dog where urine is not only produced but also excreted out of the body as well. This can mean that the infection is capable of occurring in the urethra, bladder, ureters, prostate gland, and kidneys. An ascending urinary tract infection occurs when the infection begins affecting other organs.
It is much more common for female dogs to get urinary tract infections than males due to the fact that the female’s urethra is shorter. With a shorter urethra, the bacteria is able to get in to the bladder easier.
There might not always be a lot of symptoms that accompany a urinary tract infection in dogs so it might not always be easy to tell if your dog has one. Sometimes dogs will cry or yelp due to the pain that they experience when they urinate. By this point, however, the disease is probably already advanced.
For an upper urinary tract infection, your dog might experience anorexia, weight loss, and vomiting. For a lower urinary tract infection, however, your dog might suffer from incontinence and other urination abnormalities.
One of the first things that you should keep an eye out for is whether or not your dog is consuming more water than he normally does. The body’s reaction to renal problems inside the urinary tract is to typically want more water. Dehydration is also a common symptom in urinary tract infections.
You should also pay attention to the amount that your dog is urinating. If the urine appears to be more or less than usual then it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. If your dog isn’t urinating at all, then this is a serious sign and you should get your dog to the vet immediately. You should also get your dog to the vet if you notice blood in the urine, if the urine comes out sporadically, or if there is a particularly foul odor to the urine even though his diet hasn’t changed.
If possible, try to take a sample of your dog’s urine to the vet when you go. The vet will be able to examine it to get a clearer picture of what the problem might be.
Urinary tract infections in dogs are usually either treated with antibiotics or antimicrobial drugs. Antimicrobial drugs are typically administered for 2-3 weeks depending on how severe the disease is. Some common drugs that are prescribed are amoxicillin, cephalexin, and enrofloxacin.