What is canine urinary tract infection

The dog's urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The most common infection is lower urinary tract infection. Most lower urinary tract infections are accompanied by cystitis. The less common ones are infections of the ureters and kidneys. Kidney infection is also called "pyelonephritis."

When a dog is healthy, the urine in the bladder is usually sterile. When a urinary tract infection occurs, it means that bacteria have entered the bladder from the urethra. The question is how do bacteria enter the bladder?

At this point, we have to talk about the dog’s urinary tract circulation. The dog’s urine is excreted from the kidneys, stored in the bladder through the ureters, then passes through the urethra to the external genitals, and is finally excreted through the external genitals. Although there are usually bacteria in the urethra, it is logically easy to get infected, but the function of the autoimmune system prevents the bacteria from ascending.

However, when a dog has stones or malnutrition, its immunity will be reduced, and its blocking effect on bacteria will also be reduced. The bacteria will enter the bladder from the urethra. At this time, a lower urinary tract infection will occur. If it is not discovered and treated in time, If treated, the bacteria are likely to spread further and cause kidney infection.

In addition, some dogs will have structural abnormalities in the lower urinary tract due to genetic problems, and such dogs will be more susceptible to lower urinary tract infections. Generally speaking, female dogs are more likely to develop lower urinary tract infections than male dogs because female dogs urinate and are more exposed to bacteria while squatting.

Symptoms of urinary tract infection in dogs

Frequent urination and blood in the urine are the most obvious symptoms of urinary tract infection. Because urinary tract infection will irritate the bladder wall, dogs with urinary tract infection will also have the urge to urinate when the urine output is small. They will urinate frequently, but every time The amount is very small, and blood in the urine may also occur.

Urinary tract infections will change the chemical composition of urine. Minerals in urine are more likely to crystallize and form stones. Therefore, dogs with urinary tract infections will also have difficulty urinating and painful urination, and the smell of urine will also be different. strong.

From the appearance, when a dog suffers from a urinary tract infection, the urethral opening will become red and swollen. Male dogs may also have urethral swelling, while female dogs will have red and swollen urethral openings. If the dog's urinary tract infection is severe, it may be accompanied by mucus-like or pus-like urine secretions, and may discharge necrotic and falling off urethral mucosa.

In addition, if you find that your dog suddenly changes its usual urinating habits and starts to urinate anywhere at home, you should start to be vigilant. At this time, the dog is likely to suffer from a urinary tract infection.

Diagnosis and treatment of canine urinary tract infection

Because urinary tract infection is difficult to diagnose and treat on our own, the best way is to send the dog to a professional pet hospital for examination and diagnosis.

A dog’s clinical history and thorough physical examination are important bases for diagnosing a dog’s urinary tract infection, and are also the main methods for finding the cause. Usually the veterinarian will analyze the dog's urine to determine whether there is a urinary tract infection.

Dogs with persistent or recurring infections will also undergo urine cultures, X-rays, and ultrasounds to evaluate for other complications, such as urinary tract stones, polyps, or cysts.

The most common way to treat a urinary tract infection is to take antibiotics. If the dog also has cystitis, anti-inflammatory drugs will be used at the same time in order to reduce the inflammatory reaction. While taking the medication, owners need to note that they must complete the entire course of treatment and be completely cured before stopping the medication.

If you stop taking the medicine after a slight improvement, it will often cause the condition to relapse and affect the final result. After stopping the medication, the dog needs to have another urine test to ensure that the infection is completely eliminated. If the condition does not improve while taking antibiotics, your veterinarian may recommend further tests such as X-rays or ultrasounds.

How to prevent canine urinary tract infection

Insist on drinking plenty of water

The urine excreted by the kidneys has a flushing effect on the bladder and urethra, which is beneficial to the excretion of bacteria. Therefore, insisting on replenishing a large amount of water in time for dogs every day can prevent the reproduction of bacteria in the urinary tract and reduce the possibility of urinary tract infection in dogs. This is the most practical and effective way to prevent urinary tract infections.

Maintain the hygiene of your dog

Hygiene status is a prerequisite for determining whether urinary tract infection occurs, so you should always pay attention to the hygiene of your dog's vagina, clean it frequently and bathe frequently, especially during estrus and pregnancy.

Environmental Control

Urinary tract infections in dogs are closely related to the deterioration of the dog's living environment. Poor cleaning and disinfection of the environment and supplies, and excessive levels of pathogens in the air can easily cause urinary tract infections in dogs, so we must pay more attention to our dogs in daily life. The living environment should be clean, dry, ventilated, and disinfected in time to prevent bacterial growth.

Enhance immunity

A balanced nutritional supply and keeping dogs healthy are the basis for reducing the incidence of disease. The dog's diet should be reasonably arranged according to the dog's breed, gender, age, etc. to ensure that the dog is in good development and healthy to enhance its immunity.

becauseUrinary tract infection is a very complicated disease, so dog owners must not be careless. If your dog has symptoms of urinary tract infection, you must go to a professional pet hospital for diagnosis in time, and then treat it according to the veterinarian's recommendations.