Reviewed by Kathleen Claussen, DVM on February 22, 2021 Show Dogs can be affected by many lower urinary tract problems, like diseases or infections of the bladder, urethra, and prostate. Urinary tract symptoms can also point to other problems, such as cancers or bladder stones. These conditions may make your dog unable to hold their urine or make them lethargic. Your dog may whimper or cry out when they are trying to relieve themselves. It can be difficult to know if your dog is in pain, and your dog may not show any signs of pain at all. However, some signs may help you determine if your dog is having trouble with their urinary tract:
Other problems in your dog’s urinary tract may include:
There are many causes of lower urinary tract problems, like:
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more common in older female dogs and dogs with diabetes. Dogs with bladder stones are more prone to getting frequent UTIs. In addition, lower urinary tract disease and UTIs are common in senior dogs, age seven and older, of all breeds and genders. Diagnosing lower urinary tract problems requires a visit to the veterinarian. Your vet will do a physical examination that includes checking the kidneys and bladder. They will also likely perform a urinalysis. They may also need to do a urine culture, blood work, ultrasound, or radiographs depending on their findings. These evaluations can help your vet determine if your dog’s urinary tract problems are caused by a UTI, or if they have another underlying condition like those listed above, including, stones, cancers, or tumors. The vet will determine your dog’s treatment plan after they diagnose the underlying cause of the problem. The best treatment will depend on what’s causing the symptoms. After your dog’s diagnosis, your veterinarian may recommend some of the following:
If the vet determines your dog’s urinary tract problems are being caused by an underlying condition, they’ll seek to treat the underlying cause first. Antibiotics are the typical treatment for UTIs in dogs, and the vet may also prescribe pain medication, because UTIs can be very uncomfortable for dogs. If your vet prescribes antibiotics, make sure you give your dog all of the medication, even if they appear to be doing better, to be sure the infection is resolved and to help prevent reinfection. After the antibiotics, it’s important for your vet to recheck the urinalysis to confirm the infection is gone. If not, they’ll need to look for other issues that might be causing continued or repeat infections. Untreated lower urinary tract problems can cause serious medical problems for dogs. Along with discomfort, untreated infections can result in partial or complete blockage of the urethra, disrupting urine output and leading to toxic levels of waste buildup. If your dog’s urinary symptoms are caused by a disease or a cancer, the condition can progress if it’s left untreated, and your dog’s symptoms may worsen or increase to include other symptoms. Many serious conditions, like cancers, can be fatal if left untreated. Some can be treated to help your dog live a longer and healthier life, though they are difficult to cure. Getting the right diagnosis will help you know how to resolve your dog’s urinary tract problems and be sure there’s nothing else that also needs treatment. Pay attention to your dog’s behavior, because it’s not easy to spot all your dog’s symptoms. If you notice symptoms of pain and discomfort, especially difficulty urinating, call your dog’s vet to figure out what’s causing the problems and the best way to treat them.
The bladder is a reservoir that collects urine from the kidneys. Urine is voluntarily expelled from the bladder through a tube called the urethra. In female dogs, the urethra opens in the terminal part of the vagina. The vulva is a part of the female dog’s external genitalia that forms the entrance to the vagina. This structure is composed of skin folds that in some dogs can be excessively large or may contain excessive amounts of fat. Recurrent Bladder InfectionsBy definition, appropriate treatment of bladder infections with subsequent reinfection of the bladder is called a recurrent bladder infection. Bladder infections are more common in female dogs than in males due to the short urethra in females, which allows for migration of bacteria into the bladder. In addition, abnormalities of the anatomy of the vagina or vulva may predispose dogs to develop infections. Excessive skin folds around the vulva trap moisture, thus serving as a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria then migrate into the vagina and into the bladder via the urethra. Other causes of recurrent bladder infection may include bladder stones, bladder polyps, bladder cancer, vaginal strictures, vaginal septae and other anatomical abnormalities. Signs and Diagnosis Warning signs of a bladder infection include frequent urination, straining to urinate, passing small amounts of urine each time of urination, foul smelling urine, dark colored urine, and blood-tinged urine. Excessive skin folds around the vulva with a rash on the vulva may also be present. A urinalysis and culture of the urine are done to see if a bladder infection is present. Abdominal ultrasound is used to evaluate the In addition, a cystoscopy is usually performed to rule out diseases of the vagina, urethra and bladder. This test requires general anesthesia in order to examine the vagina, urethra and bladder with a very small camera. Tests done prior to surgery may include a complete blood count, blood chemistry profile, and urinalysis to check internal organ health. TreatmentsTreatment of recurrent urinary tract infection is always directed at the underlying cause. Once your pet’s urologist identifies the cause of the problem, it will be specifically addressed. A common problem is excessive skin folds surrounding the vulva. A surgical procedure, called an episioplasty, involves removal of the excessive skin folds and associated excessive fat. It’s typically performed on the day of the cystoscopic examination of the urinary tract. For more information on this subject, speak to your primary care vet or the BluePearl specialist who is treating your pet.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are fairly common in dogs. Dogs with UTIs generally attempt to urinate very frequently whenever they go outside. They also may strain to urinate, or cry out or whine when urinating if it is painful. Sometimes you might even see blood in their urine. Dripping urine, or frequent licking of the genitals, may also signal that a UTI is present. Urine that has a very strong odor to it can also be a sign that your dog has an infection.
"A break in housetraining is a red flag that something is wrong in the bladder." A break in housetraining is a red flag that something is wrong in the bladder. If this should happen to your previous well-mannered dog, a UTI may be to blame. Generally, a UTI occurs when bacteria travels up the urethra and into the bladder. Urine in the bladder is supposed to be sterile, but once bacteria find their way there, they can grow and reproduce, causing a UTI. Additionally, some dogs will develop bladder stones in conjunction with their UTI, which opens the door for additional health issues. What does a urinalysis look at?If your cat presents to your veterinarian with urinary signs, your veterinarian will first perform a urinalysis. The urinalysis can reveal so much important information about the urine when a UTI is suspected. Your veterinarian will look at the following:
Once these levels are measured, the urine specimen is placed into a centrifuge and spun down to allow cells and other debris to accumulate at the bottom of the sample tube. That debris can then be evaluated under magnification, and this examination can reveal the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria, and crystals. What is seen under the microscope’s magnification can lead to the next steps of assessing the dog’s urinary tract disease. For example, if there are crystals in the urine, your veterinarian may recommend radiographs (X-rays) or an ultrasound of the abdomen in order to look for bladder stones. My veterinarian sent a sample of urine to a laboratory for a culture and sensitivity test. What is this?All urinary tract infections are NOT created equal! Even though the most common organism to cause UTIs in dogs is Escherichia coli (the bacteria found in feces), there are several other organisms that may be involved. The only way to identify which specific bacteria is to blame, is to grow it in a laboratory. At the same time, the lab can also test which antibiotic is best suited to treat the infection. Often, a veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic that is among the most commonly used for treating UTIs in order to try to provide immediate relief to the dog. Pain medication may also be prescribed (UTIs can be uncomfortable), and a diet change may be recommended. Once the culture and sensitivity results are received, an appropriate antibiotic will be prescribed. After the course of antibiotics is given, it is important to recheck the urinalysis to confirm that the infection is resolved. If it is not, then it will be important to investigate additional issues that may contribute to a persistent UTI. Are some dogs predisposed to UTIs?Older female dogs, and dogs with diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), more commonly develop UTIs than the general population. Dogs who have bladder stones are also more prone to recurrent UTIs. This highlights the importance of getting a complete diagnosis whenever there is evidence of disease in the urinary tract. Bladder stones must be removed or dissolved in order to restore bladder health. What can I do to prevent a UTI from occurring in the future?Your veterinarian will let you know if there is anything that can be done to prevent your dog’s UTI from recurring. Often, a diet change may be recommended. They may also recommend some medications or supplements that can help to change the pH of the urine, making it harder for an infection to take hold. It is best to discuss UTI prevention with your veterinarian in order to put into place strategies that have been shown to be effective. |
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