Urinary infections in dogs need to be diagnosed and treated promptly so that the infections don’t give rise to serious complications. Urinary tract infections usually develop when the dog’s urethra comes in contact with bacteria present in the environment. These bacteria enter the urethra and travel to the urinary bladder and cause lower urinary tract diseases in pets.
Causes of Urinary Infections
In order to treat the urinary infection that’s present, the vet will have to first identify the cause of the infection. Apart from bacteria, fungi and certain viruses are known to cause urinary infections in canines. Although both male and female dogs of all breeds are susceptible to such infections, females are at greater risk of developing urinary infections due to the short length of their urinary passage. While these are only a few causes of canine urinary infections, dogs can also develop infections of the upper and lower urinary tract if they suffer from kidney stones, renal disorders or other immunosuppressive diseases.
Treatment of Urinary Infections in Dogs
If the urinary infection is caused due to an underlying condition like kidney stones or renal disorder, the vet will use specific treatment protocols to cure the underlying problem. However, if the urinary infection is associated with viral or bacterial contamination, the most common treatment option is the administration of antibiotic medication. Antibiotics effectively kill susceptible bacteria but they aren’t ideal as a long term solution for urinary infections. Since urinary infections are known to recur even after antibiotic medications are administered, pet owners have to find alternative treatment options and adopt precautionary measures to prevent future infections from recurring.
Using Antibiotics to Cure Urinary Infections
Antibiotics bring prompt relief from urinary infections that are caused by bacteria. The vet may use a combination of drugs depending on the type of infection that’s present. Since some antibiotics treat only gram positive or gram negative bacteria, the vet will have to find out the type and severity of infection present and prescribe medicines accordingly. Antibiotics should be administered only according to vet instructions and all dosages should be administered on time. Since antibiotics often cause drug interactions when combined with certain medications, it’s important to inform the vet of any other medicines (even herbal remedies) that are being administered to the pet.
Commercially Available Antibiotics
- Cephalexin
- Clindamycin
- Doxycyxline
- Amoxicillin
- Ciprofloxacin
Precautions
While some pets experience a few side effects like diarrhea, drowsiness, vomiting or joint stiffness, others may develop serious side effects like facial swelling and difficulty breathing. These severe side effects are usually seen when the pet’s body develops an allergic reaction to certain ingredients present in the medication. If your pet show signs of any serious side effects it’s important to discontinue the medication and seek medical care at the earliest. It’s also important to monitor the pets overall condition and inform the vet of any new symptoms that develop.
Administration of Antibiotics
Since antibiotics are highly potent, the dog should be feed a nutritious diet with plenty of water. The dosage varies according to the severity of the infection present and most dogs are prescribed antibiotics for a specific duration. Pet owners should read and follow package instructions before administering any a ntibiotics and avoid overdosing the pet.
Although antibiotics effectively cure urinary infections, dogs that suffer from chronic urinary infections require holistic treatment or herbal remedies that are safe for long term use.