With dogs, UTI is a very common occurrence, and thankfully it can be treated in a number of ways. Urinary tract infections will affect approximately 1 in 7 dogs in their lifetimes. Provided that you keep a close watch for any symptoms of UTI, they typically are not life threatening, unless of course they are a symptom of something more serious.
What Causes UTI
Urinary tract infections are caused by excessive bacteria in the dog's immune system. The bacteria causing UTI usually enters the dog through the ingestion of unclean food or water, and if left untreated, it can reach the dog's bladder and let the infection persist. Urinary tract infections occupy the area of the dog's body where urine in produced and excreted such as the kidneys, bladder, urethra and prostate gland. Contaminated food and water, if continually ingested, will give a urinary tract infection the opportunity to affect other parts of the dog's internal systems, leading to further problems.
Because the urethra in a female dog is shorter than in a male dog, UTI is a more frequent occurrence. The bacteria have an easier time moving into the female dog's bladder.
Symptoms of UTI
UTI is fairly common in dogs, so as a responsible pet owner, it is incumbent upon you to watch out for any visible symptoms that may be causing discomfort in your dog. Among the symptoms of UTI to look out for are:
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Dehydration-drinking a lot of water
- Blood in the urine
- Frequency of urination-either more or less often than normal
- Straining to urinate
- Incontinence or "accidents"
- Fever or lethargy
False Diagnosis
If a dog is marking with urine in the house, many pet owners assume that it is a sign of UTI. Although accidents in the house can happen to a housebroken dog suffering from a urinary tract infection, dog marking might be a disciplinary problem that requires dog training. Your dog will exhibit other symptoms like those listed above if they are truly suffering from a urinary tract infection. Then you will be able to decide if the urine marking is an accident or a discipline issue.
Treatment with Antimicrobial Drugs
Similar to antibiotics, antimicrobial drugs can be used to treat UTI. Your veterinarian will run some tests on your dog to determine if they have any allergies to any of the treatments before they prescribe them. Depending on the extent of the UTI, antimicrobial drugs will be administered for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. Though similar to treatments given to humans, never give your dog antibiotics or antimicrobial drugs that have been prescribed for you. Each prescription is unique to the patient, thus it could be harmful to your pet.
Urinary tract infections are a very common occurrence in dogs. They are not life threatening provided that they are tended to in proper time. There are a number of treatments available to clear up UTI, including antimicrobial drugs. If you detect any symptoms of UTI, consult your vet for testing.