How Do You Know if Your Female Dog Has a Bladder Infection
If you've ever had a bladder or urinary tract infection, you know how painful it is. A canis familiaris urinary tract infection (UTI) is unbearable for your pup too. Unfortunately, these nasty bacterial infections are mutual in humans, cats, and dogs—about one in 3 dogs will develop a UTI. Here's everything you lot need to know about a dog UTI and the quick-fix treatment to get your pup feeling improve fast.
What Causes Urinary Tract Issues in Dogs?
Almost all dog urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria, which are ordinarily present on the pare or in a canis familiaris'southward poop. Typically, problems start when the bacteria move up through the genitals and spread into the bladder, kidneys, and prostate.
Bacteria irritate the urinary tract causing inflammation (swelling). Some types of bacteria can too crusade stones to develop in the bladder.
Any dog tin can take a UTI, but Sharon Marx, DVM, medical director of VCA Animal Healing Center in Yardley, Penn., says some dogs are more than probable to get them. Older female dogs and those who hold their urine for a long time are more susceptible. Your dog may too be at higher risk if he or she has:
- Diabetes
- Float stones
- A weakened immune arrangement, due to medications or medical conditions like Cushing'due south illness or hypothyroidism
Warning Signs of Urinary Tract Infections
You tin can tell if a dog has UTI symptoms if yous know what to expect for. Signs of a UTI in dogs include:
- Frequent demand to pee but footling urine comes out
- Straining to pee
- Crying out or whining during urination
- Blood in urine
- Peeing in the house
- Leaking urine
- Licking genitals
If the kidneys are infected, your dog may as well accept:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
If you have a male dog that hasn't been neutered, the bacteria that cause a UTI tin can infect the prostate equally well. Signs your dog's prostate is affected include:
- Back pain
- Intestinal pain
- Difficulty defecating (straining to poop)
- Stiff or funny walk
- Disinterest in normal activities
Treating Urinary Tract Problems
Merely like UTIs in humans, UTIs in our canine companions are painful—and waiting as well long to take your pup to the vet for handling tin make symptoms worse. The infection tin spread to kidneys and the prostate. While yous might want to run out and pick up over-the-counter treatment to help your pup now, Marx says to avoid medications meant for people, since they're toxic to pets.
If y'all suspect that your domestic dog has a UTI, contact your veterinarian for advice. You may need to schedule an appointment for an exam and testing. Your vet may ask you lot to bring a urine sample, but be certain to ask start. Some situations warrant sterile drove of urine in the clinic, which ways you'll want to prevent your domestic dog from peeing correct before the vet engagement.
Your vet may commencement with a urinalysis, a test to look for leaner, abnormal blood cells, and crystals, the latter of which may indicate that your dog has bladder stones. Your vet may likewise recommend a urine culture, which requires a sterile sample of urine to exam for bacterial growth. A urine culture and sensitivity can help determine which, if whatsoever, bacteria are growing in your dog'south urine and how that bacteria responds to various antibiotics.
Antibiotics are typically used to treat UTIs in dogs, merely the exact type of antibiotic prescribed will depend on the signs and severity of your dog's condition besides equally current veterinary medicine guidelines.
Marx says you lot can collect a urine sample at habitation or have your vet do it at the clinic. Simply brand sure to beginning enquire your vet if you should fifty-fifty bring a sample (your vet may prefer to practice this in the dispensary). Hither's how to go a urine sample at dwelling house:
Taking a Urine Sample at Dwelling
Marx recommends trying to get urine from your dog'south first-morning pee if possible—it'll exist the nearly concentrated sample. Catch information technology in a clean container that can be sealed.
You can also scoot a soup ladle underneath your dog to grab the urine while she pees and so transfer it to a clean container. But notation that a home urine sample has to become to your vet's office within two hours.
Collecting a Urine Sample at the Veterinary Clinic
If you can't get a sample at abode, your vet can accept a sterile sample with a needle. "It's a quick procedure that most dogs tolerate extremely well," Marx says. In fact, a sterile sample is necessary if your vet wants to run a urine culture. That's why information technology'south best to ask your vet start earlier trying to get a urine sample at home.
Your dog may also need X-rays to check for float stones if your vet finds crystals in the urine sample. Bladder stones tin can cause recurring bladder infections and need to be treated also.
In well-nigh cases, Marx says handling for a UTI in dogs is a simple course of antibiotics, ordinarily prescribed for seven to fourteen days. Y'all should too encourage your dog to drink water to flush bacteria from the bladder.
"Dogs should feel ameliorate by 48 hours after starting antibiotics," Marx says. "Sometimes, it tin can exist as early as 24 hours. Just continue the medication for every bit long every bit prescribed by your vet to completely clear up the UTI." Your vet tin recheck the urine at a follow-up exam to brand sure the bacteria is gone.
How to Foreclose Urinary Tract Infections from Occurring
Some pet parents try giving their domestic dog yogurt for a UTI, which is thought to balance a dog'due south microbiome in general. Simply this method has varying results and doesn't necessarily piece of work for every canis familiaris. It'south best to ask your vet for a recommendation instead of trying a home remedy to forestall or treat UTIs.
Marx says the best thing you tin do to prevent another UTI is to brand certain your dog has plenty of fresh water. Likewise, accept frequent walks or provide a lot of potty breaks for your dog throughout the day.
If your dog has recurring UTIs, your vet may recommend taking supplements. "Cranberry and vitamin C can help dogs that take chronic UTIs past lowering urine pH," Marx says. "Only talk over it with your vet before using whatsoever handling. These supplements can make some types of infections worse, especially if certain crystal types (calcium oxalates) are role of the cause."
An underlying medical status could also be what's backside your dog's multiple UTIs or difficulty getting one to get away. Your vet may suggest additional testing to determine the root cause of chronic UTIs.
Source: https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/health-care/dog-conditions/dog-uti
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