How Do I Treat My Dogs Urinary Tract Infection
Fortunately, treating your dogs UTI is often a relatively straightforward process. Typically, antibiotics prescribed destroy the growth of microorganisms causing infection. In some cases, a special diet may also be recommended to help dissolve urinary stones. The treatment will usually take just 10 to 14 days. While antibiotics are normally taken orally, they can also be injected. In complicated cases, antimicrobial therapy will be prescribed for 4 to 6 weeks, with a urine culture taking place after one week, to ensure it is working. If the infection is because of something more serious, such as a tumor, surgery may well be needed.
Because UTIs in dogs are usually straightforward, dogs will often be fully recovered and back to health in just a couple of weeks. You can expect to see signs of improvement within a few days of your dog starting the treatment. However, in complicated cases, antimicrobials will need to be re-administered and dogs may need more than a couple of weeks before they are fully healed.
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Pet Insurance Can Help You And Your Pup
If youd rather leave UTI treatment to the experts especially if youre worried about your dog developing a bladder or urinary tract ailment, youre not alone. Bladder/urinary tract disease is one of the top 10 most vet-treated conditions for dogs,1,2 and continued treatment can hit your finances.
You may want to consider signing up for pet insurance as a proactive measure to lower your financial risk for potential health threats during your dogs lifetime. Why? Pet insurance is one of the best things you can do for your dog not only for the health of your pup, but to save you from financial trouble should an accident, illness, or pet emergency arise.
Humans have health insurance, so our furry friends should too. That way youll never have to choose between an expensive treatment and your pets suffering or even his life. Pet insurance gives you peace of mind, so you can make better and less emotional decisions in the face of a crisis.
Read about the best pet insurance providers to learn more.
Treatment For Canine And Feline Urinary Tract Infections
Most urinary tract infections are treated using antibiotics over the course of 10 to 14 days. Pets with recurring UTIs may have to take antibiotics for up to three or four weeks longer. This is where identifying the right bacteria becomes important.
Some bacteria can actually grow resistant to antibiotics, which is why many vets wont prescribe antibiotics until they know the exact cause of the infection. While your pet should show signs of recovery relatively soon, its important to give the full course of an antibiotic regimen to ensure the bacteria are completely neutralized.
In cats, most cases of urinary tract problems dont involve bacteria, which makes antibiotics unnecessary. Instead, your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory and pain relief medications as well as agents that can soothe the bladder. You may also consider administering an active hemp supplement, like Canna-Pet, if you are looking for a natural alternative.
If the vet found stones or crystals in your pets urinary tract, your pet will likely require long-term diet changes that can keep the urine at a consistent pH level to reduce chances of stones forming again. Larger stones will require surgery.
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What Dog Food Is Good For Urinary Problems
Consider a prescription diet Large companies like Hill’s, Royal Canin, and Purina Pro Plan offer these formulas. Talk to your vet about which is best for your pup. Urinary tract problems can be painful for your pet and result in a near-constant need to have your pup have access to a place to go to the bathroom.
Is Your Dog Peeing In The House
minute read
Yes, dogs can get urinary tract infections â aka UTIs. And, as you can imagine, theyâre no fun for pets.
How do you know if your dog is struggling with a UTI? You may notice them straining while going to the bathroom, frequently urinating or going “number one” in the house. Those are just a few signs that something is up. Hereâs what else you should know.â
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What Is A Urinalysis And What Does It Look At
A urinalysis is an important screening tool that examines chemical properties of the urine sample. It also allows for a visual inspection of the urine to look for things like crystals, cells, or bacteria. This test may be performed in-house by your veterinarian or by an outside laboratory either way, results are typically available within 24 hours or less.
Be Observant And Proactive To Help Recognize Early Signs Of A Uti In Dogs
As an example of the importance of the part you can play as your dogs biggest advocate, lets meet Bailey. This sweet senior dog had both predisposing factors AND was taking medications that increased the likelihood of a UTI. Her story paints a clear picture of the importance of observation and how subtle a UTI can be.
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How Are Lower Urinary Tract Problems Treated
The vet will determine your dogâs treatment plan after they diagnose the underlying cause of the problem. The best treatment will depend on whatâs causing the symptoms.
After your dogâs diagnosis, your veterinarian may recommend some of the following:
- Surgery to remove bladder stones or tumor
- Surgery to correct congenital abnormality
If the vet determines your dogâs urinary tract problems are being caused by an underlying condition, theyâll 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, itâs important for your vet to recheck the urinalysis to confirm the infection is gone. If not, theyâll need to look for other issues that might be causing continued or repeat infections.
Diagnosing A Uti In Dogs
If you suspect that your dog has a bladder infection, she should see a vet right away. The vet will ask you questions about your dogs symptoms and history and do a thorough physical exam. A urine sample will be collected, and a complete urinalysis will show if there is blood, bacteria, or crystals in the urine. Often, a urine culture and sensitivity test is needed to help determine which antibiotics will be most effective against the specific bacteria.
In more serious cases, blood work, x-rays, and ultrasound tests are needed to see if any underlying conditions need to be treated. These may include diabetes, bladder stones, kidney disease, cancer, and more.
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Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs
To take the CE quiz, .This quiz is open until May 2023.
JD Foster
VMD, DACVIM
Dr. Foster is an internist and Director of the Extracorporeal Therapies Service at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C. He has lectured around the world on various renal and urinary diseases and authored numerous manuscripts and book chapters on these topics. He is the current president of the American Society of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology.
Urinary tract infections are common in small animals, developing in up to 27% of dogs.1 Nearly all infections are caused by pathogenic bacteria, although some are caused by fungi or viruses, albeit rarely. Most bacterial lower UTIs result from bacteria ascending the external genitalia and urethra. Less commonly, bacteria travel through the bloodstream and colonize the urinary tract.
Numerous innate defense mechanisms help prevent UTIs. Complete and regular voiding, along with the intrinsic properties of urine , help create a urinary tract environment that is hostile for microbes. Anatomic barriers and mucosal defenses further prevent adherence of virulent bacteria to the urothelium.
Elimination of the virulent organism can enable restoration of the normal permeability and integrity of the urothelium. Successful antimicrobial therapy requires an appropriate choice of antibiotic, including dose, frequency, and duration.
Monitoring Response To Therapy
Patients with sporadic cystitis may not require rigorous monitoring. However, patients with prostatitis, pyelonephritis, or recurrent infections should be monitored very closely. Recurrent cystitis does not necessarily require a prolonged course of antibiotic therapy. The following protocol is recommended for monitoring response to therapy in patients with recurrent UTI.9
- Reculture urine after 5 to 7 days of antibiotic therapy. Doing so confirms that the prescribed dose and frequency of the drug were successful in treating the isolated organism. This culture also may reveal an additional isolate that was not identified on the initial culture. Observation of any bacterial growth at this time suggests treatment failure reconsider the choice of antibiotic and dosage and administration frequency.
- Reculture urine 3 days before discontinuing antibiotic therapy. This step is optional, but it confirms that when therapy was discontinued the culture was still negative. Positive bacterial growth at this stage suggests a refractory infection or newly inoculated organism. Patients with a positive culture should be investigated for any nidus of infection , and treatment should be altered and new therapy instituted for the same duration as previously intended.
- Reculture urine 7 to 14 days after discontinuing antibiotic therapy. Positive growth should prompt investigation for causes of relapse or reinfection.
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This is a summary of the coverages in your pet health insurance policy from Fetch. No coverage is provided by this summary nor can it be construed to replace any provision of your policy. You should read your policy and review your Declarations page for complete information on the coverages you are provided. If there is any conflict between the policy and this summary, the provisions of the policy shall prevail.
Symptoms Of A Uti In Dogs
If your dog is unable to control their bladder , showing signs of pain, discomfort or straining while peeing, is thirsty or has been excessively licking their genitals, theyâre possibly experiencing symptoms of a UTI, Dr. McCullough says.
âIf a pet parent notices signs of a UTI in their dog, they should contact their veterinarian right away,â she adds. âThe veterinarian will typically want to obtain a urine sample and may ask that pet parents collect a fresh urine sample in a clean plastic container to bring to the appointment or may want to collect the urine sample in a sterile manner at the appointment.â
UTI symptoms sometimes mimic more severe conditions like diabetes, cancer, bladder stones, kidney disease or urinary blockages. So, your vet may recommend blood work, X-rays or an abdominal ultrasound to ensure your pup isnât struggling with any underlying conditions, Dr. McCullough says.
Itâs worth noting that UTIs are more common in female dogs because they have larger urethras, making it easier for bacteria to enter and travel to the bladder.
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What Are Urinary Issues
A urinary tract infection, also referred to as bacterial cystitis, is a bacterial infection of the urinary system. The urinary system is composed of the kidneys, the bladder, the ureters that connect the kidneys to the bladder, and the urethra where urine exits the body. In dogs, urinary issues are more common in the lower urinary tract, specifically in the urethra.
Moreover, urinary tract infections are more common in dogs over the age of seven. Female dogs are more prone to urinary issues due to having shorter urethras than more dogs. Additionally, certain breeds are genetically predisposed to contracting urinary issues. Shih Tzus, Yorkshire Terriers, and Bichon Frises are prone to urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and bladder stones. However, dogs of all breeds, sizes, and genders can get urinary issues
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Classification Of Urinary Tract Infections
While on the subject of explaining the UTI terminology, we should mention that a urinary tract infection can be classified as:
- Relapse, this occurs when the new UTI is caused by the same microorganism as the previous infection.
- Reinfection, this occurs when the new UTI is caused by a different microorganism than the previous infection.
Finally, based on the infectious agent, the UTI can be defined as a:
- Super-infection, this occurs when the new UTI is caused by a resistant bacteria that was acquired during the initial UTI treatment
- Persistent infection, this occurs when the original UTI causing agent persists despite treatment efforts.
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How Do You Know If Dog Has A Urinary Tract Infection
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.
How Are Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs Different From Those In Humans
While there are many similarities in the way UTIs manifest themselves in both humans and dogs, there are also some serious differences in symptoms and causes. Some of these differences are as follows:
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Older people can feel confusion and agitation.
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Humans can develop UTIs from too much caffeine and alcohol.
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UTIs in humans can be brought on by frequent sex.
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Dogs can soil themselves in inappropriate places as a result of the infection.
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What Is A Uti In Dogs
The letters UTI in UTI in dogs stand for urinary tract infection. Your dogs urinary tract consists of four components, two of whichthe kidneys and the bladder more commonly become infected.
A bladder infection is called cystitis and a kidney infection is called pyelonephritis. But often they get lumped together under the term UTI.
First, lets get an overview of the urinary system so you can picture how all the parts fit together. The paired kidneys continuously filter your dogs blood to produce urine. . This urine constantly drips down a narrow tube called a ureter, which is attached at one end to the kidney.
The other end of the ureter attaches to the bladder. As the ureter dumps urine into the bladder, the bladder begins to fill up and stretch, much like a balloon. The bladder stores the urine until your dog urinates. At that time, the urine exits the bladder via the urethra and is deposited on the ground.
That is the urinary tract in a nutshell. Regardless of how familiar with urinary tract anatomy you were prior to reading this, you probably already have some idea of what a urinary tract infection is like .
But did you know that urinary tract infections in dogs can be occult? Not occult as in wizardry or voodoo. Occult disease in medicine means that the condition occurs without obvious signs or symptoms. I suspect that there are many dogs, especially females, running around the world with undiagnosed UTIs.
How Can I Treat A Uti At Home For My Dog
Here are some at-home dog UTI treatment options:
Honest Paws Pre+ Probiotics for Dogs. This dog UTI treatment is made with prebiotics and probiotics for gut health. A dogs health begins in the digestive system Honest Paws ensures there are healthy bacteria for a healthy gut biome to promote better and faster recovery. The probiotics inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, while the prebiotics stimulates the growth of healthy bacteria. The formula uses antioxidant-rich foods to promote immune system function and inulin, their natural prebiotic, to promote the growth of 6 strains of healthy bacteria that help to strengthen the immune system and promote good digestion.
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How Do You Know If The Dog Uti Treatment Is Working
Knowing if the dog UTI treatment is working is relatively easy. They will display fewer and weaker symptoms like less whimpering while urinating, less frequent bathroom trips, and more transparent urine.
When treating with medication, symptoms should start to subside within 48 hours, and when treating at home, it is often expected to see improvement within one week.
Within these time frames, your dog will experience less discomfort and better urination, so keep an eye on how severe your dogs symptoms are and note any improvements shown after dog UTI treatment has begun.
How Are Urinary Tract Problems In Dogs Diagnosed
Dogs are examined in afree consultation at Animal Trust where the vet will carry out a physical examination to detect a fever, painful or enlarged bladder or kidneys. Following this, urinalysis is carried out by testing a fresh urine sample for acidity, blood, infection, sugar, concentration and crystals. A urine culture test may also be carried out if bacteria are found in the sample or when an animal experiences recurrent/on-going cystitis.
Blood tests can also be carried out to check for kidney disease, infections and signs of underlying hormonal disorders such as diabetes orCushings disease which may cause your dog to drink more than usual.X-rays and ultrasound scans may be used for ongoing or recurrent UTIs, to check for urinary stones in the bladder or urethra, diagnose bladder tumours and to see if urinary tract anatomy is normal. Prostate and spinal disease may also be picked up on imaging.
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