Signs & Symptoms Of Uti In Dogs
Unlike humans who develop a UTI, dogs are often asymptomatic. But when signs of a urinary tract infection do present themselves, they may include the following:
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Excessive drinking
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Passing small amounts of urine very frequently
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Acting uncomfortable or distressed while urinating
Dogs with diabetes or an endocrine/hormonal disorder dogs receiving chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs and dogs that are on long-term cortisone-type medications are at a higher risk for developing UTIs. In these cases, your veterinarian may recommend regular urine tests to check for signs of infection.
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Managing Multiple Episodes Of Uti:
In dogs and cats, if UTI occurs only once or twice yearly, each episode may be treated as an acute, uncomplicated UTI. If episodes occur more often, and predisposing causes of UTI cannot be identified or corrected, chronic low-dose therapy may be necessary. Low antimicrobial concentrations in the urine may interfere with fimbriae production by some pathogens and prevent their adhesion to the uroepithelium. In dogs, recurrent UTIs are due to a different strain or species of bacteria ~80% of the time therefore, antimicrobial culture and susceptibility is still indicated. Antimicrobial therapy should be started as previously described and when urine culture is negative, continued daily at â the total daily dose. The antimicrobial should be administered last thing at night to ensure that the bladder contains urine with a high antimicrobial concentration for as long as possible.
What Should I Do If I Think My Dog Has Lower Urinary Tract Problems
Pay attention to your dogs behavior, because its not easy to spot all your dogs symptoms.
If you notice symptoms of pain and discomfort, especially difficulty urinating, call your dogs vet to figure out whats causing the problems and the best way to treat them.
American Kennel Club: Does Your Dog Have UTI Symptoms or Something Worse?, Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs.
Banfield Pet Hospital: Lower Urinary Tract Disease .
Canine Health Foundation: Canine Lymphoma.
Merck Manual Veterinary Manual: Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections.
MSPCA-Angell: Lower Urinary Tract Diseases of the Senior Dog.
Peoria Area Veterinary Group: Urinary Tract Problems in Dogs.
Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira: Analysis of lower urinary tract disease of dogs.
VCA Hospitals: Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs.
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What Is The Cost Of Treating A Urinary Tract Infection In Dogs
The cost to treat a UTI varies, with geographic location being one of the biggest factors to take into consideration. Costs to consider include:
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Office visit: varies depending on your vet, with an emergency veterinary clinic often costing much more.
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Antibiotics: medication can range in price from $25$100 or even more, depending on the type of antibiotic needed, the length of treatment, and the size of your dog .
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Tests: a urinalysis and urine cultures can run up to a few hundred dollars depending on your location, veterinarian, how the urine is collected and the extent of diagnostic testing required.
Uti Symptoms Return Repeatedly Can It Be Something Else

Repeated presentation of typical UTI symptoms could the be the sign of a more serious condition canine bladder cancer . Often, a positive diagnosis of TCC/UC will be found after rounds of antibiotics to treat symptoms do not fully resolve. The dog may then be evaluated for the presence of a tumor, usually via urine cytology, abdominal ultrasound, and/or cystoscopy. These procedures are expensive, invasive and take additional time, which allows for the mass to continue to grow and spread within the bladder and potentially beyond.
Diagnosis is now easier with the free-catch urine analysis test: CADET BRAF Mutation Detection Assay. The CADET BRAF Mutation Detection Assay is a non-invasive, free-catch urine analysis test that can detect canine bladder cancer months before symptoms present, allowing for the earliest therapeutic intervention.
Note: The information in this article is meant to inform you about urinary tract infections in dogs and is not meant to take the place of a veterinary diagnosis. If you have questions about your dogs health or possible symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away.
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My Dog Suddenly Started Asking To Go Outside Very Frequently A Sample Of Urine Revealed A Bladder Infection How Did This Happen
Urinary tract infections 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.
Age And Sex Of The Patients
Information about the age and gender of the patient was available for 152 of 171 samples from cats and 586 of 637 samples from dogs. Age and gender distributions are shown in Table . More than half of the samples from dogs and cats belonged to female dogs for cats this figure amounted to 10.4% .
Number of samples |
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In more severe cases, where the infection moves into a dogs kidneys, you may see:
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Simple Vs Complicated Urinary Tract Infections
Simple or uncomplicated urinary tract infections lack structural or functional abnormalities in the hosts defense mechanisms. This form of infection is easiest to treat and usually clears soon after appropriate antibiotic treatment. Simple, uncomplicated UTIs are the most common type to occur in female dogs.Complicated UTIs are associated with 1 or more defects in the hosts defense mechanisms: for example, interference with normal micturition, anatomic defects, damage to mucosal barriers, or alterations in urine volume or composition. Health of host defense mechanisms appears to be most important in influencing the pathogenesis of UTIs. Although antibiotic treatment is the cornerstone of UTI management, status of host defense mechanisms is thought to be the most important determinant of long-term treatment outcome. Antibiotic treatment should control the pathogenic bacterial growth for a period sufficient to allow host defense mechanisms to be corrected and prevent colonization of the urinary tract without further antibiotic administration.
Treatment Of Upper Urinary Tract Issues
Kidney Disease
If your dog has CKD therapies include a prescription diet to reduce the work the kidneys need to do and supportive care such as:
- Subcutaneous fluid therapy
- Appetite stimulants
The prognosis for dogs with managed CKD is good with many dogs living for years with the condition.
Pyelonephritis
A veterinarian will write a prescription for the appropriate antibiotic. Antibiotics are used to treat PLN for between 6 to 12 weeks. Treatment will continue until the dog has a negative urine culture. Treatment also can include:
- Low-dose aspirin therapy
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Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotics
Antibiotics are the treatment of choice for a urinary tract infection.
Your veterinarian will perform a sensitivity test to see how the bacteria in the urine react to certain drugs, then check if your dog is allergic to any drugs and then prescribe the proper antibiotics.
If the right antibiotic is prescribed, the number of bacteria in the dog’s urine will decrease.
However, your veterinarian may prescribe the antibiotic without performing the urine culture test.
A urinary tract infection is often treated with antimicrobials.
These are usually taken for 2 to 3 weeks, depending on how much the infection has spread.
The most common antibiotics and antimicrobials are:
How Is A Bacterial Uti Prevented
In most instances nothing specific can be done to prevent a UTI from occurring. Your dog or cat should be re-evaluated if clinical signs recur. With complicated UTI, your veterinarian should periodically evaluate your pet to make sure that the UTI has not recurred or is under control. In some animals, a urinary antiseptic or an antibiotic must be given long term to prophylactically prevent a UTI from occurring. If prophylactic antibiotic treatment is necessary, a low dose of the antibiotic is usually given to your dog or cat once a day at nighttime so that the antibiotic that is passed into the urine is allowed to concentrate in the urinary bladder.
Client handout reference from Ettinger: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 7th Edition.
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How To Prevent Utis In Dogs
If you know that your dog is having chronic urinary tract infections, its possible to use these natural products.
In addition, as discussed earlier, making frequent trips out to allow your dog to urinate regularly is a good strategy to adopt.
Ask a nutrition expert, such as a vet, to make sure that your pets food is adequate.
Finally, providing fresh water and encouraging your dog to drink plenty of water is an important benefit in the prevention of UTIs in dogs.
Now that you are well-equipped to identify a dog UTI at the first sign, be sure to have these ingredients and our natural products on hand to help your pooch of its symptoms.
The faster you act, the more successful you will be in your treatment. And your dog will thank you for it.
You can keep cranberries, apple cider vinegar and vitamin C in your kitchen, as most are just as effective for your own urinary tract infections!
In addition, you will have all the delicious elements needed to concoct a good salad!
Home Remedies For Uti Treatment

The best course of treatment is to first consult and follow the advice of your vet. While medication may be prescribed, there are some steps you can take at home to assist your dogs comfort and recovery from a UTI:
- Ensure your dog drinks plenty of water. Refill their bowl regularly with fresh, cool water every time.
- Go for some gentle exercise, only as long as they are comfortable.
- Do not allow children to overexcite them as this can trigger a urinary response which can become painful.
- Be patient. If your dog is in pain, it might act a little more aggressively. Give them space and comfort when they need it.
Urinary support supplements can be used to help reduce the likelihood of another UTI occurring. These dog supplements help prevent bacteria sticking to the urinary tract wall causing an infection.
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How Is Urinary Tract Infection Usually Treated
Most vets choose antibiotics as the go-to treatment for urinary tract infections in dogs. However, the problem with antibiotics is that they kill all kinds of bacteria not only the bad ones.
Considering that many urinary tract infections stem from bladder inflammation, using antibiotics to treat them is counter-productive.
A damaged gut flora can cause recurring UTIs, not to mention that antibiotics need to reach a certain concentration in the bloodstream to be more effective.
In a 2014 review of antibiotics for UTIs conducted by the University of Copenhagen, the authors found that theres little published evidence relating to antibiotic treatments of UTIs in dogs and cats. Well-designed clinical trials on the duration of treatment are required to create evidence-based treatment protocols.
Antibiotic resistance is also an issue. The more antibiotics your dog takes, the more resistant it becomes to bacteria.
Thats why dog owners are turning to natural remedies.
What Are Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs
Urinary tract infections in dogs are usually caused by bacteria in the urine. There are lower and upper UTIs, but lower UTIs are more common. Lower UTIs affect the bladder and/or, in male dogs, the prostate. Upper UTIs affect the kidneys and/or ureters .
UTIs in dogs are considered either acute or chronic. Acute UTIs usually occur infrequently and are easy to treat with antibiotics and pain medications. Chronic UTIs are defined as three or more episodes of UTI in a year, or two or more episodes of UTI within a six-month period.
A UTI is also considered chronic if it cannot be fully cleared with antibiotic therapy. Chronic UTIs can be frustrating, and though they are often treated and cleared, they tend to return.
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Can Male Dogs Get A Uti
Female dogs are more prone than male dogs to getting UTIs, but male dogs can still get them. Older female dogs, dogs with diabetes, and dogs who have bladder stones are most at risk. But other health problems, such as Cushings disease and chronic kidney disease, can also contribute to increased UTIs.
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Management Of Patients After Urinary Catheter Removal
Culture of the catheter tip at the time of catheter removal is not recommended. Colonisation of catheter tips is common and catheter tip culture results are not predictive of development of cystitis. Routine urine culture after catheter removal is not recommended however, if specific aspects about the case indicate a need for culture, cystocentesis should be performed, whenever possible. If clinical signs of cystitis develop after catheter removal, diagnosis should be performed as per Sporadic bacterial cystitis .
There is no indication for routine antimicrobial treatment following urinary catheter removal in an animal with no evidence of cystitis.
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Urinarytractinfections are usually caused by bacteria from poo entering the urinarytract. The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body . Women have a shorter urethra than men. This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection. Background. Definition: Urinary tract infection is defined by the presence of a pure bacterial growth > 10 5 colony forming units/ml. Lower counts of bacteria may be clinically important, especially in boys and in specimens obtained by urinary catheter. Any growth of typical urinary pathogens is considered clinically important if obtained by suprapubic aspiration.
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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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Antibiotics For Treating Canine Uti
Canine UTI-or canine urinary tract infection-is also known as acute cystitis. The urinary infection is caused by bacteria and is a painful disease. UTI has higher incidence in female dogs due to their shorter urethras. The condition is fully treatable and the most common treatment contains antibiotics.
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What Is A Urine Culture Test

Most conventional vets will recommend a bacterial culture test as well. Thats because they want to know which bacterial species is affecting your dog so they can choose the right antibiotic. So, if youre planning to avoid antibiotics and use natural remedies for your dogs UTI, you dont need a urine culture.
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Infections that occur in kidney, urethra and bladder are called as urinary tract infections. These infections are caused by bacteria like Klebsiella, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus and Proteus. Sexually transmitted organisms like Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea are also responsible for urinary tract infections.
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Caution Flag #: Bailey Was Not Emptying Her Bladder Normally
In Baileys case, she had an issue urinating normally. When her bladder was full, her owner had to express it. He did this by putting some pressure on the bladder to initiate the flow of urine. Bailey definitely wasnt emptying fully nor emptying normally. Since as we established earlier, urinating helps flush the system, Bailey had an automatic caution flag for developing a UTI.
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Preventing Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs
To prevent urinary tract infections in dogs it is important to allow them to urinate frequently and to always have clean, fresh water available to drink. Proper hydration helps remove bacteria from the urethra.
The frequency with which the dog urinates is a common influence in UTIs. Bacteria cannot be eliminated from their organism unless the dog urinates frequently.This can occur when the dog remains locked up for too long or when they suffer from diseases which reduce their mobility, such as osteoarthritis. In the latter case, movement is often painful and difficult, so they move less.
For dogs predisposed to developing kidney and bladder stones, the veterinarian may recommend a specific diet that reduces the formation of these structures. The pH of the dogâs urine is also influenced by food. A diet that alkalizes the urine facilitates the appearance of infections.
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