Like people, dogs are susceptible to urinary tract infections. Although most cases occur in female dogs, males can also suffer from this problem. Likewise, this type of infection can affect any of the structures that make up the urinary tract and must be treated quickly to avoid major problems in the future.
In this article on our site we talk in depth about the urinary infection in dogs, its symptoms and treatment, detailing how, what types exist, how they occur, what are the warning signs and the appropriate treatment for each case. However, remember that the veterinarian is the only person who can make a real diagnosis of urine infection in dogs, so go to the specialist if you suspect that your dog may be suffering from it.
What is a urinary tract infection in dogs?
Urinary infection can occur randomly in any dog. However, those who suffer from a poor diet, do not have adequate hygiene care or immunocompromised dogs are more likely to contract it. Now, what exactly is a urinary tract infection?
The urinary system allows the body to correctly eliminate toxic and disposable substances that the body does not need. This system, formed by the kidneys, the ureters, the urethra and the bladder, allows us to get rid of what we do not need. In this way, urinary infection can occur in any of these pathways, negatively affecting the entire system. Therefore, when we talk about urinary tract infection in dogs, we refer to an infection developed in one or several points of the urinary tract of the animal.
It should be noted that a urinary tract infection is not the same as cystitis. Although both terms are often used synonymously, cystitis corresponds to the inflammation of the dog's bladder and can develop as a result of a urinary infection. Likewise, the term "cystitis" is used to refer to a bladder infection, so that it is a specific type of urinary tract infection and, therefore, it is not correct to use it to refer to urinary tract infections in general. For more details, see the article on Cystitis in dogs - Symptoms and treatment.
Causes of urine infection in dogs
Urinary tract infections in dogs, and in any other animal, are caused by microorganisms, mainly bacteria, that lodge in the urinary tract urinary. They can lodge in our dog's body if it comes into contact with a sick dog, but they can also develop on their own. For example, dogs that don't urinate often enough are susceptible to a UTI, as bacteria that should be excreted rise up into the bladder.
On the other hand, it can happen that certain diseases lead to a urine infection in dogs, these being the other most common causes. The appearance of hormonal changes, tumors, kidney stones, excessive humidity or many other ailments can cause the proliferation of these microorganisms.
Finally, it should be noted that in females there is another factor that can lead to the appearance of urine infection and that is the position they adopt to urinate. By placing the vulva lower to the ground, the chances of the microorganisms that cause these infections entering the urinary tract are greatly increased. Likewise, since the female dog's urinary system is horizontal, the force of gravity is not helpful in eliminating bacteria, as it can happen in women.
The most common bacteria in urine infection
The bacteria that most often causes urinary tract infections in dogs is Escherichia coli. However, other genera of bacteria that are also common are: Staphylococcus, Proteus, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, Streptococcus, Enterobacter, Chlamydia and Pseudomonas.
Although bacteria are the most frequent pathogens in these infections, the urinary tract of dogs can also be infected by fungi, mycoplasmas, viruses and wormsparasites.
Urinary tract infections are more common in females because their urethra is shorter and wider. In addition, they tend to urinate less frequently than males. These factors facilitate pathogen entry and colonization of the urinary bladder. However, infections in males, although less frequent, are more difficult to treat, since antibiotics have less access to the places where bacterial colonies are formed, especially when prostatitis has occurred.
When the infection is not treated properly, there is a risk of the bacteria passing into the bloodstream causing sepsis that can be fatal, or causing them to infect other organs.
Types of urine infection in dogs
As it happens in us, urinary infection in dogs receives different names depending on the area in which it is located. In this way, the types of urine infection in dogs that we can detect are the following:
- Infection of the urethra: urethritis.
- Bladder infection: cystitis.
- Prostate infection: prostatitis.
- Kidney infection: nephritis or pyelonephritis.
Symptoms of urinary infection in dogs
In many cases, the symptoms can be difficult to detect and it is common for the infection to come to light during a visit to the vet for different reasons. In other cases, the symptoms are more obvious. In general, the most common symptoms of urinary tract infection in dogs are:
- Increased frequency of urination.
- The dog urinates very little and often seems uncomfortable when doing so.
- The dog makes efforts to urinate, but does not succeed or only manages to expel a very small amount. In these cases, there may be an inflamed prostate or kidney or urethral stones. It is urgent to take the dog to the vet.
- You may feel like you want to have a bowel movement, but never get around to it.
- Urine is cloudy.
- Urine has bad smell.
- There is blood in the urine.
- The dog urinates in places where it is not used to doing so (for example, a well-trained dog begins to urinate indoors).
- Mild or high fever.
- Loss of appetite.
- Depression and lethargy.
- Vaginal discharge in females.
- Inflammation and irritation around the external genitalia.
- Frequent licking of the penis or vulva.
- Restlessness and nervousness at home or during walks.
- Excessive panting, caused by discomfort and anxiety.
- Mood swings in the dog.
My dog has trouble urinating, does he have a urine infection?
As we have been able to verify, a dog that needs to strain to urinate and, in addition, expels only a few drops, is very likely to suffer from a urinary tract infectionHowever, this is not the only cause that can explain this behavior, since kidney stones, for example, can also cause this problem. It is important to visit the veterinarian to examine the dog and determine exactly what is wrong.
Diagnosis of a urine infection
The diagnosis of urinary infections is made through the clinical symptoms and the analysis of urineWhen necessary, a urine culture is also done All these procedures must be carried out by a professional. Even if you think that your dog has obvious symptoms of a urine infection, you can overlook a disease that has caused this situation.
Urinalysis is done using a test strip that is inserted into the urine sample. With this you can know the pH of the urine, the levels of proteins, ketones, glucose, bilirubin, nitrates and other substances that indicate the function of the organs. The clarity of the urine, its color, odor, and general appearance are also evaluated. In addition, a sample is observed under a microscope to see if there are fungi, bacteria, white blood cells or other elements indicative of infection. Finally, the density of the urine is assessed using the refractometer.
Urine culture is necessary to know the specific bacteria causing the infection. It is more used when initial treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics does not work. In cases where stones, prostate inflammation, or other obstructive or structural problems are suspected, X-rays and ultrasound are often used.
Treatment of urine infection in dogs
Treatment for bacterial urinary tract infections is antibiotics. Generally, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used, which give good results, but in cases where they do not work, specific antibiotics should be administered for the bacteria causing the infection. In many cases, amoxicillin is used for urinary tract infection in dogs, which is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, but it must always be prescribed by a specialist.
It is important to administer the prescribed antibiotic treatment for cystitis in dogs, or the urinary infection that it suffers, for as long as the veterinarian has indicated, even if the symptoms disappear before.
Medication for urine infection in dogs
The drugs mentioned are used to treat a bacterial urinary infection in dogs. Nonbacterial infections are treated with other medications, such as fungicides and antiparasitics When blockages caused by stones or prostatitis are present, these problems should be treated at the same time as the infection. In addition, the veterinarian will recommend a diet that restores the normal pH of the urine, which becomes alkaline during infection.
The prognosis depends on the complication of the infection, as well as the causative agents. Simple infections caused by bacteria usually have an excellent prognosis. In contrast, fungal infections are more difficult to treat. The most complicated urinary tract infections have a variable prognosis, depending on each case.
Urinary infection in male dogs: treatment
In males, the treatment is exactly the same as in females, so it will also depend on the pathogenic agent causing the infection. Therefore, it is essential to go to the vet and follow their guidelines.
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Urine infection in dogs with blood
The presence of blood in the urine does not always indicate a urinary infection in the dog. In this way, if you have not yet gone to the veterinarian to make a diagnosis, it is necessary to visit him to confirm the cause. Bloody urine can be caused, for example, by trauma or as a symptom of poisoning in dogsHowever, the most frequent cause of this symptom is usually the presence of crystals , which can be struvite, calcium oxalate, cystine, silica or uric acid.
Now, if the vet has confirmed that it is a urinary tract infection, it is best to perform a urine culture to determine the bacteria that is causing the infection and, as a consequence, the presence of blood. It is common to observe this circumstance when a dog suffers from a urine infection, so you should not worry and you must follow the specialist's instructions to the letter.
Appearance of anemia due to urinary tract infection in dogs
Dogs suffering from urinary tract infection due to kidney problems are susceptible to anemia due to urinary tract infection. This is mainly due to a low production of erythrocytes Anemia can also be caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli or by mycoplasmas such as Mollicutes. In any case, it will be essential to go to the vet to determine the cause of the anemia.
You can tell if your dog has anemia by checking his mucous(in the eyes, mouth, sex or anus), which should be pink. If they are excessively pale and even white, your dog could be anemic.
Prevention of urine infection in dogs
To prevent urinary tract infections in dogs it is important to allow to urinate frequently and to always have available. clean and fresh water to drink. This helps remove bacteria from the urethra.
The frequency with which the dog urinates is the most common cause of infection. Bacteria cannot be washed outside unless the dog urinates frequently. This situation occurs, for example, when the dog remains confined for too long or when it suffers from diseases that disable it from moving properly, such as osteoarthritis or paraplegia and, therefore, it is reluctant to move or cannot move at all. do it.
For dogs that are predisposed to developing stones in the urinary tract, the veterinarian may recommend a specific diet that reduces formation of those structures. Dog urine pH (the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the urine) is influenced by diet. A diet that alkalinizes the urine facilitates the appearance of infections.
