If your dog is straining to urinate or urinating unexpectedly where they shouldn’t be, they might be experiencing a urinary tract infection. Dogs diagnosed with a UTI will usually show various signs or symptoms which can be uncomfortable and even painful. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options available for dog urinary tract infections can help you catch the illness earlier in its course and help prevent future occurrences.
What is a UTI in Dogs?
The word ‘Infection’ in the term urinary tract infection in dogs implies the causative agent is bacteria. Bacterial UTIs are the most common type of urinary issue seen in dogs. This is especially true in female dogs, who anatomically have a shorter and wider urethra than male dogs do.
Causes of UTIs in Dogs
Most UTIs in dogs occur due to ascending bacteria. Skin is not sterile, and normal bacteria on the surface of the skin can travel up through the urethra, infecting the bladder. Obesity can exacerbate this by making it difficult for female dogs to stay clean and dry.
Occasionally, structural changes in the anatomy of the urethra and the vagina can cause urine pooling, leading to an increase in bacterial urinary infections. Bladder stones can also act as a nidus for bacteria and can lead to repeated UTIs.
UTI signs & symptoms in dogs
The classic urinary tract infection symptoms in dogs include asking to go out more frequently than normal. Another common sign is when your dog squats to urinate many times with only small amounts of urine being produced. Additional symptoms include blood-tinged urine, straining to urinate with small amounts of urine being produced, and urinary accidents.
Any well house-trained dog that suddenly starts urinating in the house should be evaluated for a UTI. Especially in puppies, a setback in potty training may be an indication of a problem.
Other dog urinary issues that might present as a UTI
While bacterial infection is the most common cause for urinary issues in dogs, there are other diseases that can present this way. Evaluation with your veterinarian and a complete urinalysis are necessary to establish a correct diagnosis.
Other potential causes of urinary issues include urinary bladder stones, prostate issues in older male dogs (especially dogs that haven’t been neutered), endocrine disorders such as diabetes or Cushing's disease, and kidney disease, to name a few!
How is a dog UTI Diagnosed?
At the very minimum, a urinalysis is needed to correctly diagnose urinary tract infections in dogs. Some veterinary clinics are equipped to perform these in-house within their laboratory, others will need to send the urine out to an outside laboratory. A urinalysis looks for the presence of abnormal cells, like blood or inflammatory cells, and bacteria, protein, and glucose.
A urine culture may be indicated in cases of recurrent infections, or if a patient is sensitive to some antibiotics. A culture will grow and identify the bacteria responsible for the infection, and will tell the clinician what antibiotics it is susceptible to. In short, it takes the guess work out of antibiotic selection!
Treatment options for Dog UTIs
Treatment for urinary tract infections in dogs will always include prescription antibiotics. There are no over the counter remedies that are reliable. Your veterinarian may prescribe anti-inflammatory pain medication as well, especially if your dog is experiencing pain and straining to urinate.
How do I prevent UTIs in my Dog?
There are things you can do at home to help prevent UTIs in dogs. In overweight dogs prone to urinary tract infections, weight loss can help prevent bacteria from being trapped in redundant skin folds. Urinary diets are designed to encourage thirst, which in turn results in a dog voiding urine more often which can help prevent ascending bacteria.
Cranberry extract works by disrupting the ability of one common bacterial type from adhering to bladder cell walls. This may work if your dog is predisposed to infections with this particular bacterial type, but it won’t work in all cases. Always talk to your veterinary health care provider before using over the counter supplements.
- Provide fresh drinking water
- Encourage frequent potty breaks
- Bathe or clean around the pet's urinary opening regularly
Consider pet insurance
Accident and Illness Coverage by Pets Best insurance, for example, can be an invaluable resource to help defray the cost of veterinary care. Urinary tract infections in dogs cannot be treated at home, and veterinary diagnostics and treatment can be costly. And you can have the peace of mind that you can schedule with any licensed veterinarian in the United States, giving you the ability to pick the right vet for you and your fur family.