3 Tips For Preventing Urinary Infections In Dogs

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 21 December, 2022

Urinary infections in dogs can start off as having simple problems urinating and later on they develop into serious kidney pain. It’s more common in older dogs, which is why you should be on the lookout for any of the symptoms.

Knowing about the causes and treatments of urinary infections in dogs will help you prevent your dog from getting them. A urinary infection, or cystitis, tends to develop in the lower tracts, from the urethra to the bladder, or in the upper tracts, between the kidneys and the ureters.

A problem with the reproductive or endocrine system can also cause problems in the urinary tract. For most cases in females, the root cause is related to external bacteria.

Causes of Urinary Infections in Dogs

When caused by bacteria, a urinary infection can be the result of ingesting contaminated food or water. A lack of hygiene can also lead to a build-up of bacteria around the genitals, which can cause a urinary tract infection.

There tends to be a natural predisposition to it, especially with older dogs. The bladder gets weaker as the years go by, which allows bacteria get in.

It’s important to remember that, as older dogs move less,they tend to drink less water, which also makes a urinary infection more likely. Other outcomes include bladder stones or swelling.

Also, diseases such as cancer, prostate problems, or even a physical blow to the lower abdomen increase the chances of developing a urinary infection.

However, among all these causes, you can’t rule out stress as a factor. In the case of kidney stones, early treatment is really important. Otherwise the stones could obstruct the urethra, which is very serious and painful.

Symptoms of urinary infections in dogs

If you pay close attention to your dog, you will be able to tell it he they are feeling pain or discomfort when urinating. Careful steps or whimpering are a sure sign that something isn’t right.

Also, there will be very little urine, maybe just a few drops. They will be opaque, maybe containing blood. In such cases, go straight to the vet.

A urine test is the best way to check for the presence of a urinary infection. In order to detect if the problem is confined to the lower tracts or if it has extended up to the kidneys, you need to keep an eye out for the presence of blood.

• There might be drops of blood during the beginning, which suggests an infection in the urethra and bladder.
• If the blood persists the whole time your dog is urinating, the infection is much higher up, including the bladder or prostate. It indicates coagulation problems.
• If you see blood just when your dog is about to finish urinating, this could be a sign of polyps or bladder stones.

Loss of bladder control is a typical sign of cystitis. Urinary infections in dogs can also cause a fever while the body reacts to the presence of bacteria. Your dog may lose weight, drink more water than normal, or show a serious decline in health.

Medical tests

Getting a proper diagnosis is a good way to get the right treatment and in an timely manner. The most common tests are the most simple, such as dipstick tests or urine sediment tests.

Radio-graphs and echo-graphs can also provide useful information if there have been previous related complications or disease. An echo-graph can also provide information about the swelling, or the presence and size of tumors.

Treatments

The most common treatments are usually antibiotics and they usually give the the best results. When treating kidney stones, they tend to be treated with special products to dissolve and prevent them. However, in some cases, surgery is unavoidable.

Preventing urinary infections in dogs

There are three basic ways to prevent not just urinary infections in dogs but all kinds of infections:

1. A correct diet is very important: certain food according to their age such as nutritious food without flour, sweets, or low quality junk food.
2. Both food and water should be served in clean bowls. Water should be changed every day and, during the summer months, two or three times a day.
3. Dogs should urinate frequently. Spending all day cooped up inside the house without urinating can also cause infections.

In summary, dogs need certain care to stay healthy, especially when they get to a certain age when health risks become greater. Urinary infections in dogs, if detected early, can be solved quickly.