Dog Owner’s Guide To Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs
Dogs are susceptible to urinary tract infections just like humans. Older, spayed females have an increased risk of developing this condition when compared to males. This is due to the fact that female dogs have a wider and shorter urethra than their male counterparts. Keep reading to learn all about urinary tract infections in canines.
Cause
Various species of bacteria cause urinary tract infections. Many dogs are infected with E. coli. Humans can be infected by similar strains of bacteria. So, what are some of the signs you should be on the lookout for?
Symptoms
Dogs that have a urinary tract infection will display a range of signs. One of the most common symptoms that you will notice is increased urination. Dogs will strain to urinate. The urine may also have a foul smell or have blood in it. It’s also common for dogs to experience lethargy and a fever. You’ll need to take your dog to a vet if he begins displaying these symptoms.
Diagnosis
The vet will need to analyze your dog’s urine to see if he has an infection of the urinary tract. The urinalysis will help the vet determine the amount of white blood cells, blood, protein, and sugar is in the urine. The test may also show the presence of bacteria. Your dog can simply urinate in a container to provide the sample. Otherwise, a catheter or needle will be used to remove urine from the bladder.
Treatment
Canine urinary tract infections should be treated as quickly as possible. If not, the bacteria can move up the urinary tract and into the kidneys. Kidney damage is very serious. Treatment of these infections is through the use of antibiotics taken for a couple of weeks.
Prevention
As an owner, you can do a few things to keep your dog from suffering a urinary tract infection. It’s important that you always provide your dog with fresh water. If you keep him inside, make sure you let him out every few hours so he can use the bathroom. If urine stays in the bladder for too long, the risk of infection increases as the bacteria multiply.
All owners should know a little something about various diseases that can affect their dog like dog constipation. You can read up on many different potential health problems at dog-illnesses.com. Click over right now to start reading about some of these conditions such as pancreatitis in canines.
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