Urinary tract infection is one infection that affects humans and it is a major concern for them, but this infection affects animals as well as, our household pets, through this writing, I would be going into detail on how urinary tract infection affects our dogs and how it can be handled.
Urinary tract infections are not rare in dogs, it is very common, when a dog has UTI, they have a general habit of having the urge to urinate constantly, or cry out when they urinate because it is painful, sometimes, there might even be blood in their urine. The urinary tract infection is usually more common amongst female dogs, it could either be an isolated case or a re-current case, especially when the dog has an underlying health issue. The ability to quickly recognize the symptoms of UTI in your pet is a significant step toward diagnosis and treatment.
Urinary tract infection issues in dogs are caused by problems such as; stress, bladder infection, trauma, prostate disease, spinal cord problem, cancer, and even congenital abnormality. Dogs with diabetes stand a high chance of getting UTI, likewise older dogs.
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UTI occurs when bacteria get into the bladder from external environments, then evade the body's immune defenses, causing infection. E.coli is the most common type of bacteria identified in the case of UTI, when your well-mannered dog because to pee in the house uncontrollably, it may be a sign of UTI. In clear terms, these signs will help you suspect fast if your dog is having certain urinary tract issues;
- Licking around the urinary opening.
- Cloudy/bloody urine.
- The urge to stay outside more frequently.
- Pee accidents around the house.
- Strong urine odor.
- Fever.
- Vomiting.
- Back pain.
- Water constipation.
Asides from knowing the symptoms, the clear confirmation of UTI is only through a confirmed test from a vet, do not treat your pet by yourself based on the noticed symptoms of the infection in your pet. There are two major ways your vet can determine the presence of a urinary tract infection in your pet;
Urinalysis: Urinalysis is a basic screening tool for dogs, either with the inspection of UTI or not, this test I actually one of the baseline test procedures conducted on your dog during year consistent yearly health examination. Urinalysis is a screening test procedure used to determine; PH, blood, glucose, protein, white blood cells, ketones, and particles like bacteria, cells, and crystals.
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Urine culture and susceptibility: This test option is the major standard for UTI diagnosis, the major test that can be used for the confirmation of UTI in dogs. If your vet has a suspicion that your dog has UTI, a sterile urine sample should be collected and sent out for culture and sensitivity tests. In order to carry out this test, a vet would incubate a little amount of urine sample on a special medium plate usually used in the medical lab, then monitor it for bacterial growth within 1-3 days. This test also unveils the main type of bacteria and the specific amount contained. Upon confirmation, the vet performs antibiotic sensitivity testing in order to determine what can be done to check.
I have mentioned previously that, urinary tract infection can either be in the acute phase of the chronic face. In this case, diagnosing them is quite different, so let's see what makes them different when it comes to diagnosing acute URI, the vet would begin with some urinalysis and it could be treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. A urine culture and test sensitivity are more reliable, the test should be conducted before treatment especially when there is doubt about the presence of UTI. Treating your dog with inappropriate antibiotics or before a test confirms their condition, is not a safe option and it can be detrimental and lead to antibiotic resistance in the future.
To determine chronic UTIs, your pet would have to undergo both urinalysis and urine culture, sometimes, your vet may even carry out further diagnostic testing to determine the presence of underlying causes, this is to understand and prevent the recurrence of UTI, the tests include;
A full bloodwork scan to rule out kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and Cushing's disease.
X-rays (Abdominal radiographs), this test can reveal different types of bladder stones, there are, however, certain stones that do not get visible on x-rays.
Abdominal ultrasound to help evaluate the bladder wall thickness, as well as identify bladder stones, urethral stones, prostrate issues, tumors, kidney stones, and benign polyps of the bladder and prostate issues.
Depending on the type and condition of your dog's urine test, your vet would prescribe the best antibiotics that need to be directly administered. Once the treatment procedure is complete and another urine test is carried out to ascertain there is no more infection, no further treatment is required.
There is actually no sure way to prevent your dog from getting a urinary tract infection, but there are several steps to take in order to limit the risk of an occurring UTI infection, here are a few things that can help with that prevention;
Diet change: Diet change for a dog may b prescribed to alter the urinal PH and make it more difficult for bacteria to colonize, the formation of stones leading to UTIs can also be hindered.
Ensure your dog consistently has clean water to consume.
Always manage and treat underlying conditions as you can.
Regularly take your pet for routine check-ups.
Make sure your pet urinates frequently.
Conclusion.
Urinary tract infections just like other forms of infection are not good for our pets, constant visits to the vet for checkup is a strong necessity. The moment there is a change in your pet's look or behavioral pattern, especially when urinating more often , based on the topic discussed here, then please instantly visit a veterinary doctor for appropriate diagnosis and treatments.