How Vets Diagnose Utis In Dogs
There are many ways to tell if a dog has a UTI and to investigate the underlying causes for why an infection occurred in the first place. Its important to obtain a definitive diagnosis whenever there is evidence of urinary tract disease, or else UTIs may come back.
Here are the ways that veterinarians test for UTIs in dogs.
Dog Uti Home Remedy That Works 100%
In todays article, wed be talking about Dog Uti home remedy for your dog. But first, lets learn about urinary tract infection in dogs.Urinary Tract infections are common in dogs, so its essential to understand that the cause of your dogs bladder problem might not be what it seems.Many ladder problems are purely inflammation, and there are no bacteria related to them at all. So giving dog urinary tract infection antibiotics wont help and is an exercise in frustration. To a holistic vet, UTI usually stands for inflammation, not infection.This is vital in approaching the treatment of bladder issues, but first, lets talk about the signs of bladder woes.
Read Also: Overactive Bladder And Back Pain
Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs
Dog UTI symptoms result from inflammation and pain due to bacteria invading the bladder wall.
Signs of a UTI in dogs may include:
-
Inappropriate urination
-
Frequent urination
-
Straining to urinate with only a small amount of urine production
-
Blood in the urine
In more severe cases, where the infection moves into a dogs kidneys, you may see:
Recommended Reading: Can Bladder Cancer Cause Bowel Problems
How Do Dogs Get A Uti
The most common cause of a UTI in dogs is bacteria that enter the urethral opening and travels up the urethra and into the bladder, where it then multiplies and causes infection. This bacteria can come from feces or debris that enters the area. Bacteria is also more likely to develop if your dog has a weakened immune system.
How Can I Tell If My Dog Has Urinary Tract Problems
It can be difficult to know if your dog is in pain, and your dog may not show any signs of pain at all. However, some signs may help you determine if your dog is having trouble with their urinary tract:
- Bloody and/or cloudy urine
- Spinal cord abnormalities
Urinary tract infections are more common in older female dogs and dogs with diabetes. Dogs with bladder stones are more prone to getting frequent UTIs. In addition, lower urinary tract disease and UTIs are common in senior dogs, age seven and older, of all breeds and genders.
Recommended Reading: Low Grade Bladder Cancer Treatment
Top Home Remedies For Dog Uti
Dogs can be affected by many different types of lower urinary tract problems. Fortunately, there are many home natural remedies to treat your dogs UTI.
First, its important to know when your dog may have a UTI and what are dog UTI signs you want to be monitoring for before we start using natural home remedies for an infection.
What Is The Best Food For Dog Uti Treatment
Natural and nutrient-dense foods are best for dogs with UTIs. Here are some foods that can help with the dog UTI treatment.
- Cranberries. Cranberries and cranberry juice are the most often recommended at-home treatment for UTIs. Although the common belief is that they are powerful treatments against UTIs, there have been no studies to confirm this in dogs. For this reason, vets will often recommend cranberries be used as a supplement to a UTI treatment rather than be relied on as the treatment.
- Fruits. Fruits are a great source of vitamins and antioxidants that help to support the immune system. These foods provide naturally sourced nutrients that are easy to digest and readily available to support your pets health and help to treat and prevent urinary tract disease.
- UTI-Specific Dog Food. Dog foods formulated to treat a dogs UTI or incontinence often contain antioxidants and immune system supporting vitamins that help to fight the underlying causes of UTIs.
Also Check: Poor Bladder Control Young Female
What Should I Do If I Think My Dog Has Lower Urinary Tract Problems
Pay attention to your dogâs behavior, because itâs not easy to spot all your dogâs symptoms.
If you notice symptoms of pain and discomfort, especially difficulty urinating, call your dogâs vet to figure out whatâs causing the problems and the best way to treat them.
Show Sources
American Kennel Club: âDoes Your Dog Have UTI Symptoms or Something Worse?,â Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs.â
Banfield Pet Hospital: âLower Urinary Tract Disease .â
Canine Health Foundation: âCanine Lymphoma.â
Merck Manual Veterinary Manual: âBacterial Urinary Tract Infections.â
MSPCA-Angell: “Lower Urinary Tract Diseases of the Senior Dog.”
Peoria Area Veterinary Group: âUrinary Tract Problems in Dogs.â
Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira: âAnalysis of lower urinary tract disease of dogs.â
VCA Hospitals: âUrinary Tract Infections in Dogs.â
Dog Bladder Infection Home Remedy List
Talking about bladder infections can be uncomfortable, but theres no reason they should be a taboo topic. Urinary tract infections are very common in both humans and dogs. Many pet owners have to deal with a dogs UTI at some point in their lives, so its certainly a topic worth discussing. Because bladder infections are such a common problem for dogs, people have developed several home remedies for treating them.
You dont have to be a veterinarian to figure out why maintaining a healthy urinary tract is important. It comes into play multiple times every day. Depending on your dogs breed, age, and overall health, UTIs may be a rare annoyance or a chronic sign of an underlying health condition. Before giving your dog UTI treatment, you should understand how these infections work. Lets get right to it.
You May Like: What Happens If You Don T Treat A Bladder Infection
What Can I Give My Dog For A Urinary Tract Infection Over The Counter
100% Pure Cranberry Juice It is believed that pure cranberry juice can help to prevent the harmful bacteria from adhering to the wall of your dogs bladder, meaning that it can be flushed out of your pups system faster. Consult your vet before giving your dog cranberry juice, or any other natural treatments.
What Are Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs
Most dog parents associate UTIs with an actual infection caused by viruses and bacteria. But in fact, urinary tract infections often derive from inflammation.
Its funny because if you ask a holistic veterinarian, they will call UTI a urinary tract inflammation not an infection.
Determining the cause of the UTI is important if you want to fix bladder problems in your dog.
Recommended Reading: Over The Counter Bladder Control Meds
Can A Dog Uti Cure Itself
A dog UTI can usually resolve with natural remedies or treatment, without leaving lasting damage. But they should always be addressed.
In some cases, urinary problems may be something more serious, like poisoning or even cancer. So, if in doubt or if it does not clear up in a reasonable manner of time, see your vet.
What Causes Of Bladder Infections In Dogs
Bacteria that your dog may ingest from unclean water or contaminated food are transmitted through the blood and the lymphatic system. Urinary tract infections: According to uti-in-dogs.com, this causes traces of the bacteria escherichia coli inside your dogs bladder. Which can cause further infection of the urinary tract if not flushed out. Other bacteria associated with bladder infections in dogs are esterococcus, coagulase positive straphylococcus, proteus mirabilis, klebsiella and pseudomonas.
In her response to an i Love Dogs Ask a Vet question, Dr. Michelle Hoag said urinary tract infections in dogs are usually secondary to another underlying issue, although they can occasionally just get a primary ascending urinary tract infection because of squatting to urinate in a dirty place or because of a recent bout of diarrhea .
Dr. Hoag said that other possible reasons include hormonal problems with the endocrine system, such as diabetes and Cushings syndrome, a urinary tract abnormality, such as a persistent hymen, ectopic ureter or a urethral sphincter disorder, or a problem within the urinary system, such as bladder or kidney stones or an infection in the kidneys.
Don’t Miss: What Causes Bladder Control Problems
How Is Urinary Tract Infection Usually Treated
Most vets choose antibiotics as the go-to treatment for urinary tract infections in dogs. However, the problem with antibiotics is that they kill all kinds of bacteria not only the bad ones.
Considering that many urinary tract infections stem from bladder inflammation, using antibiotics to treat them is counter-productive.
A damaged gut flora can cause recurring UTIs, not to mention that antibiotics need to reach a certain concentration in the bloodstream to be more effective.
In a 2014 review of antibiotics for UTIs conducted by the University of Copenhagen, the authors found that theres little published evidence relating to antibiotic treatments of UTIs in dogs and cats. Well-designed clinical trials on the duration of treatment are required to create evidence-based treatment protocols.
Antibiotic resistance is also an issue. The more antibiotics your dog takes, the more resistant it becomes to bacteria.
Thats why dog owners are turning to natural remedies.
Any Dog Can Get A Bladder Infection At Any Time But Female Dogs And The Dogs With Low Immunity Are Often The Ones That Are Always At Risk
Bladder infections in dogs are painful and can occur when bacteria find its way into your fur-baby’s bladder. Any dog can get a bladder infection at any time but female dogs and the dogs with low immunity are often the ones t hat are always at risk.
The following are dogs more likely to develop and acquirebladder infections :
You May Like: Tampon For Bladder Leakage Commercial
Can Male Canines Get A Uti
Yes, male dogs can get a UTI, but they are less vulnerable than female dogs. This is because male dogs have longer urethras, making it harder for invasive bacteria to make it up to their bladders. That said, male dogs are still vulnerable to such infections.
Male dogs are more vulnerable to certain forms of kidney stones, and they are much more likely to suffer a blockage of the urinary tract due to kidney stones. Such a blockage may have similar symptoms to a urinary tract infection, including bloody urine and straining to urinate. If your male dog exhibits these signs, you should take them to a vet and have them checked for kidney stones first and foremost.
Dog Bladder Infection 101
A dog bladder infection can be painful and distressing for your dog.
A urinary tract infection like this can even completely prevent your dog from urinating by blocking the urethra. This is a medical emergency and potentially life threatening!
A simple bladder infection caused by an overgrowth of bacteria can usually be cleared up pretty quickly with a round of the correct antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian.
But there are sometimes other factors or complications which occur and it’s vital to have your vet make an accurate diagnosis so that treatment is effective.
Don’t Miss: Best Thing For Bladder Infection
Identifying The Signs Of Bladder Infections And Utis In Dogs
Pain or difficulty urinating may be the first sign that your dog has a urinary tract or bladder infection. You may spot blood in his urine, or perhaps notice that hes producing just a trickle. In some cases, your normally housetrained dog may wee inside your home. Always get your dog checked out by your vet if you notice any of the following symptoms:
You May Like: Bladder Or Urinary Tract Infection
When To See A Doctor
Contact your doctor if you have pain or discomfort when you urinate or other symptoms of a bladder infection, especially if the symptoms have been present for two days or more. If an infection lingers for too long, you risk the bacterial infection traveling to other parts of your body, including your kidneys. Therefore, you should seek treatment if you notice symptoms.
Your doctor will complete a physical examination and collect a urine sample to send for lab analysis to determine if an infection is present. Complications from an uncomplicated bladder infection are typically rare with antibiotic treatment. However, if you develop fever, chills, nausea, or confusion, you should immediately contact your doctor. These symptoms suggest a more serious infection that has spread to your kidneys. If you have a kidney infection, you may need an IV treatment of high-dose antibiotics, which may require hospitalization.
Show Sources
Read Also: What Does Carcinoma In Situ Of Bladder Mean
Can Utis Be Prevented
Treating your dog for UTI risk factors such as being overweight, diabetes, bladder stones, or surgical correction of a recessed vulva will help prevent UTIs.
If your dog is at risk for recurrent UTI, talk with your vet about other bladder infection preventatives, including supplements and special diets.
What Are Natural Urinary Tract Infection Remedies
Urinary tract infections are uncomfortable and potentially harmful to your dog. Diagnosing a UTI early and obtaining the proper treatment is important for the dogs comfort and overall health.
Natural remedies can help in the treatment of UTIs, and are especially effective in the early stages. Before giving your dog a natural remedy for UTIs, contact a veterinarian. UTIs often require medical care, especially if theres an established bacterial infection. In this case, natural remedies will cure the UTI, and only prescription antibiotics and veterinary treatment will remedy the infection.
If left untreated, UTIs can lead to the development of urinary bladder stones , which can be very painful and sometimes require surgery to remove.
You May Like: Pelvic Floor Therapy For Overactive Bladder
Cost Of Natural Urinary Tract Infection Remedies In Dogs
Treating a dogs UTI with herbal remedies is relatively inexpensive. These remedies can cost anywhere from $10 to $30. Supplements for preventive care could cost as little as the expense of specially formulated food and vet recommended supplements. These preventative measures usually cost an additional $10 to $30 a month.
Worried about the cost of Natural Urinary Tract Infection Remedies treatment?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
How Do You Diagnose A Dog Uti Infection
Once again if youre noticing any of the previously mentioned symptoms in your dog, its important to take them to the veterinarian for a check-up.
Your vet will do a physical examination to make sure there are no congenital problems that are predisposing them to urine pooling or other factors that could be leading to an infection.
Firstly, they need to perform a urinalysis to check the urine for infection.
The urinalysis will be able to tell the veterinarian a lot of information about whats going on in your dogs urine to rule in or out a urinary tract infection or if its just inflammation or something else going on. The urinalysis will test for:
- Urine specific gravity or USG
If the urinalysis shows an infection, your veterinarian should recommend running a urine culture. This will help identify what type of bacteria is present and which antibiotic will work against it.
You dont want to put your pet on an antibiotic for a presumed UTI but you dont even know if there is a true infection or if its just inflammation.
Never use an antibiotic without at least a urinalysis!
Antibiotics have a time and a place, but if were using them inappropriately, they will affect your pets gut health and can cause other health issues down the road by upsetting your dogs important microbiome.
Other tests your veterinarian may recommend include an ultrasound, bloodwork, or a radiograph which will help rule out bladder stones, other abnormalities, and bladder cancers.
Recommended Reading: How Deadly Is Bladder Cancer
How Can I Treat A Uti At Home For My Dog
Here are some at-home dog UTI treatment options:
Honest Paws Pre+ Probiotics for Dogs. This dog UTI treatment is made with prebiotics and probiotics for gut health. A dogs health begins in the digestive system Honest Paws ensures there are healthy bacteria for a healthy gut biome to promote better and faster recovery. The probiotics inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, while the prebiotics stimulates the growth of healthy bacteria. The formula uses antioxidant-rich foods to promote immune system function and inulin, their natural prebiotic, to promote the growth of 6 strains of healthy bacteria that help to strengthen the immune system and promote good digestion.
What Does A Urinalysis Look At
If your cat presents to your veterinarian with urinary signs, your veterinarian will first perform a urinalysis. The urinalysis can reveal so much important information about the urine when a UTI is suspected. Your veterinarian will look at the following:
- urine-specific gravity
Once these levels are measured, the urine specimen is placed into a centrifuge and spun down to allow cells and other debris to accumulate at the bottom of the sample tube. That debris can then be evaluated under magnification, and this examination can reveal the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria, and crystals.
What is seen under the microscopes magnification can lead to the next steps of assessing the dogs urinary tract disease. For example, if there are crystals in the urine, your veterinarian may recommend radiographs or an ultrasound of the abdomen in order to look for bladder stones.
You May Like: Cystoscopy Transurethral Resection Of Bladder Tumor
How To Prevent Uti In Dogs
Below are three tips for preventing bladder infection in dogs.