Dogs are one of our best friends, but sometimes they may experience some health issues. These creatures are just as susceptible to urinary tract infections (UTIs) as humans.
UTIs can be very painful and irritating, but luckily there are treatment options available.
Urinary tract infections will cause dogs to urinate more frequently than normal or have difficulty making it outside in time.
Your dog also may cry when trying to go potty if it hurts too much. Other symptoms include drippy urine with a strong smell from an infected dog, which means you should probably get your pup checked by a vet soon.
What are the main causes of UTIs in dogs?
The most common cause of UTIs in dogs is bacteria. This comes from feces or debris that enter the urinary tract but can also happen if a lack of nutrients weakens your dog’s immune system.
If left untreated, a UTI infection could result in more serious problems and even lead to kidney damage over time.
In addition, E. coli are the bacteria that most often cause urinary tract infections. In more severe but rarer occurrences, cancer can cause infections, which leads to bladder stones and kidney disease, among other conditions.
Diabetes and inflammation or infection from the bladder or kidneys can lead to urinary tract problems like prostate issues and diabetes complications, including diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels for prolonged periods of time.
Other causes of UTIs:
Recognize the symptoms of UTIs
It is not easy to identify the UTI-related problems in your dog, but some identifiers may help you or your veterinarian to diagnose symptoms:
- Your dog may have blood in its urine
- They may pee more frequently
- Dogs may pee accidentally
- They may lick their urinary openings more than normal
- Urine may smell heavy
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Eat less or more than usual
- Unexplained weight loss
What supplements can be used to treat UTIs in dogs?
You can use UTI treatment for dogs to treat this infection. This may help your dog to live without any UTI-related health issues.
Many different types of organisms can cause urinary tract infections in dogs, most commonly E. coli.
However, it is important to diagnose which organism caused the infection before prescribing an antibiotic because there may be a more effective medication against certain bacteria than others.
In addition, some pain killers can be prescribed to relieve pain or discomfort related to UTIs.
Keep your dog healthy
After using any prescribed medication or recommended treatment, you likely will need to make a return trip to your vet to recheck your dog’s urine to ensure the treatment was effective. If not, another course of antibiotics may be necessary.
Prevent future infections by ensuring your dog always has plenty of fresh, clean water, eats a healthy diet, and is allowed outside frequently for potty breaks.
Adding probiotics or herbs like fresh parsley to your dog’s diet also can help inhibit UTIs.
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