Introduction
Difficult to prevent, hard to spot, and dangerous if left untreated, urinary tract infections affect dogs of all ages and breeds. It’s important for dog-owners to know exactly what this disease is and how it manifests itself in dogs so that it may be counteracted with the proper treatment.
Causes of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in Dogs
Like all other infections, ones in the urinary tract are caused by excess of bacteria. In this case, the bacteria build up in the urinary tract. Female dogs are more susceptible to this problem because they have a shorter urethra than male dogs. As such, bacteria accumulate far more quickly in the smaller area.
The bacteria usually build up in the prostate of male dogs and in the vaginal area of female dogs. The problem arises once the bacteria makes its way into the urethra.
Symptoms of UTI
The most common symptom of a urinary tract infection is frequent urination, which is accompanied by increased water intake. Also, the dog may appear to strain while urinating, or the urine may have an unusual color or a stronger smell than normal. The dog, even if it has been housebroken, may begin to have accidents.
Outlook for Dogs with UTI
In the early stages of the disease, a urinary tract infection can be relatively harmless. But, if left unchecked, it may develop into a variety of more serious issues. The most dangerous of these is kidney failure.
Other problems that could develop from a urinary tract infection include prostaitus, in which the disease spreads to the prostate gland of a male dog, and septicemia, which is when the bacteria from the urinary tract makes its way into the bloodstream, possibly infecting other organs.