Introduction
Symptoms of urinary tract infections in dogs include changes to the urine and changes in bathroom behaviors. Some dogs can have a urinary tract infection without showing any symptoms at all.
Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs
Dogs that have urinary tract infections may develop changes in their bathroom habits such as frequent urination, spotting or dripping urine uncontrollably (incontinence), urinating only small amounts at a time, and urinating in multiple areas. The urine itself may also appear abnormal and display changes which include blood in the urine and urine that has a foul odor.
Behavioral changes may also occur when a dog has a urinary tract infection. In cases of severe urinary tract infections, dogs may become lethargic and their appetite may decrease. Some dogs repeatedly lick around the urethral area causing the area to become red and inflamed.
Yearly urinalysis tests in addition to a yearly physical examination, and possibly blood tests, are recommended because some dogs carry urinary tract infections without showing any symptoms at all. Chronic, untreated, urinary tract infections can damage the urethra and the lining of the bladder in addition to affecting immune system function and the kidneys.
The majority of the symptoms of a urinary tract infection are caused by inflammation of the urethra and bladder that occur as a result of the infection. If a dog is on anti-inflammatory medications, including arthritis medications and steroid therapies, then inflammation of the urethra and bladder will not occur in the event of a urinary tract infection, and symptoms of the infection may not appear.