Introduction
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a painful condition in dogs which, if left untreated, can develop into dangerous kidney infections. Once a dog has been diagnosed with a urinary tract infection the owner has two choices for treatment. Either the dog can be placed on a course of antibiotics, or the dog is placed on a course of antibiotics and the cause of the urinary tract infection is investigated.
Treating Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs
Dogs will from time to time develop a urinary tract infection, and these infections are treated successfully with antibiotics. However sometimes the dog has an underlying condition which causes the urinary tract infection to develop. In these cases the infections will continue to reappear after antibiotic treatments unless the cause of the infection is resolved. Underlying conditions such as bladder stones or diabetes are famous for causing repeat urinary tract infections in dogs.
When UTI is Caused by an Underlying Condition
Whether or not a pet owner should decide to further investigate the cause of the urinary tract infections depends on if the infection is accompanied by other symptoms or if the infections keep occurring. Urinary tract infections by themselves normally do not cause any other symptoms besides frequent urination, blood in the urine, and painful urination.
Urinary tract infections that develop as a result of another condition are often accompanied by additional symptoms which may include:
- Lethargy
- Depression
- Different eating or drinking habits
- Changes in behavior
- Weight loss