Difficult to prevent, hard to spot, and dangerous if left untreated, urinary tract infections affect dogs of all ages and breeds. 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.
Urinary tract infections in dogs are usually caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and travel to the bladder. Dogs can also experience urinary tract infections if they have developed bladder stones or if they have certain types of medical conditions.
The number one method for preventing urinary tract infections in dogs is to make sure that the dog drinks ample amounts of water each day, and that the water is clean. All of this water will help flush out the system and keep out the bacteria that lead to infection.
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.
Urinary tract infections in dogs are usually diagnosed using a urinalysis test. In cases where repeated infections occur, x-rays, blood tests, ultrasound, or a urine culture may be needed.
Urinary tract infections in dogs 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.