Bladder infection in dogs
A urinary tract infection, also known as a bladder infection, is common in dogs, especially in females. If you notice that your dog is urinating small amounts more frequently or has blood in its urine, it could be a sign of bladder problems. It's important to recognize a bladder infection in time. It causes a lot of discomfort for your dog and, if neglected, can lead to serious complaints. Pharmacy4pets offers handy test strips for you to monitor your dog's urine yourself, so you can catch a bladder infection in your four-legged friend early.
Causes of Bladder Infection in Dogs
The most common cause of bladder infection in dogs is a bacterial infection. The bacteria enter through the genital opening into the urethra and thus reach the bladder. Due to the shorter and wider urethra of the female, bacterial bladder infections occur more frequently in female dogs.
Furthermore, bladder grit and bladder stones also regularly cause bladder problems, often in combination with a bacterial urinary tract infection. In rarer cases, congenital problems, tumors, or polyps, or previous surgeries can cause (recurring) bladder infections. Due to the not yet fully developed immune system, bladder infections occur more frequently in puppies.
Symptoms of a Bladder Infection in Dogs
If your dog has a bladder infection, the most noticeable symptom is usually that it urinates small amounts frequently. You may also notice that urination takes longer or your dog shows signs of pain while urinating. It is noticeable that the urine comes not in a steady stream but rather drips. Sometimes the urine has a different color or smell than normal or contains blood. Another symptom can be that your dog drinks more than usual, and sometimes we see that dogs have difficulty holding their urine, resulting in accidents in the house. Dogs with a bladder infection may lick their vulva or penis more often than normal. In some cases, dogs become generally sick from a bladder infection.
It is very important to pay attention to whether your dog is actually urinating. Especially in males, a small stone or a clot with blood and inflammatory cells can sometimes get stuck in the narrow urethra, making urination impossible. This is not only very painful but also life-threatening and therefore an absolute emergency!
What to Do If You Suspect Your Dog Has a Bladder Infection
If your dog shows symptoms of bladder problems, it's important to go to the vet. The vet will want to check the urine, so it's good to collect it before your appointment. The best way to collect it is in a clean container. The examination is most reliable if the urine is as fresh as possible. You can also test your dog's urine at home with handy test strips. However, your vet will also examine the urine under a microscope, as not everything can be reliably tested with a strip. These strips do not replace an examination by the vet.
Furthermore, the vet will thoroughly examine your dog and feel the bladder. In males, the prostate is also examined, as prostate problems can cause similar complaints.
Your vet may suggest further tests such as an X-ray or bladder ultrasound or take sterile urine for bacteriological examination.
Be extra alert if you suspect your puppy has bladder problems, as puppies become seriously ill more quickly.
Treatment of a Bladder Infection
If a bladder infection is diagnosed in your dog, it will usually be treated with medication. Depending on the cause, other measures may also be advised. The most commonly used treatments for urinary tract infections in dogs are:
Antibiotics
The most common cause of a bladder infection, a bacterial urinary tract infection, is treated with a course of antibiotics. It is important to complete the course and have the urine checked if the vet advises, even if the symptoms seem to have disappeared quickly. Stopping the medication too early can lead to resistance (bacteria becoming insensitive to the used antibiotic). Also, a lingering bacterial infection can ascend to the kidneys and cause pyelonephritis. This can, in the worst case, lead to permanent damage to the kidneys.
Painkillers/Anti-inflammatories
A bladder infection can be quite uncomfortable for your dog, and painkillers can help it feel comfortable again quickly.
Agents that Influence the Composition of the Urine
If bladder grit or bladder stones are the cause of your dog's bladder problems, your vet will advise a special diet. This diet, for example, Sanimed Anti Struvite Dog, ensures that fewer of the building blocks of the type of crystal your dog is suffering from are excreted in the urine. The diet also affects the pH of the urine. Sometimes it is also possible to achieve this with dietary supplements such as Vetoquinol Care Bladder Grit. However, it is very important to discuss the choice of diet or supplement with your vet because each type of bladder grit/stone requires a different approach. Incorrect diet or unjustly acidifying the urine can even promote the formation of bladder stones!
Vitamin C
People with bladder infections are often advised to take extra vitamin C because it is believed to acidify the urine and thereby reduce the chance of bladder infections. This does NOT work the same way in dogs. Vitamin C has no effect on the acidity of the urine and is even a building block of calcium oxalate crystals, one of the most common types of bladder grit. So, it's better not to do this!
Surgery
If your dog has a type of bladder stone that cannot be resolved with diet and in the case of some congenital problems, surgery is needed to solve the problem. Fortunately, this is not very common.
Drinking More Water
Drinking extra water dilutes your dog's urine. Bacteria and crystals are flushed out more easily.
Proper Walking
If your dog has a urinary tract infection, it may have an increased urge to urinate. So, take it out an extra time. Take your time during walks to let it urinate properly; the better and more often the bladder is emptied, the better bacteria and crystals leave the body (the 'flush effect').
A bladder infection is unpleasant for your dog and must be recognized and treated in time. Sometimes there is an underlying cause that makes a urinary tract infection persistent or recurrent. If that cause is known, it is often quite possible to permanently relieve your dog of its complaints.
If you have a question about our products or about bladder infection in your dog, please contact us.
