Has it happened to you that you take your dog for a walk and it has the need to pee far too many times than usual?
Or have you noticed a change in the color of the urine, and you know that you haven’t changed its diet?
Today we learn about urinary infection in dogs, how it is treated, and how much it will cost you to treat urinary infection.
What is a UTI in dogs?
UTI stands for urinary infection, which is a fairly common pathology that is most often seen in female dogs. There are multiple reasons why dogs get UTI, but it can be related to some kidney issue, diabetes, or simply your dog is prone to a common cold.
Dogs with urinary infections feel uncomfortable and in pain and it does not come as a wonder if your dog asks to go poppy multiple times in a day.
Urinary infections are usually the result of a bacterial infection. The area is known to have bacteria that is a normal flora of the region, but the body manages to keep it under control.
When the barrier is breached, bacteria multiply abnormally, causing symptoms of a UTI. Other reasons why a dog may be prone to UTI are Diabetes Mellitus, some abnormalities in the reproductive system, kidney disease, as well as the presence of bladder stones.
What are the symptoms of dogs having a UTI?
If your dog lives inside your home with you and is properly potty trained, then the first thing you will notice is accidents.
It is not the dog’s fault and it should not be punished for that, because urinary infection does make them wanna go potty more times than normal. Other symptoms that owners notice are:
- licking the area more often
- going to potty more frequently
- when they potty it’s just a tiny amount
- blood in the urine
- urinary incontinence
How is UTI diagnosed in dogs?
When owners take their dog to the vet and express concern about their dog making a mistake in the house more than often, the vet usually gets the idea of what might be the problem.
So, the vet will probably recommend doing a physical exam, checking temperature, listening to the breathing and the heart, and performing palpation of the abdomen.
In some cases, some dogs may react painfully to that procedure. Then the vet would probably draw blood to check for any changes that might point to an infection.
Don’t be surprised if your vet asks you to collect some urine samples for testing. That way, the vet can determine if the urine has crystals, bacteria, or blood cells.
Usually, the owners need to “catch” their dog in the act of peeing, in order to collect the sample. In cases when this is not possible, the vet may collect urine with a procedure called cystocentesis, in which using a needle, the vet collects a sample straight from the bladder.
After that, the vet may also recommend he do an ultrasound examination and if they suspect a presence of bladder stones, an x-ray with contrast may also be done.
How are UTIs treated in dogs?
The choice of medicine depends on what caused the urinary infection in the first place. If the dog has a bacterial infection, the vet would prescribe a course of antibiotics for at least two weeks.
Because the antibiotics may upset your dog’s stomach, he would most certainly recommend a probiotic to go with it.
In cases where the urinary infection is secondary to some other pathology, like bladder stones for instance, the vet will first try to treat that.
How much should you expect to pay for the treatment of a urinary infection in your dog?
The treatment is usually the course of antibiotics which could cost between $100 and $200. However, the owners should expect higher prices due to the examinations and diagnostics, which could add an additional $300.
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