The Symptoms of Canine Urinary Tract Infections

A canine's urinary tract system consists of four key components: the kidneys, ureters (tubes attaching the kidneys to the bladder), bladder and urethra (tube through which the dog urinates). A urinary tract infection (UTI) is as painful for a dog as it is for a human. Bacteria entering the dog's bladder through its urethra cause the UTI. An untreated UTI causes serious complications as the infection travels through the urinary tract system all the way up to the kidneys, according to PetEducation.com.

  1. Accidents

    • An increased number of urinating accidents in the house can be a sign that your dog has a UTI. According to Vetinfo, "Dogs with urinary tract infections may experience a certain loss of control over their bladder functions." As a result, the dog may urinate in the house, not on purpose, but because it cannot help it. This may particularly be problematic for a canine that is indoors and does not have free access to the outdoors to relieve itself.

    Bloody Urine

    • A clear sign of trouble is if the canine has blood in its urine, reports PetEducation.com. The medical term for this is hematuria, and blood in the urine not only suggests a UTI but the possibility that the infection has traveled passed the bladder and up into the kidneys. According to PetPlace.com, a bacterial infection of the kidneys, known as pyelonephritis, is commonly caused by an, "ascending urinary tract infection(s)."

    Compulsive Cleaning

    • Compulsive chewing and cleaning of the nether regions can be another sign of a UTI in your dog. Because the UTI is painful and uncomfortable for the canine, it will compulsively lick, chew and groom its genital area in an effort to relieve the pain. In severe cases, the dog may actually cause additional harm and irritation to the overall area with its obsessive cleaning, states Vetinfo.

    Increased Urination

    • A canine suffering from a UTI is unable to adequately evacuate its bladder of all urine. As a result, the dog may increase its frequency of urination, coupled with a reduced amount of urine being passed, a condition known as poillakiuria, according to PetEducation.com. Because the dog cannot urinate completely, urine backs up in its urinary tract system and can potentially cause bladder stones or other toxic conditions, according to Vetinfo.

    Painful Urination

    • The increased need to urinate and failure in the ability to completely urinate cause tremendous pain for the UTI-stricken canine. Painful symptoms associated with a UTI include straining and yelping, or crying out in pain when trying to urinate. The constant licking and chewing as discussed above also suggest that the dog is suffering from pain.

    Strong-smelling Urine

    • A canine's urine is normally placid in odor, states PetPlace.com. Malodorous urination suggests not only a UTI but also the possibility that the infection has made its way further into the urinary tract. Vetinfo describes the smell as "sour," and indicates that sometimes the best way to determine if the urine smells abnormally is when the canine has had an accident inside the home.