Signs of Cystitis in Your Dog

Cystitis is a condition in which a dog's bladder becomes inflamed. The most common cause of the inflammation is bacterial infection that may reach the bladder through the urethra or genital tract. In other cases it may descend down the kidney and infect the bladder. A dog may also suffer from cystitis when it cannot pass urine properly. This may happen due to bladder stones irritating the epithelium of the bladder or blocking the urinary tract. Tumors, polyps and nerve damage to the bladder may also cause increased urine retention in dogs.

  1. Blood in Urine

    • Blood in urine, also known as hematuria, is the most common sign of cystitis in dogs. According to the gopetsamerica website, dogs suffering from cystitis do not commonly pass whole blood while urinating. Their urine generally has a pinkish tinge because of traces of blood in it. If there are stones in the bladder, then these rough foreign bodies rub against the epithelium of the bladder, causing it to get inflamed and bleed. Tumors and polyps are not usually very irritating to the bladder lining but when they bleed, traces of blood can be detected in a dog's urine.

    Urination

    • Dogs with cystitis have a change in their urination habits. Although they urinate frequently, the amount of urine passed every time is very small. Affected dogs may also have difficulty in passing urine and are seen straining themselves when doing so. This is known as dysuria and is most commonly caused due to bacterial infection and tumors or polyps. Cystitis due to bladder stones blocking the urethra is more severe in males than in females. This is because the urethra in males is narrower than in females and can't dilate to pass out the stones that block it. In case the dog cannot urinate at all due to complete blockage of the urethra or nerve damage to the bladder, immediate medical care is required.

    Treatment

    • Urine sample of the sick dog is first analyzed for bacterial infection. If tests are positive, then urine samples are cultured to determine appropriate antibiotics to be prescribed to the dog. If bacterial infection is ruled out, then the vet conducts x-rays to test for presence of stones. Bladder stones can be dissolved through special diet recommended by the veterinarian. In certain cases, the vet may make a surgical removal of bladder stones and benign polyps and tumors. However, successful treatment of malignant tumors is difficult.