When a dog gets urinary infections (cystitis) over and over, Dr. Mike Richards notes on the Vet Info site, it can indicate serious problems--or at least may require more veterinary care than a dog who gets only an occasional infection.
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What Is a Bladder Infection?
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When bacteria travel up the urethra (a tube that carries urine to the outside), reach the dog’s bladder (where urine collects after being made in the kidneys) and multiply, the WebVet site explains, they cause inflammation: a bladder infection.
Why They Recur
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Bladder infections recur when the antibiotic isn’t used long enough or isn’t the right one. Dr. Richards also notes that bladder stones or a malformed bladder may allow bacteria to hide from antibiotic treatment.
Which Dogs Develop Recurrent Infections?
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According to Vet Info, older dogs often contract recurring bladder infections as a result of other conditions. Female dogs have shorter urethras, so bacteria can reach their bladders more easily.
Treatment
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Antibiotics treat recurrent cystitis effectively, according to Vet Info, but finding the right drug may take time and it might need to be given for a long time.
Other Considerations
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Recurring bladder infections can indicate bladder stones, a structural defect or perhaps the presence of diabetes, cancer, liver disease or kidney infection, Vet Info reports. Testing can confirm these conditions or rule them out.
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