In both humans and dogs, a urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria collects and multiplies anywhere in the urinary tract. Recurrent or untreated urinary tract infections in dogs can cause damage to the bladder and kidneys, along with a host of other problems. Knowing what causes UTIs in dogs can help your prevent infections from occurring.
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Infrequent Urination
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One common cause of urinary tract infections in dogs is infrequent urination. If a dog that is housebroken is not given adequate opportunity to relieve itself, the bacteria has more time to attach itself to and multiply in the bladder. Your dog should go the bathroom every six hours, because urinating helps flush out bacteria as well as urine, before an infection can begin to take hold.
Food
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Diet can contribute to your dog developing a urinary tract infection. This occurs for a number of reasons. Primarily, diets that are grain- or veggie-intensive can lead to UTIs, because they raise the alkaline level in the urine. However, diets that are protein-intensive tend to lower the alkaline level, thus reducing the occurrence of infection. Selecting a canned food that uses a meat as the first ingredient can help combat this problem.
Pre-existing Health Conditions
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Certain preexisting health conditions also can cause your dog to develop a urinary tract infection. If your dog has diabetes, kidney problems, bladder cancer, Cushing's disease or any type of swelling or abnormality of the genitals, it may be more prone to UTIs. Additionally, if your dog is taking certain medications like corticosteroids, for an extended time period, your furry friend is more likely to suffer urinary tract infections.
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