Cystitis in dogs is an inflammation of the bladder. It can have several different causes, and treatment is often dependent upon what the cause is. Female dogs are more prone to cystitis than male dogs are.
-
Causes
-
Cystitis in dogs is most often caused by a bacterial infection. Other causes are bladder stones, tumors of the bladder, nervous system disorders and some diseases.
Symptoms
-
Recognizing the symptoms of cystitis in your dog is the first step in treating the condition. Symptoms include blood in the urine, straining to urinate and urinating more often than usual.
Antibiotics
-
A dog diagnosed with cystitis will be treated with a two- to three-week course of antibiotics, most often penicillin.
Underlying Conditions
-
Treatment will also involve looking for any underlying conditions that may have caused the dog to develop cystitis. This is most likely if the dog has several bouts of cystitis.
Home Care
-
If your dog has cystitis, make sure he has constant access to fresh, clean water. Also give him frequent opportunities to urinate.
-