Urinary tract infections are common in dogs. There are signs and symptoms to detect this problem, but on average these do not show up right away. Most of the time, a urinary tract infection is manageable when caught in the early stages.
-
Urinary Tract Infections
-
A urinary tract infection is the same as humans get. With dogs there are two types: upper and lower. About 14 percent of dogs will suffer from a urinary tract infection once in their life. Females are more likely to have this problem than males.
Causes
-
Urinary tract infections are caused when bacteria overcomes the immune system. The bacteria enter your dog's body by ingestion and are transmitted through the blood. This may be caused by an unclean food or water supply. The process then causes traces of bacteria to enter your dog's bladder. If not flushed out immediately, a UTI develops.
Signs and Symptoms
-
Upper UTIs affect the kidney function, which is why its symptoms differ from lower UTIs. The main symptoms to look for in your dog are weight loss and vomiting. Anorexia is another. If vomiting continues, you need to contact your vet--something else might be going on.
Severity
-
If a trip to the vet is in order, take a sample of your dog's urine so the veterinarian can check the severity of the UTI. You can also check your dog's urine when you take him for a walk--if it has a foul odor or there is blood in it, take your dog to the vet right away.
Treatment
-
When diagnosing a urinary tract infection, the veterinarian will feel his bladder and may also do a rectal exam to feel the urethra. The vet will put him on antibiotics that should take care of the infection. If this does not eliminate the infection, contact the veterinarian.
-