Urinary tract infections in female dogs often cause symptoms associated with frequent urination, uncontrollable urination and increased water consumption. In some cases, symptoms may not appear at all, and veterinarians recommend a yearly urinary screening for all female dogs to ensure that they are not currently carrying a silent urinary tract infection.
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Identification
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Urinary tract infections in female dogs occur when bacteria, or in rare cases fungal agents, travel up the urethra and into the bladder where they flourish and grow. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, bacterial urinary tract infections is the most common disease in dogs and affects up to 14% of all dogs at some point in their lives. Urinary tract infections are more common in female dogs, as the distance from their urethra to their bladder is much shorter, and they may also expose their urethra to more bacteria when they squat close to the ground to urinate.
Symptoms
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Female dogs do not always show symptoms of a bladder infection, but when symptoms do appear, they usually include drinking more water and having to urinate more frequently. Accidents in the home may occur, and pet owners may notice that the urine is a brown or red color and/or be especially foul-smelling. In some cases, the dog may seem incontinent, and small urine spots may appear on the floor where the dog was walking or lying down.
Considerations
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Symptoms of bladder infections in female dogs can mimic many other types of conditions such as bladder stones or bladder cancer. Pet owners who notice symptoms of a bladder infection in their dog need to see a veterinarian as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis. Based on the pet's history, the veterinarian will perform a urinalysis and possibly additional tests such as X-ray or blood tests to rule out any additional causes of the symptoms.
Repeated Symtpoms
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If symptoms of bladder infections continually recur after treatment (generally a course of antibiotics), then either the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to the bacteria or a more serious illness could be affecting your pet. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney failure and Cushing's syndrome may all predispose a dog towards frequent urinary tract infections. If you notice that your dog's symptoms are not improving with treatment, or that they quickly come back once the treatment is completed, contact your veterinarian at once.
Warning
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Any type of color change in your dog's urine (i.e. brown- or red-colored urine) warrants an immediate visit to the veterinarian. Red or bloody urine may be a symptom of a particularly severe bladder infection, bladder tumor or even a reaction to a toxic poison or substance your pet has ingested. If you notice any additional symptoms that occur along with bladder infection symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or fever, take your dog to a veterinarian immediately.
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