Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common health problem in dogs, causing discomfort and pain. As a dog owner, you want to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. While UTIs cannot always be prevented, there are steps you can take to reduce your dog’s risk of developing this painful condition.
Page Contents
- 1 What is a UTI?
- 2 Risk Factors for UTIs
- 3 Prevention Tips
- 3.1 Keep Your Dog at a Healthy Weight
- 3.2 Feed Your Dog a High Quality Diet
- 3.3 Give Your Dog Plenty of Fresh Water
- 3.4 Urinate on a Schedule
- 3.5 Avoid Holding Urine
- 3.6 Practice Proper Hygiene
- 3.7 Avoid Constipation
- 3.8 Discourage Genital Licking
- 3.9 Avoid Irritants in the Environment
- 3.10 Use Urinary Health Supplements
- 3.11 Consider Prescription Food
- 4 When to Call the Vet
- 5 Home Remedies
- 6 When to See a Specialist
- 7 Preventing Recurrences
- 8 When to Consider Surgery
- 9 Conclusion
What is a UTI?
A urinary tract infection is an infection anywhere along the urinary tract, including the bladder and urethra. It is often caused by bacteria, most commonly E. coli, that enters the urethra and travels up into the bladder. UTIs can occur in both male and female dogs, but females are more prone to getting them due to having a shorter urethra.
Some common signs your dog may have a UTI include:
- Frequent urination
- Straining or pain when urinating
- Small amounts of urine
- Urinating in unusual places
- Blood in the urine
- Crying out while urinating
- Excessive licking of the genital area
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to take your dog to the vet. Left untreated, a UTI can spread to the kidneys and cause more serious health problems. UTIs are easily treatable with antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian.
Risk Factors for UTIs
Certain dogs are at increased risk of developing a urinary tract infection. Understanding these risk factors can help you take steps to prevent UTIs in your furry friend.
Risk factors include:
- Female anatomy – The shorter urethra of female dogs makes it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder.
- Age – Older dogs tend to have weaker bladder muscles and sphincters, increasing UTI risk.
- Obesity – Excess weight puts pressure on the bladder.
- Underlying conditions – Diseases like diabetes or kidney disease make dogs more prone to UTIs.
- Urinary stones – Stones in the urinary tract can block urine flow and harbor bacteria.
- Anatomical abnormalities – Dogs with abnormal urinary tracts have a harder time emptying the bladder fully.
- Catheterization – Catheters provide a direct pathway for bacteria to enter the urinary tract.
- Weakened immune system – Dogs with compromised immune systems are less able to fight off infection.
Prevention Tips
While you can’t eliminate your dog’s UTI risk completely, the following tips can help reduce the chances of your pup developing this painful infection:
Keep Your Dog at a Healthy Weight
Obesity puts pressure on the bladder and urinary tract, making it harder for your dog to fully empty their bladder. This increases the risk of bacteria multiplying and causing an infection. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight takes this pressure off the urinary tract.
Work with your veterinarian to determine your dog’s ideal weight. Provide measured portions of quality dog food and avoid unhealthy treats and table scraps. Make sure your dog gets adequate exercise for their age and breed.
Feed Your Dog a High Quality Diet
Some research indicates that dry, highly processed dog foods may increase UTI risk. Look for a high quality diet made with real, whole food ingredients. Canned food with a high water content may be beneficial as the extra fluids help dilute urine and prevent bacterial growth.
Ask your vet for diet recommendations based on your dog’s age, activity level, and health status. Avoid sudden food changes, which can upset your dog’s stomach.
Give Your Dog Plenty of Fresh Water
Make sure clean, fresh water is available at all times. Increased water intake dilutes urine, making the urinary tract environment less hospitable to bacteria. Place water bowls around your home and change the water daily.
Consider getting a pet water fountain to encourage drinking. The moving water appeals to many dogs. Give your dog frequent potty breaks to allow for frequent urination to flush bacteria out.
Urinate on a Schedule
Establishing a consistent urination schedule can help prevent UTIs. Take your dog out first thing in the morning, before bedtime, and every 4-6 hours in between. This helps empty the bladder regularly before bacteria levels get too high.
Watch for signs your dog needs to urinate more frequently, like whining, pacing, or squatting. When in doubt, take them outside.
Avoid Holding Urine
Don’t make your dog “hold it” for long periods. Urine held in the bladder gives bacteria time to multiply to problematic levels. If your schedule won’t allow regular potty breaks, consider hiring a dog walker midday.
Crating a puppy or dog for too long can also force them to hold urine. Make sure they get adequate outside breaks when crated during the day or overnight.
Practice Proper Hygiene
Regularly clean your dog’s food and water bowls with soap and hot water to avoid contamination. Keep their bedding clean and wash any toys that go in their mouth.
Groom your dog regularly to keep the genital and urinary tract areas clean. Express impacted or infected anal glands, which can harbor bacteria.
After urination or defecation, gently wipe your female dog’s vulva with a damp cloth. This removes bacteria so it doesn’t get introduced into the urethra.
Avoid Constipation
Constipation allows bacteria to grow in stool backed up in the colon. Ensure your dog has enough fiber in their diet and stays hydrated to maintain regular bowel movements.
Look for signs of constipation like straining, hard stools, or infrequent defecation. Check with your vet if these symptoms persist.
Discourage Genital Licking
Dogs may lick their genital area more when suffering from a UTI. But excessive licking can also introduce bacteria. Place an Elizabethan collar on lickers and distract with toys or treats.
Identify and address any skin irritation that prompts licking. Keep hair around the vulva clipped short in longhaired dogs.
Avoid Irritants in the Environment
Chemicals, soaps, and disinfectants can irritate the urinary tract. Switch to pet-safe cleaners or dilute concentrates. Rinse off your dog after baths to prevent residue buildup.
Lawn chemicals like fertilizers and herbicides can also irritate. Avoid treating lawns with chemicals, or keep dogs off treated areas until they have time to dry.
Use Urinary Health Supplements
There are several nutritional supplements and vitamins available to support urinary tract health in dogs. These may include cranberry, probiotics, vitamin C, and more. Check with your vet before starting any new supplement.
Consider Prescription Food
If your dog has recurrent UTIs, your vet may recommend a therapeutic prescription urinary food. These contain nutrients to make urine acidic, which inhibits bacterial growth. They also utilize ingredients to boost urinary tract health.
When to Call the Vet
Contact your vet right away if your dog shows any signs of a possible UTI, including:
- Straining or crying when urinating
- Frequent urination with little output
- Blood in the urine
- Strong urine odor
- Leaking urine
- Licking around the urinary opening
Quick veterinary treatment is important to relieve discomfort and prevent the infection from worsening. Your vet can check for signs of a UTI and may collect a urine sample for analysis and culture to identify the bacteria involved.
Based on test results, your vet will prescribe appropriate antibiotics to treat the infection. Be sure to give all medication as directed, even if symptoms improve.
In recurrent cases, your vet may recommend further testing like x-rays or ultrasound to check for complicating factors like bladder stones, anatomical abnormalities, or prostate disease.
With prompt treatment and attention to prevention, most dogs recover quickly from UTIs with no lasting effects. But some dogs may require long-term management if they are prone to frequent infections.
Home Remedies
In addition to conventional treatment and prevention, some natural remedies may help support urinary tract health and decrease UTI recurrence. However, always check with your vet before giving your dog any home treatments.
Cranberry
Cranberry contains proanthocyanidins that may help keep bacteria from adhering to the lining of the bladder. Give your dog cranberry concentrate or cranberry extract tablets. Avoid giving cranberry juice, which has high sugar content.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C makes urine more acidic, which discourages bacterial growth. Give only the small dose recommended by your vet, as excess vitamin C can cause bladder stones.
Probiotics
Probiotic supplements contain beneficial bacteria that compete with harmful bacteria in the urinary tract. They may help prevent and treat UTIs. Choose a high-quality dog probiotic.
D-Mannose
The sugar mannose can help prevent bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract lining. Give your vet’s recommended dosage of D-mannose powder mixed into your dog’s food or water.
Herbs
Some herbal supplements may assist urinary tract health, such as marshmallow root, goldenseal, Oregon grape root, and uva ursi. Consult a holistic vet on proper usage of urinary herbs for dogs.
When to See a Specialist
Your primary vet can treat most routine UTIs in dogs. But in some cases, they may recommend referring you to a veterinary specialist for advanced care:
- Recurrent infections – Dogs who get UTIs repeatedly may need further diagnosis and treatment by a veterinary internal medicine specialist.
- Kidney infections – Bacterial infections that spread to the kidneys can be serious. A specialist handles complicated kidney infections.
- Bladder or kidney stones – Large stones may require surgical removal by a veterinary surgeon.
- Bladder cancer – Symptoms like recurrent UTIs and blood in the urine can indicate bladder cancer. Oncology specialists treat canine cancers.
- Prostate disease – Enlarged prostate, prostate infection, or prostate cancer can contribute to UTIs in males. Treatment is handled by a specialist.
Stay in close contact with your vet during and after your dog’s UTI treatment. Seek prompt referral if their condition doesn’t improve or their infections keep recurring.
Preventing Recurrences
Some dogs are simply prone to developing recurrent UTIs. After your dog finishes treatment for a UTI, take these steps to try and prevent repeat infections:
- Give all medications as directed, even if your dog seems better.
- Allow free access to fresh water and encourage increased drinking.
- Stick to a consistent urination schedule.
- Sanitize food and water bowls after each use.
- Continue any urinary health supplements recommended by your vet.
- Feed a prescription urinary diet if prescribed.
- Retest your dog’s urine as recommended by your vet to ensure the infection is resolved.
- Follow up with all recheck appointments as scheduled.
Even with vigilance, some dogs may need periodic urinary tract antibiotics or continuous supplements to prevent recurrent UTIs. Work closely with your vet to find the most effective regimen for your pup.
When to Consider Surgery
Most UTIs can be managed with antibiotics, increased fluids, and urinary supplements. But in some cases, surgery may be recommended to prevent recurrent infections:
- Bladder stones – Bladder stones usually require surgical removal, as they provide hiding places for bacteria.
- Blocked urethras – Some male dogs prone to UTIs may benefit from surgery to remove urethral blockages.
- Ectopic ureters – Dogs born with abnormally located ureters may need surgical correction.
- Prolapsed bladder – Bladder prolapse alters anatomy, allowing bacterial contamination. Surgery repairs the prolapse.
- Narrow urethras – Some female dogs have congenitally narrow urethras that impede urination. Surgery opens up the urethral canal.
Surgical options carry risks, so they are typically reserved for cases where UTIs persist despite all other treatment. Your vet may recommend consulting a veterinary surgeon if they feel surgery could help prevent recurrent infections in your dog.
Conclusion
While UTIs are a relatively common issue for dogs, there are many steps you can take to try and reduce your dog’s risk. Maintain their general health, encourage good urinary habits, follow veterinary treatment recommendations, and look for signs of trouble early. Addressing recurrent infections also includes an investigative partnership with your vet to identify and manage any underlying contributors.
While frustrating, many dogs prone to repeated UTIs can live happily with some minor adjustments and vigilance on the part of their devoted pet parents. Your attentive care helps keep your pup comfortable and improves their quality of life.