What is a dog urinary tract infection? What are the symptoms? How can it be treated?
Dogs, like people, can also get sick from bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, a type of bacterial cystitis, a common infectious disease in dogs that affects dogs a lot. So how does this disease get infected, and what should dogs pay attention to?
What can cause urinary tract infections in dogs?
The main causes of UTIs in dogs are bacteria, fungi or parasites in the urethra (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra). Bacteria enter your dog's body through the entrance of their urethra. When dog feces or other body digestion comes into contact with the area, they can become infected. Urine in a dog's bladder should itself be sterile, but if bacteria get into your dog's bladder, they can continue to grow and replicate, causing a urinary tract infection. Among them, Escherichia coli and Proteus are the most common urinary tract infections.
In addition, dogs with more skin folds or excess weight are more likely than other dogs to contract uroviruses.
At the age level, dogs over the age of 7 also have an increased risk of developing the disease.
What are the symptoms of a UTI in dogs?
A very common sign of a UTI in dogs is that they urinate more frequently. You will find that the dog will make more frequent peeing movements. If the dog is a bitch, they may crouch as frequently as a male dog lifts his leg to make a mark.
In addition to symptoms of frequent urination, dogs may also have some signs of a urinary tract infection:
The dog's urine will be bloody or cloudy.
The dog will urinate poorly, whimper or whimper, and appear more distressed.
Dogs often lick the urethra;
If such symptoms appear, it means that the dog is not in the right state, and of course it may be a urinary tract infection, but other problems cannot be ruled out; if we notice a change in the dog's behavior, or the dog is showing signs of distress, we recommend that he first Go to the veterinarian. The reason why it is recommended to take your dog for a routine check-up is because the symptoms of a dog's urinary tract infection sometimes do not appear particularly obvious.
How can dogs prevent urinary tract infections?
There is no foolproof way to prevent disease, but if we make some improvements ahead of time, we can help dogs lead healthier lifestyles.
Minimize bacterial growth. Clean your dog's water bowl regularly, especially if you see your dog drooling in the bowl or food floating in the water, help the dog to empty it, clean the water bowl, and give the dog fresh water to drink.
Don't let the dog hold the urine for a long time. Give your dog enough time to relax his bladder.
Keep your dog clean and tidy. If your dog has long hair, trim it regularly. If your dog is dirty, give it a bath to clean it up, or wipe it with a damp towel to get rid of germs.
Provide your dog with a healthy diet. If possible, consider improving your dog's diet to promote urinary health. Prescription treatments are also available for dogs with bladder problems. Meanwhile, some dogs may take supplements, such as glucosamine. With these dietary adjustments or supplements, a protective mucus layer will form on the dog's bladder wall to prevent the entry of bacteria. Of course, if you want to change your dog's eating habits, it's best to talk to your dog's veterinarian first to see if this is recommended.
What is the treatment for a urinary tract infection?
If a dog is diagnosed with a UTI, some doctors will treat the dog with antibiotics.
In addition to this treatment, we can treat your dog for UTIs at home with your doctor's permission.
Add 1 teaspoon (small dogs) or 1-2 tablespoons (large dogs) of apple cider vinegar to your dog's water bowl. Repeat twice daily for 7 to 10 days, depending on the severity of the urinary tract infection. If some dogs don't like the taste of apple cider vinegar, you can switch to water without apple cider vinegar later.
Let the dog soak in hot water for ten minutes (not too hot and not too deep) to help the dog relax the muscles. Then wash the dog with mild soap, pay attention to the dog's genital area, do not rub the soap on the area for too long, and be sure to rinse the area with clean warm water. Do this every few days until the infection goes away.
Let the dog drink more water, so that you can put more pots in the room. Change the water once or twice a day to make sure the water is clean and fresh.
Crush a 500 mg vitamin C tablet and mix it into your dog's dog food once a day for seven days.
Give your dog 1-3 tablespoons of pure citrus juice, unsweetened, which can aggravate your dog's symptoms of infection.
Add about two teaspoons of chopped blueberries or cranberries to your dog's food twice a day for seven to ten days.
Dogs are also able to recover more quickly from UTIs when these treatments are performed at home under the direction of a doctor.
Has your dog ever had a urinary tract infection? How did you deal with it?