Urinary Tract Problems

UTIs become evident through symptoms such as frequent urination, breaking housetraining, blood in the urine, dribbling urine, crying out while urinating, straining to urinate or frequently and obsessively licking the genital area.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, take him to your vet. Your vet will conduct a urine sample to determine the type of infection and prescribe the proper antibiotic treatment.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are fairly common in dogs. Dogs with UTIs generally attempt to urinate very frequently whenever they go outside. They also may strain to urinate, or cry out or whine when urinating if it is painful. Sometimes you might even see blood in their urine. Dripping urine, or frequent licking of the genitals, may also signal that a UTI is present. Urine that has a very strong odour to it can also be a sign that your dog has an infection.

Generally, a UTI occurs when bacteria travel up the urethra and into the bladder. Urine in the bladder is supposed to be sterile, but once bacteria find their way there, they can grow and reproduce, causing a UTI. Additionally, some dogs will develop bladder stones in conjunction with their UTI, which opens the door for additional health issues.

A dog’s urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. These anatomical parts of the urinary tract are located inside the abdomen as well as in an area in the back of the abdomen called the retroperitoneal space.