Dogs are susceptible to a few human diseases. Among them, there is urinary tract infection in dogs. This type of infection is quite common even among vets. In this article, we’ll discuss the symptoms of healthy dogs that can indicate the possibility of bacteria growth in their urine and also in kidneys:
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a type of bacterial infection that affects the whole urinary system, including your pet’s kidneys, bladder, urethra and even their genital areas. Learn about different types of UTIs that your dog may have and their symptoms.
The most common type of infection your dog can develop is a urinary tract infection. This is because the lower part of their body is close to the ground, which means they’re more likely to pick up bacteria from outside. They can also get it from their furry friends if they spend time together on walks.
If you notice any of these signs in your dog, it is important to get them checked out by a vet as soon as possible:
- Difficulty peeing or straining when they go to the bathroom
- Blood in their urine (it may be bright red or dark brown)
- A strong odor coming from their urine (this will be different than what it normally smells like)
Urinary tract infections are common in dogs. They can be painful and uncomfortable for your dog, and they can also be dangerous if left untreated. To help you recognize the symptoms of a urinary tract infection in your dog, we’ve put together this guide on how to spot them.
The two most common types of UTIs in dogs are bladder infections and kidney infections. Signs of a UTI include frequent urination, straining to urinate, licking at the genitals or rear end, blood in the urine, weakness and lethargy, vomiting or diarrhea (depending on which organ is affected), pain during urination (bladder infection), or pain when touched in the abdomen area (kidney infection).
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, bring him to the vet right away. Your vet will perform tests on his urine sample to determine what kind of infection he has and how best to treat it.
Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infection In A Dog
Most of us are familiar with UTIs in humans, which (like dogs) are much more common in females. But do you know the often subtle symptoms of urinary tract infection in dogs? And why UTIs are often a “hidden” condition?
Let’s take a look at this often sneaky yet very common medical condition, so that you can be armed with the information you need to help your dog.
Additionally, I’ll introduce you to three of my veterinary patients. Each dear dog’s story illustrates the gamut of ways canine urinary tract infections can present.
What is a UTI in dogs?
The letters “UTI” in “UTI in dogs” stand for “urinary tract infection.” Your dog’s urinary tract consists of four components, two of which—the kidneys and the bladder— more commonly become infected.
A bladder infection is called “cystitis” and a kidney infection is called “pyelonephritis.” But often they get lumped together under the term “UTI.”
First, let’s get an overview of the urinary system so you can picture how all the parts fit together. The paired kidneys continuously filter your dog’s blood to produce urine. (As a fun fact, the kidneys receive approximately 20% of the blood in the body with each heartbeat!). This urine constantly drips down a narrow tube called a ureter, which is attached at one end to the kidney.
The other end of the ureter attaches to the bladder. As the ureter dumps urine into the bladder, the bladder begins to fill up and stretch, much like a balloon. The bladder stores the urine until your dog urinates. At that time, the urine exits the bladder via the urethra (another tube) and is deposited on the ground.
That is the urinary tract in a nutshell. Regardless of how familiar with urinary tract anatomy you were prior to reading this, you probably already have some idea of what a urinary tract infection is like (in humans at least).
But did you know that urinary tract infections in dogs can be occult? Not “occult” as in wizardry or voodoo. “Occult” disease in medicine means that the condition occurs without obvious signs or symptoms. I suspect that there are many dogs, especially females, running around the world with undiagnosed UTIs.
How do dogs get urinary tract infections?
To understand why UTIs often go undiagnosed, let’s look at what causes UTIs in dogs. Here are five factors that play into a dog’s risk for getting a UTI.
1. Feces is full of bacteria, which can cause a UTI.
First, fecal contamination is one of the major culprits behind UTIs in dogs. Here’s why: A dog’s feces (poop) is full of bacteria. For example, E. coli is one of the more common bacteria that veterinarians see causing UTIs. And, you guessed it, E. coli is found in poop.
PRO TIP: If your dog has any sort of issue urinating or defecating in a tidy manner, I’m an advocate for using unscented, sensitive skin baby wipes to help keep your dog “wiped” clean.
2. If a dog isn’t urinating frequently/properly, it’s less likely that the bacteria are getting flushed out.
Next, if a dog urinates infrequently and/or doesn’t empty the bladder fully, he or she is at a greater risk of getting a UTI. This is the case for two reasons.
First, a good flow of urine pushes out the bacteria that might have started to ascend up the urethra to the bladder.
Think about the bacteria like little mountain climbers. If every time they start to climb up the mountain (ie. urethra) an avalanche (i.e. the flow of urine) comes along and forces them down to the base of the mountain, they will never summit the mountain (i.e. reach the bladder where they can set up infection). But if the avalanches (i.e. urination) are infrequent, the bacteria may have time to get to the bladder.
Second, the longer the urine sits in the bladder, the more time the bacteria have to “set up shop” and multiply in the bladder.
If the dog urinates frequently and effectively empties the bladder, the bacteria that make it to the bladder get deposited on the ground fairly soon after arriving to the bladder. That doesn’t leave as many (or hopefully any) bacteria in the bladder. However, infrequent urination gives the bacteria lots of time to multiply.
Also sometimes a dog is unable to sufficiently empty the bladder due to conditions such as IVDD in dogs, a spinal stroke in dogs, or other neurologic or orthopedic problems. The residual urine in the bladder can act as a “storehouse” for the bacteria. Since more urine, and therefore potentially more bacteria is left behind, this makes a UTI more likely.
3. Some medical conditions may predispose dogs to UTIs.
In addition to the conditions listed above that lead to urine retention, other diseases or anatomical abnormalities also can interfere with the normal defenses of the urinary tract system. This may happen when the condition changes the composition of the urine, damages the urinary tract, alters its function, or suppresses the immune system. As a result, UTIs are more common in dogs with the following conditions:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Cushing’s disease in dogs
- Kidney failure
- Urinary stones
- Recent indwelling urinary catheter placement
- Urinary incontinence in dogs
- Ectopic ureters (ureters that don’t insert into the correct location on the bladder)
- Recessed or hooded vulva (i.e. excessive skin folds around the vulva that trap moisture and bacteria)
- Cancer somewhere in the urinary tract
4. Some medications can predispose a dog to getting a UTI.
Sometimes a dog will be taking a medication that suppresses the immune system. When the immune system isn’t up to par, foreign invaders (i.e. bacteria) can more easily set up shop in the bladder or kidneys. If a dog is taking prednisone for dogs or other immunosuppressive medications, he or she may be more likely to develop a UTI.
5. A female dog’s anatomy increases the chances of UTI.
The way the “plumbing” lays out on a female dog (i.e. the distance from the bladder to the external world and the location of the urethra opening) makes the chances for a UTI more likely. Quite simply, it is a matter of location, location, location.
Basically, the end of the urethra—which is the tube that runs from the bladder externally—ends in a completely different place than on a male dog.
If you think about the anatomy of a female and male dog, the male dog’s plumbing has a lot longer path to travel through the penis to end under the abdomen. That is a longer distance for bacteria to travel to reach the bladder and also further from the anus.
In the female, the vulva sits right under the anus, so we see more fecal contamination. This is especially true for senior dogs who may have more difficulty squatting to urinate (more difficulty posturing) and are prone to incontinence. Also, UTIs are more common in dogs who are overweight and have excess folds of skin around the vulva.
10 signs of UTI in dogs
Now that we’ve determined why dogs can get a UTI, let’s uncover the signs of urinary tract infections. The list below includes a wide range of symptoms that may be present when a dog has a urinary tract infection. As the UTI progresses, the signs generally move from hidden (subtle) to obvious.
Signs of UTIs in dogs may include:
- Licking of the external genitalia
- Dark staining around the vulva (females)
- Frequent urination
- Urinating just a few drops at a time
- Urine leaking
- Urinating in the house (i.e. having accidents)
- Blood in the urine
- Increased drinking
- Discharge from the vulva or prepuce (i.e. skin covering the penis)
- Straining to urinate (As a word of caution, if your dog is straining frequently and unable to urinate, contact your vet immediately. Sometimes dogs can have a bladder stone move into the urethra and cause a urinary obstruction. This is a medical emergency.)
These signs are classically associated with a UTI, although they may be associated with other medical conditions, too. I can’t stress enough the importance of consulting your vet when you first notice anything of concern.
Why do I stress the importance of early detection?
The story of Penny haunts me to this day. I’m sharing it with you, not to worry you, as I never want to cause anyone to worry. Instead, I hope to help spread awareness of the importance of knowing all the signs of a UTI so that we can best care for our dogs.