Canine Symptoms
UTI’s: Canine Symptoms
Perhaps one of the conditions most understood by dog owners are UTIs; canine symptoms can often be mistaken for housetraining issues. This misinterpretation of the symptoms can create heartache for both the owner and the pet.
Untimely urinating can signal a number of issues with a dog. Excitement or fear can instigate an inappropriate release of urine in some dogs, especially those who are overly dependent upon or continually punished by their masters. Separation anxiety may create wetting episodes, as the canine suffers from insecurity. In the case of puppies, even after housebreaking is seemingly over, there may be times when the animal makes mistakes. When there appears to be no reasonable explanation for the dog urinating at unlikely times or in undesirable areas such as the house and the onset of symptoms begins suddenly, the issue very well may be canine symptoms of a UTI.
UTI, or urinary tract infection, is a common affliction in dogs, with females being slightly more inclined to suffer from its symptoms than males. There can be several different variances of the UTI, including cystitis, urolithiasis and incontinence causing the majority of them. Classified as one of two types, the UTI can be either an upper or lower, depending on which area of the body is affected. Upper urinary tract infections affect the kidneys, while the lower represent an infection of the urethra and bladder. Increased thirst will often indicate the onset of an infection. Other symptoms generally include urinary accidents, bloody urine, the inability or difficulty in urinating and foul smelling urine among others. More serious symptoms will occur in advanced cases; dehydration, vomiting and weight loss. In mild cases, the dog may not exhibit symptoms; knowing your pet’s habits will help you to recognize the possibility of the disorder early. It is best to take note of any unusual or abnormal urinary habits of the dog; is he or she peeing on a more frequent basis? Perhaps the pet is not urinating as often as is normal; this could indicate painful urination which makes the dog try to hold it in rather than experience the stabbing pain.
Treatments for the infection can begin at home, especially when the case is mild. Just as it is for humans, cranberry juice helps to fight uterine tract infection by killing bacteria. Apple cider vinegar is another highly effective and popular treatment; used by either adding the vinegar to the dog’s daily food or in their drinking water in amounts of ½ teaspoon each time. Encouraging your pet to drink as much water as possible is a great remedy for treating the UTI; fresh water flushes the kidneys and the bladder, cleansing these organs from the bacteria that cause the infection. These initial home treatments are meant only to be temporary measures while waiting for a veterinary appointment; in any case when a urinary tract infection is suspected, the pet should see its vet as soon as possible.
Medications are most often the course of treatment prescribed by veterinarians. Antibiotics will be carefully chosen to ensure the dog will not suffer from an allergic reaction. Another drug therapy that may be prescribed is that of antimicrobial drugs. After a few weeks of treatment, most canine symptoms should be mostly eliminated. It is extremely important to continue follow up care with the pet’s veterinarian to ensure full recovery has been attained; many owners make the mistake of thinking that the infection is gone when the symptoms are gone.
Understanding and recognizing the symptoms of a UTI in your dog can help you to identify the condition early; saving your pet from suffering unduly from the discomfort that they cause.