Blog Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs
Urinary Tract Infection, commonly known as a UTI, is a prevalent problem among dogs of all genders and ages.
What is a UTI?
A Urinary Tract Infection is an infection in the urethra caused by bacteria. The UTI happens when the bacteria enters the body through the urethra opening. If your pup has a UTI you should make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible as they can progress into a more serious illness like stones and crystals in the bladder, bacterial infections and bladder infections.
What symptoms should I be looking for?
- Hard Time Urinating
- Frequent Urination/Infrequent Urination
- Housebreaking Problems
- Bloody Urine
- Cloudy Urine
- Bad Smelling Urine
- Change in water or food consumption
- Overindulged licking of urinary opening
- Excessive Grooming
- Lethargic/Fatigue
If your dog has any of the above symptoms seek attention from your vet right away. A UTI can be easily treated so it’s imperative to seek veterinary attention.
Treating a UTI
The primary treatment for a UTI is antibiotics. The trick with the antibiotics is to make sure that you use the antibiotics to completion and do not discontinue administering them once the symptoms have dissipated.
Your pet’s diet is also a very important asset when it comes to your dog’s health and can also help shorten the lifespan of the UTI. A proper diet can also help with the prevention of the illness returning. Come things to consider include:
- Use wet food. Wet food has a higher water content, which helps with increasing your dog’s water consumption. The increase in water consumption will dilute the urine, flushing out their system to keep them healthy.
- Always allow access to fresh, clean water for your dog.
- Research the dog food! This is a crucial step in the lifelong health of your dog. Giving your dog food without the unnecessary additives will help keep their immune system strong. Unnecessary Additives to be avoided include but are not limited to include: corn/corn syrup, BHT/BHA, and propylene glycol.
- If you constantly have your dogs bowl out for eating, as they please, make sure the bowls are constantly cleaned including any leftover food that may be at the bottom of the bowl. Leftover food can allow for your dog to consume unwanted bacteria.
UTI’s have the tendency to be a recurring illness in some dogs making it very critical to maintain a healthy diet. There’s a numerous amount of dog food brands that promote good urinary tract health. Just make sure it doesn’t have any of the unnecessary additives previously discussed.
Sources: http://www.petcarerx.com/article/food-to-treat-cat-and-dog-urinary-tract-infections/815
http://theilovedogssite.com/5-ingredients-you-never-want-to-find-in-your-dogs-food/