Canine Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms - How to Look For the Signs of Infection

Canine urinary tract infection symptoms can be confusing, particularly since it is hard to make a certain diagnosis from symptoms alone.

Many of the signs that you see in your dog will not immediately cause you to think he or she has any type of canine urinary infection. Other signs, such as incontinence (leaking, control, urination in the house, weak urine stream), may not seem important, but can be. This article takes a look at some of the more common canine urinary infection symptoms and what they can mean to you and your pet.

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Urinary infection symptoms can vary. By that, we mean that not every sick dog will have every symptom. In fact your dog can have an infection without showing any symptoms. Some of the most common signs that you will see when a problem is forming include:

Blood in dog urine Frequent voiding Loss of control in voiding Bad odor to urine Painful urination or straining Incontinence or urine leakage

There may be other causes for canine urinary tract infection symptoms, but only your vet can determine what is really happening. Other causes for the above might include decreased levels of estrogen after spaying or decreased levels of testosterone after neutering. The reduction in hormone levels can lead to incontinence. Blood in urine can be a sign of injury. Pain or straining may be a sign of dog bladder stones.

Diagnosis of Canine Urinary Infections

Some very simple tests can determine if your dog has any of the many types of canine urinary infections. Once the particular bug has been identified, a course of antibiotics is often administered for up to 14 days. Be sure that oral medications are taken for the full course to make sure that the infection is completely gone. Your veterinarian will retest your dog 7 days after treatment to ensure the infection is gone.

It should be remembered that once a dog has canine urinary infections it may have them again in the future. There is some suggestion that once these particular problems begin, they can often become chronic. For this reason, once your pet exhibits the canine urinary tract infection symptoms and has been treated, you should make it point to be on the lookout for future episodes of the same problem.

Prevention of Canine Urinary Infections

You can help to prevent future canine urinary tract infection symptoms through some simple changes to your dog's routine. Try natural approaches such as providing your dog a berry based juice in the morning such as cranberry juice. If your dog will tolerate the flavor, the berries have a substance that prevents bacteria from clinging to the bladder.

You can also take your dog out for 1 to 2 more walks a day. Your dog will urinate more outside. The more often the bladder is drained, the lower the likelihood of infection.

There are also homeopathic remedies available which can help the canine urinary system. Many herbal products are thought to support the urinary system. Products made for dogs might help with the composition of the urine and the overall function of the urinary system.

Canine Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms - How to Look For the Signs of Infection

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Dog Health Handbook and has written on many common dog health conditions. See this site for more information on natural canine urinary tract infection treatment options.

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