How to Detect UTI’s in Dogs

Do you know how to detect UTI’s in dogs? UTI’s (Urinary Tract Infections) can become serious and cause further damage or death if not treated quickly.

If your dog has trouble in peeing, or it pees too much and the urine sometimes includes blood, then your dog might have a UTI. The urinary tract is a vital importance to your dog’s health and if it is infected, the infection might go up to the bladder and all the way to the kidneys, causing damage to either one of them. Therefore, UTI in a dog should be treated as early as possible to avoid these results.

How to Detect UTI’s in Dogs

The most common symptoms of your dog having a UTI are the following:

• Problem or strain in urinating
• Crying/whining during urinating (might be caused by strain or pain)
• Urinating frequently
• Urinating blood
• A strong odor comes from the urine
• Lethargy or dizziness
• Fever
• Does not want to drink or eat
• Urinating in odd places

UTI may also be related to certain dog conditions like kidney and bladder stones, and for male dogs, a swollen prostate. If your dog has the symptoms above, it is wise to get him to the vet as quickly as possible and have tests like urinalysis run. Along with the symptoms above, “urinating in odd places” actually includes your dog unusually peeing indoors or more frequently. So if your dog does this then it’s a highly positive sign of urinary tract infection.

As of now, there is no known home treatment or remedy for UTI. And therefore, people who like to self-medicate their dogs will only prolong the infection and might even lead to kidney stones/failure and other related diseases. One good example of this is that some owners give their dogs that have UTI cranberry juice because they believe that this can treat them. But it is generally not recommended and can only lead to other stomach discomforts like diarrhea. Only Antibiotics are proven to treat UTI, which are commonly taken by dogs for around 10-14 days. Some vets can also prescribe other drugs that can reduce the pain such as anti-inflammatory medicine.

Vets examine and diagnose a dog’s UTI through urinalysis by checking on its urine, which should have a cloudy appearance if it is positive for infection. Some bacteria and other signs of infection may also be discovered.

If you want your dog examined for urinalysis, then here is what you need to do: take a sample of your dog’s urine and store it in a closed container. A disposable pie plate can be used to collect the urine. The plate must be clean and the sample should be taken no more than a few hours before going to the vet. You can also double up the container to avoid any spills. You also have to keep it cool while waiting for the appointment by placing it in a refrigerator, cooler, or anything that is cold or has ice on it, to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria in the urine. It should not be more than 6 hours before going to the vet.

Follow the vet’s prescribed treatment to the letter so your dog will heal quickly.