Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common ailment in dogs, often causing discomfort and disruption to their daily routines. However, these infections can also lead to serious complications if left untreated. Understanding the potential complications of UTIs is crucial for ensuring your canine companion’s health and well-being.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in dogs can be more than just a discomfort; they may lead to complications affecting your furry friend’s overall health.
Complications Of Urinary Tract Infection In Dogs can be just as serious. If your dog develops a urinary tract infection and is not treated, it can lead to very dire consequences for your pet.
In this article, we delve into the complexities of UTI complications, shedding light on symptoms, preventive measures, and solutions for a healthy urinary system.
Renal Failure
- The first of complications of urinary tract infection in dog is renal failure.
- A normal dog’s body will produce and release urine in the amount of 2 mL per kilogram per hour.
- However, if your dog develops a severe urinary tract infection (UTI) its kidney process is can become abnormal.
- Allow this to continue for some time and your dog can suffer renal failure.
Kidney Removal
- In its advanced stages, a UTI may reach a point where the dog’s kidney has be removed it entirely.
- This is done to prevent further damage to the dog but is a very alarming complication of a dog urinary tract infection.
- We humans may be able to have a kidney transplant but it is much more difficult to arrange one of these for your dog and it would be terribly expensive.
Kidney Or Bladder Stones
In some cases a UTI is just the first phase in a more complicated issue such as kidney stones. There are several ways that your veterinarian can remove these stones, although in the most advanced cases, surgery is the only answer. And, again, this can be very expensive and hard on your dog.
A Weakened Immune System
Another complication of a dog urinary tract infection is the fact that it can weaken your dog’s immune system.
The fact that your dog has Urinary Tract Infection indicates that many of its anti-bodies have already been defeated by the bacteria. If your dog’s immune system cannot recover from this, there is a high probability that it will develop some other diseases.
Recognizing Signs of UTI Complications
While UTIs often present with common symptoms like frequent urination, blood in the urine, and straining to urinate, certain signs may indicate complications:
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Fever: A sudden increase in body temperature, often accompanied by lethargy and loss of appetite, suggests a more severe infection.
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Vomiting: Vomiting, especially when accompanied by other UTI symptoms, could indicate a kidney infection or urosepsis.
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Abdominal pain: Pain in the abdomen, especially in the area around the bladder, could indicate inflammation or infection spread beyond the urinary tract.
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Change in urine color or odor: Dark, cloudy, or strong-smelling urine may indicate a concentrated infection or kidney involvement.
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Decreased urine output: A sudden decrease in urine output, despite adequate water intake, could indicate kidney dysfunction.
- Straining or Difficulty Urinating: Physical signs, such as straining or visible difficulty during urination, demand immediate attention. Any alterations in the frequency or manner of urination should be monitored closely.
How to know if your dog has a urinary tract infection
You can keep your dog from developing any dog urinary tract infection complications by simply making sure that it is promptly treated for its Urinary Tract Infection In Dogs .
The minute you begin to see the symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection In Dogs , you will need to get your dog to your veterinarian. The reason for this is because only your vet can accurately diagnose a urinary tract infection. To do this, he or she will insert a needle through your dogs, all in into its bladder to draw a urine sample. He or she will then examine the year and to see if it contains white blood cells or bacteria. If either of these are found, your vet will want to culture the urine to determine what kind of bacteria has invaded your dog and the best antibacterial medicine to use to cure it.
This process will take several days because it normally takes at least one day to grow the bacteria in the culture and then another one or two days to identify the bacteria if there is bacterial growth.
Treating Of Urinary Tract Infection In Dogs
Once your vet has determined what kind of bacteria has caused your dog’s infection, he or she will prescribe an antibacterial medication. You will be given instructions as to how to give this medicine to your dog — probably over a period of several weeks. It is important that you follow the instructions exactly as given because if you skip one or two treatments or fail to complete the treatment entirely, your dog will most likely have a relapse and develop yet a new urinary tract infection.
As you have seen the complications of urinary tract infection in dogs can be severe. However, your dog does not need to suffer from these as diagnosing and treating a urinary tract infection is relatively simple.