What Causes UTIs in Dogs

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common health issue in dogs that can cause discomfort and lead to more serious conditions if left untreated. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and prevention methods is essential for keeping your dog healthy.

This guide covers everything you need to know about UTIs in dogs, including the factors that lead to these infections and how to treat and prevent them.

What is a UTI in Dogs?

UTI are urinary tract infections in dogs (including kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra) by bacteria, fungi, or parasites, with bacterial infections being the most common, such as Escherichia coli and Aspergillus. While UTIs can affect any dog, older dogs and female dogs are more prone to these infections.

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs

Symptoms of urinary tract infections in dogs include the following:

1. Abnormal urination

    - Frequent urination: the dog will urinate more frequently than usual.
    - Urgency of urination: the dog may suddenly show a strong urge to urinate, even too late to get to the designated place to urinate.
    - Painful urination: the dog may show pain when urinating, such as whimpering and wailing.
    - Difficulty in urination: The dog may show effort in urination, thinning or interruption of the urine stream.
    - Hematuria: Blood may be present in the urine, making it reddish or pinkish in color.
    - Cloudy urine: The urine may contain pus, mucus or detached urethral mucosa, making the urine cloudy.

2. Behavioral changes

    - Frequent licking of genitals: due to discomfort in the genital area, the dog will lick the area frequently.
    - Irritability: Physical discomfort can cause the dog to be irritable and difficult to calm down.
    - Loss of appetite: the disease may affect the dog's appetite and make him less interested in food.
    - Fever: In severe cases of infection, the dog may have an elevated body temperature.

3. Other symptoms 

    - Urinary incontinence: the dog may experience an inability to control urination, resulting in an involuntary flow of urine.
    - Urine Odor: The infection may cause a pungent odor to the urine.

Relatted: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Dogs

What Causes UTIs in Dogs?

The main causes of urinary tract infections in dogs include the following.

①Bacterial infection

Dogs have a short urethra, and external bacteria can easily travel up through the urethra into the bladder, kidneys and other parts of the body to trigger an infection. For example, if a dog comes into contact with unclean soil and water while playing outside, bacteria may attach around the genitals and trigger a urinary tract infection. Common causative bacteria include E. coli and Aspergillus.

②Weak immune system

When a dog is physically weak and has a lowered immune system, it has a weakened resistance to bacteria and is prone to illness. Therefore, older dogs, dogs with certain chronic diseases (such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, etc.) are more likely to suffer from urinary tract infections.

③Problems with the structure of the urethra

Some dogs may have structural problems such as urethral deformity, which leads to poor urine drainage and easy breeding of bacteria that can lead to infection.

④Stress reaction

When a dog is subjected to stressful situations such as shock, long-distance transportation, or environmental changes, the body's immune system may be affected, which can easily trigger urinary tract infections. In addition, female dogs have more secretions in the genital area during estrus, which can easily harbor bacteria and increase the risk of urinary tract infections; male dogs with prostate disease may also affect the urinary tract and trigger infections.

⑤Dietary problems

Dogs always eat snacks or leftovers, and food that is too heavy in salt and oil and too spicy can also cause urinary tract infections.

⑥Holding urine for too long

Dogs that hold their urine for more than 12 hours and on a regular basis can also cause urinary tract infections.

⑦Improper cleaning of private hygiene

Failure to clean the dog's private parts properly when the dog is bathed or cleaned daily can also lead to urinary tract infections in dogs.

⑧Spread of inflammation in neighboring organs

The spread of inflammation in neighboring organs such as endometritis and cystitis can lead to urinary tract infections.

⑨Traumatic factors

Physical injury resulting in fracture, fracture fragments stabbing the urethra, or due to serious injury caused by external forces, such as falls, fights, etc.; external foreign objects directly stabbing the urethra, or because of intubation injuries in surgery, due to tumors and other factors leading to urethral damage; female dogs if the vagina out of the vagina may also damage the urethra; urinary calculi, urinary crystals and other diseases can also damage the urethra.

How to Treat Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs?

Treatment for urinary tract infections in dogs includes the following:

• Use of antibiotics

Select the appropriate antibiotic according to the results of bacterial culture and drug sensitivity test, and strictly follow the course of medication, 14 days of antibiotic treatment is generally recommended.

• Urethral flushing

Use 1% - 2% alum solution, 0.02% furacilin solution, 2.5% boric acid solution, 0.1% raffinose solution or 0.5% ellagic acid solution for urethral flushing twice a day, and sulfonamides and antibiotics, urinary tract disinfectants, can be used in conjunction with severe urinary tract infections.

• Probiotics and cranberry extract

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These may help prevent urinary tract infections but are not a substitute for veterinary treatment.

• Supportive treatment

Ensure fresh water is available at all times, give the dog the opportunity to empty the bladder as often as possible, reduce weight if the dog is overweight, sanitize and clean the female dog's vulva daily, consider putting the dog on probiotics, cranberry extract may help prevent some urinary tract infections (but is not a substitute for veterinary treatment).

• Treating the cause of the condition

If your dog has urinary stones or crystals, treat accordingly, such as with a diuretic stone-dissolving medication such as NephroCare Beefy, and consider surgery for large masses; if an older, unneutered male dog has a urinary tract infection, neuter him, which will help to treat prostate disease (if it's the underlying cause); and if your female dog suffers from neutered urinary incontinence, seek treatment.

• Surgical treatment

If the dog has been identified as forming urine crystals and stones, then surgical treatment may be required.

How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs?

Ⅰ.Pay attention to hygiene and health

You need to pay attention to your dog's pubic hygiene on a daily basis, and clean and bathe your dog frequently, especially during estrus and pregnancy. In addition, the dog's hair should be dried in time after rain and bathing to avoid bacterial growth.

Keep the hair near your dog's genitals trimmed regularly to avoid messy hair that breeds bacteria.

Ⅱ.Don't let your dog hold its urine for a long time

Normally, you should be careful not to let your dog hold urine for more than 12 hours. Therefore, you should give your dog enough time to go outdoors to urinate every day, at least twice a day or more.

Ⅲ.Drink plenty of water

Urine has a flushing effect on the bladder and urethra, which is conducive to the discharge of bacteria. Therefore, it is important to keep your dog hydrated every day to prevent bacteria from multiplying in the urinary tract and to reduce the possibility of urinary tract infections in your dog.

Ⅳ.Environmental management

The dog's urinary tract infection and the deterioration of the living environment is inextricably linked, if the dog often stay in the wet place, it is easy to bacterial infection, which leads to urinary tract infection. Therefore, you should pay more attention to the cleanliness, dryness and ventilation of your dog's living environment and daily necessities, and disinfect them in time to avoid bacterial growth.

Ⅴ.Reasonable diet

Try to give your dog less spicy and stimulating food and more oil and salt food, unreasonable diet is more likely to lead to intestinal and urinary tract problems.

You can give your dog a probiotic supplement, which helps the balance of colonies in your dog's body and can improve its immunity.

If the dog has ever had a mild urinary tract infection, the owner can adjust its diet, and there are prescription foods on the market that are specifically designed for bladder problems.

Ⅵ.Other preventive measures

1. Provide a dry and clean environment for your dog.
2. Ensure the dog's daily water intake, puppies need about 100 - 150 ml of water per kg of body weight per day, and adult dogs need about 60 - 120 ml of water per kg of body weight per day. Adequate water dilutes potentially disease-causing germs and flushes out mineral residues.
3. Keep an eye on how long your dog takes to urinate each time, and if he hasn't done so for a long time, find a way to get him to urinate. It's a good idea to take him to urinate on a regular basis, otherwise holding his urine for long periods of time can cause him to develop bladder problems.
4. Taking your dog to the vet regularly for a physical examination will help to detect some potential health problems. If the dog shows symptoms such as frequent urination, painful urination, or blood in the urine, the pet owner should take it to the clinic immediately.

   Also Read: Why Is My Dog Peeing Blood

5. Getting vaccinated on time can boost your dog's immunity and prevent many diseases.

How to Adjust Diet for Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs?

Adjusting the diet during a dog urinary tract infection is a very important part, and a proper diet can help relieve symptoms and promote recovery. The following are specific dietary adjustment suggestions.

I. Foods to avoid

Foods with high salt content

Foods with high salt content like ham hocks and salt-baked chicken should be avoided for dogs. This is because a high salt diet will increase the burden on the kidneys and may aggravate the symptoms of urinary tract infection.

Irritating food

Spicy, greasy and other irritating foods may irritate the urethra and bladder, leading to increased inflammation, so avoid feeding them.

Foods high in specific ingredients (for those with stones)

1. Calcium oxalate stones: radish, spinach, amaranth, celery, lettuce, bamboo shoots, potatoes and soy products should be avoided; black tea, sour plums; foods high in vitamin C should not be eaten more often such as oranges, lemons, tomatoes and strawberries.
2. Calcium phosphate and magnesium ammonium phosphate stones: alkaline urine is prone to the formation of magnesium ammonium phosphate stones (urine PH>7.2). Low calcium phosphate diet and acidic food are recommended. Infection control is recommended; all dairy products and lemon juice with phosphoric acid should be avoided.
3. Uric acid stones: limit protein intake, should not use the food: pork, beef, duck, goose, animal offal, high salt or fried food, mackerel, sardines, white scallop, jerky all kinds of broths, gravies, clams, crabs and so on.

II. Suitable Foods

Light, easily digestible food

Such as cooked vegetables (carrots, spinach, etc.), rice, noodles and so on. These foods are easy to digest, will not cause extra burden to the dog's gastrointestinal and urinary systems, and will help the body recover.

Foods rich in vitamins and minerals

Examples include carrots, spinach and apples. Vitamins and minerals can boost your dog's immunity and help the body fight infections and promote improvement.

Foods that contribute to urinary health

Cranberries: rich in antioxidants, vitamins C, A and K, they help prevent bacteria such as E. coli from attaching to the mucous membranes of the urinary tract and are effective in treating urinary tract infections. Dogs can eat cranberries in various forms such as raw, powdered, tablets and juice (but be aware that commercial juices can be high in sugar and are best made from scratch).

Celery: rich in fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamins A, B, K, C, E, and D. Low in calories, celery strengthens the immune system, prevents disease, and helps improve your dog's teeth and breathing, helping to eliminate toxins from the body. It can be eaten raw or slightly steamed for your dog.

Radish: With antibiotic and diuretic properties, it can help eliminate bacteria through the urine, making it suitable for people with urinary tract infections, as well as effectively treating inflammation, reducing the burning sensation when urinating, and helping to excrete calcium oxalate, reducing the chance of kidney stones.

Foods or ways to increase water intake

You can increase your dog's water intake by adding low-salt chicken broth and broth to his water intake. Drinking more water helps to flush the urethra, reducing the time bacteria stay in the urethra and promoting recovery.

Ⅲ Special dietary advice

Prescription food

If your dog has urinary stones or other urinary problems, consider feeding a specialized prescription food. For example, for dogs with calcium oxalate stones, there are appropriate prescription foods that can help reduce stone formation.

Nutritional Supplements

You can add a moderate amount of vitamin C tablets to your dog's diet (crush one 500 mg vitamin C tablet and mix it into the dog's food once a day for 7 days) to help strengthen the immune system and relieve the symptoms of urinary tract infections

Probiotics can also be added to help maintain a healthy intestinal flora and boost your dog's immunity

FAQs

What Food Causes UTI In Dogs?

The occurrence of UTIs in dogs is not directly related to food, but certain foods may increase a dog's risk of developing a UTI. For example, foods high in salt, sugar or fat may affect the composition of your dog's urine, which can increase the likelihood of a UTI. Additionally, some human foods, such as chocolate, grapes, and raisins, are toxic to dogs, and ingesting these foods may lead to a variety of health problems, including UTIs.

Can Dogs Get UTI From Holding Pee?

Dogs holding in their urine does increase the risk of UTIs. When dogs hold their urine for long periods of time, the urine stays in the bladder for too long, creating favorable conditions for bacteria to multiply. Bacteria may travel up through the urethra into the bladder, triggering an infection. Therefore, taking your dog out to urinate regularly and avoiding holding urine for long periods of time is very important in preventing UTIs.

What Clears UTI In Dogs?

Medication: Veterinarians usually prescribe medications such as antibiotics and urinary tract disinfectants to treat your dog's specific condition. In severe cases, methods such as urethral flushing may need to be used in conjunction. 
Daily care: Keep your dog's genital area clean and dry and avoid licking the area. Meanwhile, provide light and easy-to-digest food, such as chicken soup and meat porridge, to help your dog recover. 
Dietary adjustments: Adjust your dog's diet to avoid foods high in salt, sugar or fat, and choose a nutritionally balanced dog food suitable for your dog. 
Increase water intake: Encourage your dog to drink more water to increase the amount of urination, which will help to flush the urinary tract and reduce the chance of bacterial growth. 
Regular medical checkups: Take your dog to the hospital regularly for urine checkups to detect and deal with potential problems in a timely manner. 

Conclusion

Understanding what causes UTIs in dogs and recognizing the symptoms can help you act quickly to protect your pet’s health. With proper care, treatment, and preventive measures, you can minimize the risk of UTIs and ensure your dog remains happy and healthy.