Building upon our urinary health knowledge from Part 1, read on for information regarding urinary tract disease, diagnosis, and treatment in Part 2.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more commonly seen in older female dogs and dogs with diabetes, Dogs with bladder stones are also prone to getting frequent UTIs. In addition, lower urinary tract diseases are common in senior pets (7+ years), of all breeds and genders.
What Causes Lower Urinary Tract Problems in our pets?
There are many causes of lower urinary tract problems, such as the following:
- Bladder inflammation or infection
- Stress
- Stones, crystals, or debris in the bladder or urethra
- Inability to hold their urine from excessive water drinking or a weak bladder
- Trauma
- Prostate disease
- Congenital abnormalities
- Spinal cord abnormalities
- Cancer
Treating Urinary Tract Disease in Pets
If your pet has symptoms consistent with urinary tract disease, it is essential to see your vet so that the cause of your pet's symptoms can be diagnosed. The treatment recommended will be determined by the underlying cause.
Pain Management
Urinary tract disease can be a very painful condition for your pet. To help relieve pain caused by infection or inflammation, your vet may prescribe anti-inflammatories for your pet, or in severe cases, stronger pain killers may be administered by injection.
Antibiotics
If your pet's symptoms are caused by a bacterial infection, your vet may prescribe a course of antibiotics for your pet. If your vet prescribes antibiotics for your pet's UTI, you can expect to see an improvement within a few days. However, it's important to continue antibiotic treatment until the end of the full prescription. Stopping treatment early can lead to reinfection that may be harder to fight.
Treatment for Underlying Conditions
Underlying conditions such as diabetes or Cushing's disease can lead to recurring urinary tract infections in pets. If your pet has an underlying health condition, treatment may focus on the underlying condition as a means of stopping the infections from occurring. In some pets, the prostate disease can be controlled with chemical or surgical castration, and the growth of a bladder tumour may be slowed with medication.
Dietary Modifications
For some pets, a diet specially formulated to alter urine pH and prevent stone formation can help to reduce the inflammation that can lead to UTIs in pets. Supplements may encourage your pet to drink more in order to dilute the urine.
Surgery
Large urinary stones which persist in spite of dietary modifications may require surgical removal. Your veterinarian can typically undertake this surgery and improvement can be seen within 1-2 weeks. In some cases, stones may be analyzed to determine the most appropriate ongoing treatment for your dog or cat.
Urethral Sphincter Medication
Your vet may prescribe medication to help 'tighten' your pet's urethra and therefore aid in the control of the release of urine. This treatment is typically used in elderly pets and those experiencing incontinence with no detectible underlying cause.
Bladder Support Medications & Supplements
Your pet may benefit from ongoing treatment with antioxidant, probiotic, and prebiotic supplements which aim to support the urinary tract’s 'good bacteria and improve the overall condition of your pet's bladder lining. If you'd like to give your pet supplements, be sure to check with your veterinarian first.
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3650 3000 (Mon-Sun: 9:00am – 7:00pm)
Address:
G-2/F, Trinity Towers, 339 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po
Online booking for revisit with primary care veterinarians or vaccination:
https://www.cityuvmc.com.hk/en/online-booking