Canine urinary tract infections can be life threatening

Untreated, a UTI can lead to serious health problems including kidney infection and/or damage, and the formation of urinary stones or crystals.

A urinary tract infection like this can even completely prevent your poor dog from urinating by blocking the urethra.

This is a medical emergency and potentially life threatening!

A simple bladder infection caused by an overgrowth of bacteria can usually be cleared up pretty quickly with a round of the correct antibiotics prescribed by your veterinarian.

But there are sometimes other factors or complications which occur and it's vital to have your vet make an accurate diagnosis so that treatment is effective.

Dog urinary problems such as UTI's are more common in female dogs than in males.

Puppies are also at a slightly higher risk.

This is because female dogs, and puppies, have short urethras which allow bacteria to travel through them to the bladder fairly easily.

Occasionally a physical problem with the vulva (obviously only in females), bladder or urethra can cause repeated UTI's in dogs.

Injury, hormone imbalances, cancer, diabetes, kidney problems or prostate issues can cause bladder problems in both male and female dogs.

Certain medications can also play a role in causing crystals or stones to form. These include cortico-steroids and certain canine heart medications.

In male dogs, bladder problems are less likely to be caused by bacteria than in females.

Some breeds are predisposed to develop bladder stones or crystals (there are two common types of stones) which can cause, or be the result of, a dog bladder infection.

These include English Bulldogs, Dalmatians, Russian Terriers, Newfoundlands, Scottish Deerhounds, Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Shih Tzus, Dachshunds and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

There are two main types of bladder stones. These can either cause a bladder infection or be a result of one.

Because any dog can develop a canine bladder infection, at any age, it's important for dog owners to be able to recognize when there's a problem in this area.

Dog Bladder Infection Symptoms

Your dog can't tell you that it hurts or burns when she/he pees, or that she feels achy or shivery.

Fifi can't even tell you if she's in so much pain that it feels as though her bladder will burst.

Fortunately there are some symptoms of canine urinary tract infection which are pretty easy to spot:

Frequent Urination

A dog with a bladder infection is going to feel the urge to pee much more often than normal.

Sometimes she may only pass a few drops each time.

Straining, whimpering or repeated squatting to pee, with little to show for it, are common.

Fifi's urine may look cloudy, have an unusual smell (may smell 'strong'), or be tinged with blood (see below).

Housebreaking Accidents

A urinary infection causes such an intense urge to pee that your dog is likely to be unable to control her bladder.

Dog having housebreaking accident due to urinary tract infection

Sudden 'potty training accidents' in a previously house-trained dog are often a sign of a bladder infection, or other physical bladder problem.

Poor Fifi may also dribble or leak urine when sleeping, or even when awake.

Bloody Urine

If your dog has a urinary tract infection it is likely to cause a LOT of irritation and inflammation in the urethra and bladder.

This leads to bleeding which can often (but not always) be seen in her urine.

It may be just a trace of blood, or in more severe cases her urine may be pink or even red.

Licking at their 'Privates'

In an attempt to relieve the itching and burning she feels, your dog may lick at her privates quite obsessively.

Intense licking at the genital area, sometimes accompanied by whining, is often a sign of a bladder infection in dogs.

Generally Feeling Unwell

If Fifi has a bladder infection she is going to be feeling pretty unwell.

She's in pain, needs to pee ALL the time and may well have a fever, which is all miserable for her.

This can lead to loss of appetite, lethargy or disinterest in the things she usually enjoys.

In severe cases, or if the infection has been ongoing for some time, you might notice that she's losing weight, has an excessive desire to drink water or vomits.