Treating Canine UTI
Treating Canine UTI
By Tess Thompson
The lower (distal) portion of the canine urinary tract comprises of the bladder and the urethra. The upper (proximal) portion consists of kidneys and ureters, a pair of thick-walled tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder. The prostate gland encircles the urethra in males.
The entire system barring the urethra is normally sterile. Pathogens from the environment enter through urethra, the duct through which urine is discharged in most mammals.
Certain breeds of dogs are more prone to develop urinary tract infections. In addition, proximity to human populations has lead to a situation where dogs have become more susceptible to common human ailments like UTI. In fact, urinary tract infection in dogs is far more common than it is in humans.
Urinary tract infection usually occurs at a single site - the bladder, ureters, kidneys, urethra, or the prostate glands. But it can affect more than one site at the same time also. Common signs of UTI in puppies and adult dogs are the amount, color and odor of urine along with the frequency of urination. These are generally enough to suspect the prevalence of a urinary infection in dogs.
Further confirmation is provided by a physical examination and palpation of the bladder. Complete diagnosis, however, must include a laboratory examination and a urine culture to check prevalence of pus and blood, to identify the disease causing bacterium, and to rule out or confirm co-occurrence of any underlying disease.
Treatment of UTI involves the use of antimicrobials to control bacterial growth. The therapy lasts till the time the dog’s own body defense is strong enough to prevent further colonization of the pathogen. The drugs that are effective are usually metabolized by the kidneys and passed off through urine. This requires high and prolonged drug concentration of the antimicrobials to get the desired results.
Upper tract infections affect the kidneys. Instances of scarring of kidney due to inflammation of the kidney and its pelvis by bacterial infection or presence of calculi require a different approach to treatment. If the prostate gland in males has been infected as well, it can cause canine incontinence. The same principal applies to feline urinary incontinence too. Both these can be addressed with prostatitis medication.
Antibiotics work quickly and provide quick relief from symptoms. The full course of antibiotic therapy prescribed for treatment should be completed to avoid recurrence of canine urinary tract infection. Recurring UTI and treatments can cause direct as well as indirect problems for the dog.
Frequent infections would more often than not lead to infections of distant organs in the body if the bacteria travel through the blood stream. Regular administration of antibiotics causes overall weakening of the immune system, which could be an invitation to additional diseases.
References:
http://askariel.com/product_details.asp?itemid=Urinary_Tract_Infections
http://pmprb-cepmb.gc.ca/english/View.asp?x=435&mp=117
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