Cat and dog UTI symptoms & what can you do about your pets UTI
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is unfortunately common in pets. UTI is not only painful, it can also lead to serious medical problems if it is left untreated. The infection can spread throughout your pet’s body and affect the bladder or kidney health.
You should therefore always take any signs of urinary tract infection in cats and dogs seriously and seek medical advice if you suspect your cat or dog has UTI.
This is why you need to know the most common cat and dog UTI symptoms. We explore what causes feline and canine UTI, what are the signs of urinary tract infection in cats and dogs and last but not least what can you do about it and how can you prevent UTI recurrence in your beloved pet.
What are the most common cat and dog UTI causes?
The most common dog and cat UTI causes is bacteria. UTI in female dogs and cats caused by bacterial infection is more common than in male pets, though both genders can get it.
E. coli is the most common type of bacteria that causes UTI in dogs and cats. It is though not the only type of bacteria that can cause urinary tract infection in pets. This is why urine testing (for bacterial cultures) is normally recommended for pets suffering from chronic UTI.
There are many other health problems that can affect canine and feline lower urinary system, e.g. bladder stones or crystals in the urine, incontinence, cancer, trauma, obstruction of the urethra, etc. Pets with weak immune systems are also at higher risk of getting UTI, as well as older pets.
What are the most common dog and cat UTI symptoms?
Signs of UTI in dogs and signs of UTI in cats are very similar. The most common cat and dog urinary tract infection symptoms are:
– Blood in the urine
– Cloudy looking urine
– Strong smelling urine
– More frequent urination
– Painful urination
– Difficulty urinating
– Dribbling urine due to less bladder control
– Blocking of urine flow
– Accidents (indoors / outside litter box)
– Licking the genitals
Other possible signs of urinary tract infection in dogs and cats that can easily be dismissed as something else include fever, lethargy, changes in appetite, vomiting, hard abdomen, back pain and increased water consumption.
If you notice some of those dog and cat urinary tract infection symptoms in your beloved pet, then it’s time to contact your Vet for formal diagnosis.
Cat and dog UTI treatments
Your Vet will run the necessary tests to determine if your pet has UTI. It will most certainly require physical examination and most likely urinalysis. In more severe / chronic cases, urine culture, blood work and even radiographs or ultrasound may be required.
Once your Vet has diagnosed your pet with UTI and identified the cause, he will decide on your pets UTI treatment.
Antibiotics is the current standard of care for uncomplicated UTI in both dogs and cats. It is very effective way of treating UTI. However, your pets’ body can develop antibiotic-resistance if antibiotics are used too frequently.
This is why it is so important to prevent UTI recurrence in your pet.
How to prevent UTI recurrence in dogs and cats
Unfortunately, once a pet has had UTI once, the risk of getting it again increases. UTI recurrence in pets is unfortunately very common but fortunetly there are things you can do to significantly reduce this risk.
The first thing is to make sure your pet has access to plenty of fresh water to encourage him to drink more. You may want to consider a drinking fountain for pets as many pets like running water.
Frequent urination can also help as pets that hold their urine for long time are more likely to get urinary tract infection. So keep your cat’s litter box easily accessible and ‘inviting’ and take your dog out for toilet breaks more frequently.
Regular baths will help to keep your pet clean and you want to keep the rear area well groomed.
Good quality probiotics (that survive the acidic environment in your pets’ stomach) can also help by displacing the bacteria causing the infection. Probiotics also boost the immune systems response to the infection causing bacteria.
Natural urinary dietary supplement specifically designed for dogs and cats is also an effective way to prevent urinary tract infection recurrence in pets.
It is generally agreed that cranberry is an effective natural way to prevent UTI recurrence in cats and dogs. So far scientific studies have shown the benefits of cranberries to be limited in preventing UTI caused by the e-coli bacteria. Which is why you may want to look for a urinary support containing additional natural ingredients, e.g. D-Mannose, pumpkin and silica.
Together these ingredients may help to effectively fight off UTI recurrence in your beloved pet.
maxxiUtract is an advanced urinary & bladder support for dogs and cats. It cares for the pet’s urinary, bladder and kidney health by nurturing and supporting the whole of the urinary system.
Contains powerful natural ingredients that promote healthy urinary tract function and help to prevent painful repeated UTI recurrence.