Overcoming Dogs' Urinary Woes: Solutions for a Happy Po
When a dog is found urinating everywhere, it's often a sign of territorial or male dominance behavior. However, if the dog is urinating uncontrollably or dribbling frequently, it might be worth considering whether there could be an issue with urinary tract stones.
Here are some common signs that a dog may be experiencing urinary tract issues:
Painful urination
Abnormal urination patterns
Incontinence
Abnormal urine color
Blood in the urine
Brownish urine
When a dog has lower urinary tract, reproductive tract infections, bladder or urethral stones, it may start to lick the area around the urinary and reproductive openings more frequently. It might also urinate more often but produce very little urine or none at all, sometimes accompanied by whining and pain, and possibly blood in the urine. If a dog that usually urinates outdoors suddenly starts going indoors, it's a sign to take notice.
If the urinary tract infection is severe, you may notice mucous or puslike discharge from the urethra, or even the passage of dead and sloughed urethral mucosa.
Dogs with urinary tract abnormalities often have urine with an unusual smell, sometimes even a strong odor. After suffering from a urinary tract infection, some dogs may exhibit arching movements while urinating due to pain, and the urine may flow in fits and starts. The urethral opening may also be swollen and red.
A dog that suddenly starts urinating or dribbling indoors might be doing so because it can't control its urge to urinate due to a urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections in dogs are not to be taken lightly; if you notice symptoms similar to those of a urinary tract infection, it's important to seek veterinary care for diagnosis and treatment. If your dog is diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, consider the following care methods:
Proper Care Methods:
1. When your dog shows signs of a urinary tract infection, collect a fresh urine sample and take it to the vet for testing. Typically, urinary tract infections can be controlled with appropriate antibiotics, while other urinary tract conditions should be treated according to medical advice.
2. To prevent bacteria from lingering in the urinary tract and causing inflammation, encourage your dog to drink more water to increase urine flow frequency.
3. Dogs that are accustomed to urinating outdoors should be taken out for walks more frequently to prevent holding in urine.
4. A significant cause of urinary stones in dogs is longterm consumption of highcalcium water or foods, leading to high concentrations of calcium salts in the urine, which then deposit in the urethra, bladder, or kidneys. Therefore, it's important to adjust your dog's diet, increase vitamin A intake, or switch to a specialized diet as recommended by a veterinarian.
5. A lack of adequate water intake can also lead to urinary stones. Increase your dog's water intake to promote urine production and lower the concentration of minerals in the urine, preventing crystallization.
6. Regular urine tests can help monitor the urine's acidalkaline balance. If your dog has an excessive number or size of urinary stones, consider surgical intervention.
Key Tips:
When treating a urinary tract infection in your dog, it's crucial not to take medication lightly. As a pet owner, avoid selfmedicating your dog without first consulting a professional veterinarian. Always seek a proper diagnosis and follow the doctor's recommendations for treatment.
