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Urinary
Health
illness Care and
Prevention tips
by Dr. Matthew J. heller
Dogs and cats can suffer from diseases and disorders similar
to those that can trouble their owners. Urinary tract disease
is a common cause for concern for pets.
Urinary System Primer
The urinary system is vital to any animal’s
health, because it is responsible
for removing waste products such as
chemical byproducts, toxins and drugs
from the bloodstream and eliminating
them as urine. Other vital
functions of the system include
balancing the body’s pH,
transforming vitamin D into
an active form, and releasing
hormones that aid in regulating
blood pressure.
Urinary tract disease
may show up in several
ways, including common
bacterial infections easily
treated with antibiotics,
and bladder or kidney
stones, which often require
surgery. Just as in people,
urinary tract disease causes
pets pain and is dangerous if
left untreated.
Many urinary diseases share
similar symptoms, any of which should
prompt a proper professional diagnosis:
n Frequent straining to urinate,
often with little success; if a pet
l i k e l y has a full bladder and
attempts to urinate but
nothing passes, consult
a veterinarian immediately
n More than the
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usual licking of the genital area
n Increased urination, sometimes in
inappropriate areas, such as inside the
home or outside the litter box
n Crying or whimpering when urinating
n Cloudy or bloody urine with a strong
odor
n Tenderness in lower abdominal area
during examination
As always, providing the
veterinarian with details as to
changes in recent potty habits
is helpful. Based on a detailed
medical history, many veterinarians
will proceed to diagnostic
testing that usually begins with
a basic urinalysis.
Urinary Tract
Infections
The most common cause
of urinary tract disease is
bacterial infection. For most
urinary tract infections (UTI), an antibiotic
regime will treat the present infection
and lifestyle changes accompanied by
veterinarian-recommended nutraceuticals
may aid in preventing future problems.
Certain underlying conditions may
predispose a pet to infection, such as
a weakened immune system or diabetes.
Most canine UTIs are bacterial
in origin and as a general rule, female
dogs are more prone to experience
them because the wider female urethra
potentially allows more unwanted
bacteria to enter. If bacteria then travels
to the bladder and is left untreated, it
may go on to contaminate the kidneys
and other organs, presenting a serious
health risk.
Bladder Stones
Bladder or kidney stones pose a more
serious type of urinary disease, and
either is of more concern for pets. In
suspect situations, radiographic imaging
such as X-rays or ultrasounds will help
determine treatment. Small female dogs
between the ages of 4 and 8 that have
a history of bladder infections are the
most vulnerable.
While stones are less common in
male dogs, it can pose a critical care situation
if stones pass from the bladder