Mary Allen
Urinary tract infections are among the most common diseases in urology. Due to the connection of the urinary tract to the outside world and the close proximity to the rectum, bacteria can penetrate the urethra and from there into the urinary bladder at any time. Due to the short urethra, female patients are much more likely to be affected by a urinary tract infection than male patients.
Symptoms of cystitis and urinary tract infections
If the urinary bladder is mainly affected, it is called a bladder infection or cystitis. Cystitis is manifested by:
- pain when urinating,
- passing small amounts of urine repeatedly,
- increased urination,
- partly due to cloudy or reddish urine.
Treatment and examination of a bladder infection or urinary tract infections
In the case of typical symptoms of a simple urinary tract infection, at the discretion of the treating veterinarian, further examinations can sometimes be dispensed with and the urinary tract infection can be effectively treated with short-term antibiotic therapy (since the new legislation in 2018 only after a previous antibiogram). It is important to ensure that you drink enough fluids. Increased drinking increases urine production. The flushing effect of urine is an important protective mechanism against urinary tract infections.
Further investigations
If symptoms recur, further diagnostics are required. A sterile urine sample is taken by the veterinarian and the fresh sample is examined in the laboratory for germs. A suitable antibiotic is selected from the laboratory results. Depending on the situation of the case, it is decided whether an ultrasound examination or an X-ray examination of the urinary tract is necessary.
If treatment is unsuccessful, the patient should be referred to a urological specialist. Because in stubborn cases, the cause of the disease can only be found out by examining the urinary tract.
As the patient owner, you can help our veterinarians to get a good diagnosis in advance. If you suspect a urinary tract infection in your animal or if your animal shows signs of a bladder infection, we ask you to document all abnormalities of the changed urinary behavior of your animal and, if necessary, also record it on video. In chronic cases, this information can help to embark on a speedy path to diagnosis and further treatment.