Urinary Tract Diseases in Dogs

What is the job of the dog’s urinary tract? What are urinary tract diseases in dogs? What can be found out about a dog’s urine sample? Many questions on an exciting topic that we should and want to pay more attention to because urinary health can say a lot about the general health of the animal.

The Task of the Urinary System

The main job of the dog’s urinary system is to remove waste products from the blood. These waste products were previously filtered through the kidneys, stored in the bladder for a short time, and finally excreted through the urine. The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Also the tip of the penis in males and the vaginal vestibule in females. All problems related to the urinary system are collectively referred to as canine urinary tract disorders.

Typical Symptoms of Urinary Tract Diseases in Dogs

Since dogs cannot communicate with us in the way we do when we have our own problems at the doctor’s or children describe it to their parents, we have to watch out for changes in the dog’s behavior. Difficulties in urinating, incontinence, or urine that does not look normal, for example, differ greatly in color, are possible. An increased urge to urinate could also be an indication. The dog constantly wants to go outside but only urinates small amounts or appears to have pain when urinating. If you observe one or more symptoms in your four-legged friend, you should take him to a veterinarian. It might make sense to collect urine in advance in order to have it examined in the laboratory. Call your vet before your visit, describe the symptoms, and ask if a urine test would be useful. If a urine test is an option, a sterile collection container is important so that the sample is not altered.

Urinalysis

The examination of the urine can be very revealing for finding the cause of a urinary tract disease. There may be indications of kidney disease, a urinary tract infection, a metabolic disease (such as diabetes), or urinary stones or tumor diseases as the cause of the dog’s symptoms. The urinalysis is of great importance for the diagnosis. It is used in animals with acute symptoms, as well as in older dogs. It also serves as a check-up for dogs that have to follow a certain diet, e.g. B. in diabetics (here glucose and ketone bodies are examined). Dogs on a urinary calculus-dissolving diet are tested for crystals in their urine.

Urine Sample

A urine sample is required so that the urine can be examined by the laboratory. However, this is a bit more difficult with dogs. Depending on the type of examination for which the sample is required, it can be collected by the holder or must be obtained by the veterinarian using a catheter. If the sample is collected, it is usually contaminated with cells and bacteria from dirt and hair around the urethral opening or the external genital tract. Nevertheless, with this variant, the glucose value can be determined without any problems, which is important for diabetics or if diabetes mellitus is suspected. Especially with males, a sample of spontaneous urine is quite easy to collect, with females, on the other hand, you need a little more skill, a bit of luck, and good timing. A little tip: a disused soup ladle can be used here.

Things to Know About Urinary Health

If you observe a male dog during a walk, you might assume that his bladder holds an amazingly large amount of urine – as much as many a dog marks. In fact, a healthy dog ​​produces about 20 to 40 milliliters of urine per kilogram of body weight. This amount can vary from dog to dog, depending on the dog’s health and how much it drinks. The amount of drinking water in turn depends on the type of food and the movement of the four-legged friend. If your dog is fed wet or raw food, he will drink less than a dog that is fed dry food. The average drinking amount is around 90 milliliters per kilogram of body weight.

Urination and urine can tell a lot about your dog’s health. That’s why you should always keep an eye on how your four-legged friend’s urine and behavior look like. Is your dog urinating normally? Is the color in range? Incidentally, you do not have to worry immediately if the color is darker, because some foods, such as beetroot, can darken the urine, as can an increased concentration of urine, such as in the morning after a long night.

Common Urinary Tract Diseases at a Glance

Cystitis

A common urinary tract disease in humans and unfortunately also in our four-legged friends: cystitis. The symptoms are very similar because the affected dog also feels an increased urge to urinate, but then only has to urinate small amounts. In addition, the dog feels pain when urinating and will certainly show this through its behavior. Bladder infections affect the lower urinary tract, i.e. the urethra and bladder. This inflammation is mainly triggered by bacteria, but in rarer cases, fungi, viruses, or even parasites can also be the trigger. Just like in humans, a bladder infection can be acute or chronic. Acute cystitis (as it is called) occurs suddenly and is usually caused by bacteria. A chronic condition, on the other hand, is recurring and is termed as such when the dog has had more than two bladder infections in six months or more than three in a year.

Renal Insufficiency

Kidney failure is more dramatic than a bladder infection because in most cases it is preceded by a major deterioration in the dog’s general state of health, such as high blood loss, poisoning, or high fever. Most often, the preceding reason leads to the development of acute renal failure. Depending on what happened to the four-legged friend, this is also the first symptom recognized by the dog owner, as well as additional restlessness, diarrhea, or vomiting. In addition, the dog hardly or not urinates at all and should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

In the case of chronic kidney disease, on the other hand, the symptoms only become apparent at a relatively late stage. If about 2/3 of the kidneys are severely impaired, the four-legged friend will show its owner through behavior and appearance that something is not right. His fur is no longer shiny, he seems calm and listless and has hardly any appetite or thirst. Since the affected dog now has to urinate more than in a healthy state, it can also happen that mishaps happen more often in the apartment.

Bladder stones

In fact, urinary stones can also form in dogs. These arise from mineral crystals that settle in the urinary tract of the four-legged friend. They can be in the kidney, bladder, urethra, or ureter. The stones that occur in the area of ​​the bladder are accordingly referred to as bladder stones.
A possible reason for the formation of bladder stones can be a too high mineral content in the feed. However, an increased pH value in the urine caused by a urinary tract infection can also be the cause of the formation of struvite stones. A look at the dog’s food and water intake is particularly important for prevention. A lot of calcium, magnesium, and/or phosphorus in the feed is conducive to the formation of stones. In addition, the dog should always drink enough.

Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is also a common issue in many veterinary practices. Older dogs in particular may lose urine unintentionally. The cause of the loss of control can be quite different and should be clarified by the veterinarian. Kidney problems or diabetes could also cause incontinence as an accompanying symptom, although this should go away once the main condition is cured, stopped, or treated.

If you are unsure, consult a veterinarian for the welfare of your animal.