Dog owners’ minds are constantly running, thinking of the many conditions their dog might have. Sometimes these possible conditions can require a special diet for your pup such as diabetes, digestive problems or food allergies. But, there’s one group of conditions we may overlook, not assuming that it needs a special diet. These are related to the urinary tract.
The urinary tract can have a range of issues including bladder stones, bladder infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Any breed can suffer from UTIs and bladder stones, but it is more commonly seen in female dogs.
| UTIs and Bladder Infections The most common cause for a UTI or bladder infection is bacteria getting in through the urethra opening. | Bladder Stones There are four types of bladder stones that can occur in canines: calcium oxalate, struvite, urate and cystine. | |
| Causes | Things that can increase your dog’s chances of getting a bacterial infection are: -Limited bathroom space (stepping in/over old feces) -Not washing off after swimming. -Build up of hair in the genital region. Other conditions can also cause these infections: – DiabetesMedications affecting the immune system (steroids/chemo) – Kidney/prostate disease | Bladder stones form a number of theories but many studies have found links to: – Dietary factor (surplus of compounds in the body) – Previous disease in the bladder such as bacterial infectionsGenetics -Overly concentrated pH in urine. Typically the acidity of the dog’s urine will dissolve those minerals, but overly high concentrated pH levels in urine create the perfect environment for stones to form. |
| Symptoms | The most common symptoms are: – Straining to urinateIncreased need to urinate (leading to more accidents in the house) – Blood in urineCloudy or smelly urine – Reduced urine output (when using the bathroom urine “stream” is choppy or weak) Other symptoms may include: – Whimpering when urinating -Licking the genital area -Fever -Increased thirst and lack of energy. | The most common sign of bladder stones is: straining when urinating as well as blood in the urine. Other symptoms include: – Whimpering when urinating – Hunching their back – Blood in the urine – Reduced urine output (when using the bathroom urine “stream” is choppy or weak) – Unable to urinate If the stones block the urethra opening it increases the chance of the bladder rupturing |
| Diet | If you’re taking all the proper precautions to avoid the infection (grooming, bathing, clean and frequent bathroom breaks) your pup’s immune system may need support. – B12, Vitamin C and Omega 3’s help support the immune system (Helps fight off bacteria before the infections manifest.) – Prescribed Diets (Vet Prescription) helps protect the urinary tract reducing the likelihood of recurrence issues (Can be pricey and are not always in stock) – Raw diets have shown to be supportive in fighting these infections. Foods that have been correlated with increasing the risk of UTI and bladder infections are: Asparagus, Spinach, Raw Carrots, Tomatoes and Dairy Products. | Increasing the amount of water your dog receives on a daily basis can help prevent bladder stones from forming. – If your dog does not drink water frequently enough you can try a semi-wet food to increase their water intake. – Prescribed Diets (Vet Prescription). Contain lower amounts of calcium and struvite to avoid the formation of stones). – Supplements should be stopped until you have talked to your vet about the effects it will have on the bladder stones forming. – Avoid high protein diets Animal fat contributes to the formation of stones in the bladder due to the minerals received. – Heavy carb diets have been shown to increase the alkaline levels in the urine High pH → perfect environment for bladder stones to form. Dogs with past or current bladder stones diet should contain lower pH levels. Dogs with bladder stones should avoid: Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Organ Meat, and Brown Rice. |
Below is a short introduction about these urinary conditions:
UTIs/Bladder Infections and Treatments
Urinary tract infections and bladder infections are bacterial infections that commonly start due to bacteria getting in the urethra opening. Bladder infections and UTIs share similar symptoms since they affect the same location on the body. This can be due to a range of lifestyle conditions such as under grooming, contaminated bathroom space, not rinsing after swims/mud, as well as pre-existing medical conditions.
Dogs who aren’t given enough bathroom breaks also have an increased risk for a UTI. To limit these possibilities make sure to groom your dog regularly, while allowing for bathroom breaks in a clean area of grass. When your dog likes to cool off in the water, whether it be a pool or natural water source, be sure to wash them off with a hose containing bacteria free water when coming back inside.
Bladder Stones
Uroliths, commonly known as bladder stones, are crystal like structures that form due to minerals developing and clumping in the bladder. They can be a range of sizes from as small as grain of sand to as big as peas. When there is a surplus of compounds in the body, it is excreted through the urine where tiny crystals begin to form. The crystals are typically rigid which irritate the bladder lining. When this irritation happens mucus begins to form causing the crystals to lump together, ultimately enlarging and hardening the stones. The most common bladder stone is struvite. However, this type is seen even more in females as male dogs typically develop oxalate stones.
As we know for humans, bladder stones are painful, and it’s believed to be a similarly unpleasant experience for our pups as well. In most cases X-rays are typically the first step in diagnosing bladder stones in dogs. Because some stones are not visible on radiographs due to the mineral composition, an ultrasound machine may be used as well.
Treatments of Bladder Stones
Once it’s determined that your dog has bladder stones, the course of treatment will be decided by the size of the stone. If the urethra is not blocked by small stones it can sometimes be fixed with a change of diet and non-invasive treatments such as Lithotripsy or Urohydropropulsion.
Urohydropropulsion is a nonsurgical method where the dog is sedated and the stones are removed from the bladder through the urethra, treatment or surgery. Some stones can be dissolved with a diet change but that is not the case for certain types of stones.
Calcium oxalate stones will not respond to special diets, and if not too large, typically are treated with lithotripsy. Lithotripsy is a non-invasive procedure done under sedation where they use a special laser to break apart the stone through the urethra. If the urethra is completely obstructed it becomes a medical emergency needing surgery to fix it right away. This surgery involves the anestasia where they cut open the bladder removing the stones, and sometimes the urethra as well depending on the block.
Urinary Tract problems deserve attention as they can be a major issue if not properly addressed. Thankfully, these conditions can generally be avoided, or treated successfully with proper care. Maintaining awareness and a watchful eye for abnormal behavior that could indicate a problem is one of the most important ways we can take good care of our woofs.
