The urinary tract is important for removing waste from the body through urine. The entire system includes the urethra, the bladder, the ureters and the kidneys. Urinary tract problems can be mild to severe and can be easily cured but also have the potential to be extremely damaging to your dog. Here are some of the most common urinary tract problems in dogs.
Urinary tract infections are among the most common of urinary tract problems in dogs. An infection can be due to viral, bacterial or fungal infections and can occur anywhere within the system including the kidneys, the bladder, the urethra or the ureters. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include frequent but small amounts of urination, blood can be present in the urine and there may be pain during urination. Specifically with kidney infections there may be a loss of appetite, fever or depression. Infections are treated through antibiotics or other medications based on the location and type of the infection present.
Medically referred to as urinary calculi, bladder stones can potentially form anywhere within the urinary tract system, not just the bladder. Dogs who are suffering from stones may have difficulty urinating but some dogs will not have any symptoms at all. In many dogs, the stones may be discovered during a routine exam.
Treatment for bladder stones will vary on size and location. Some stones are small enough to pass through the system without harm but the dog should be monitored for the occurrence of larger, future stones. Urohydropropulsion is a treatment option in which a catheter is placed into the urethra while the dog is under anesthesia. Once the catheter is in place, a saline solution is pumped into the bladder. The veterinarian will gently put pressure onto the bladder and flush the stones out through the catheter. In cases where excessively large stones are present, surgical removal may be necessary.
Also known as renal disease, kidney disease is a common occurrence in senior dogs. It can be caused by infections to the kidney, parasites, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, reactions to medications, congenital disorders or inherited disorders, trauma or cancer. Many dogs will notice that their dog has an increase in water intake accompanied by increased urination, the urine may contain blood, dehydration, vomiting, weight loss or diarrhea. In some dogs, there may even be a lack of urination or a decrease in urination.
A urinalysis and a blood test may e performed to determine the cause(s) of kidney disease. Once diagnosed, treatment involves rehydration, antibiotics and other medications depending on the cause of kidney disease.
Incontinence
Incontinence is a condition in which the muscles controlling the valve at the opening of the urethra can no longer properly function due to hormone changes which control the muscles. This causes involuntary leaking of urine from the dog, particularly during rest or sleep. In very rare cases, this condition can cause due to congenital (occurring before or at birth) defects in the dog’s urethra. Treating incontinence is relatively easy and involves a non-hormonal medication known as PPA (phenylpropanolamine), or the use of hormone supplements to reinstate the use of the muscle.
Ectopic Ureter
An ectopic ureter is one of the most common congenital defects in the ureters. When an ectopic ureter is present, the ureter is depositing urine into the other areas of the body. For example, in female puppies the urine is often displaced in the vaginal canal. This causes constant urine leakage from the vagina. The only treatment for an ectopic ureter involves surgery which will reattach the ureter to the bladder, allowing for proper urination. However, some puppies may never learn to develop full control over their urination.
