Bladder Health in Dogs
Sometimes it’s hard to know when your dog isn’t feeling well, but urinary problems have a way of getting the attention they deserve. When dogs have blood in their urine, strain to urinate, produce abnormally small or large amounts of urine, or start having accidents in the house, it’s obvious that something is wrong. Let’s take a look at some common urinary problems in dogs and what can be done about them.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are most common in females but can occur in any dog. A veterinarian may be able to diagnose a UTI based on your dog’s symptoms and a routine urinalysis, but more complicated cases require blood work, a urine culture, or other diagnostic tests. Bladder infections usually respond well to treatment with an appropriate antibiotic. If urinary tract infections become a recurrent problem, your veterinarian will need to look for an underlying cause.
Crystalluria is the presence of crystals in the urine. In dogs with normal functioning urinary tracts, crystalluria may be harmless because the crystals are eliminated before they grow large enough to interfere with normal urinary function. However, they still represent a risk factor for bladder and kidney stones, and they may cause discomfort or promote UTIs. Different types of crystals also have different causes and treatments. Some crystals and stones can be dissolved through diet change, while others require surgical removal.
Uroliths (urinary stones) can develop anywhere in a dog’s urinary tract but are most commonly found within the bladder. Large stones are usually visible on x-rays, but an abdominal ultrasound may be needed to find smaller ones. Bladder stones can be composed of a variety of minerals, including struvite, calcium oxalate, and urate. Treatment recommendations will vary based on which type of stone is identified. For example, struvite stones can usually be dissolved by feeding dogs a specific type of food or giving urinary acidifiers, but surgery is necessary to remove other types of stones. Sometimes a stone will become lodged in the urethra which completely prevents a dog from urinating. This is an emergency! If you think your dog has a urethral blockage, bring them to a veterinarian immediately.
Urinary incontinence most commonly affects spayed, female dogs but can develop in any canine. It is usually caused by hormonal deficiencies that result in a loss of control of the urethral sphincter (the muscle that prevents urine from leaking out of the bladder), but structural or neurological problems can also be involved. Incontinent dogs leak urine but otherwise appear to be normal. Mildly affected dogs may only occasionally leak small amounts of urine (particularly when they are sleeping). In extreme cases, affected dogs drip urine almost continuously. Dogs with incontinence can develop skin problems around their hind end as a result of urine scald, and are at higher risk for urinary tract infections. There are medications available to treat incontinence in dogs that can be prescribed by a veterinarian. Hormone replacement therapy is another option, although it carries a higher risk of side effects, and bloodwork should be monitored regularly. If medications do not adequately control a dog’s incontinence, a variety of surgical procedures are available. Which treatment is best depends on a dog’s specific circumstances.
Similar to humans, it is very likely that dogs with bladder issues feel at least some degree of discomfort or pain. If any kind of bladder problem is suspected, call your veterinarian right away and get your pet the help they need!