Will my dog’s UTI go away on its own? Tips and Tricks

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Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a painful and potentially dangerous condition in dogs. Bloody urine, difficulty urinating, and licking of the area are all signs your dog might have a UTI. Some symptoms of UTIs may, in fact, indicate something worse, like bladder cancer or kidney disease.

You and your dog might not agree about how many treats a day they should get. But you can certainly agree that urinary tract infections (UTI) are a pain. Urinary tract infections are uncomfortable at best, and downright dangerous at worst.

In most cases, these infections resolve with treatment and do not cause any lasting damage. In other cases, a dog’s supposed UTI symptoms could be indicative of more serious conditions, such as poisoning or cancer. Staying informed and educated about symptoms is important for any dog owner.

As with humans, a UTI in dogs refers to an infection of the urinary tract. The most common causes of UTIs in dogs are bacterial. In fact, bacterial urinary tract infections are the most commonly occurring infectious disease in dogs, period. Bacterial UTIs affect 14 percent of all dogs throughout their lifetimes. That means the odds are comparatively high that your dog could experience a UTI at some point in their life.

Most dogs get UTIs when normal skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract flora get past the urinary tract’s defenses. These bacteria then colonize the urinary tract, leading to an infection. E. coli is the most common bacterial cause of UTIs, but several bacteria and even some fungi can cause infections.

Some factors could increase your dog’s risk of getting a UTI. Female dogs are more likely to get UTIs than males, but male dogs may still get them. UTIs also have an increased rate of occurrence in dogs with other health problems, such as chronic kidney disease and Cushing’s disease.

Some common UTI symptoms include:

Bloody and/or cloudy urine

Straining or whimpering during urination

Accidents in the house

Needing to be let outside more frequently

Licking around the urinary opening

Fever

Sometimes, however, dogs don’t show any symptoms of a UTI at all. In these instances, your veterinarian might discover the infection while testing for other things.

For symptomatic dogs, these signs could point toward a possible UTI. However, there are some more serious conditions that your veterinarian will want to rule out first.

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Can a dog’s bladder infection go away on its own?

Although in some cases bladder infections in people clear up without the need for medical care, this is unlikely to be true for your dog. It is also the case that, since our canine companions are unable to tell us how they are feeling it is best to have any symptoms of illness checked out by your vet. Left untreated your pups bladder infection could become much more severe and lead to complications.

It could also be the case that your dogs bladder infection symptoms are due to a more serious underlying condition in need of treatment. When it comes to your pets health it is always best to err on the side of caution.

Home Treatment for Dogs With a Urinary Infection

Bladder issues are as common in dogs as they are in people and just as uncomfortable. In todays post our Huntersville veterinary team shares some of the causes, and signs of bladder infections in dogs.