Companion Animals

Canine Urinary Tract Infections: Welfare and Management

Bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs cause significant pain and discomfort and require appropriate diagnosis and treatment to resolve welfare impacts promptly.

Key Facts

Female dogs are more commonly affected by UTI than males due to their shorter urethra
Clinical signs include increased frequency of urination, straining, haematuria and inappropriate urination
Recurrent UTIs may indicate underlying anatomical abnormalities or immune suppression
Culture and sensitivity testing is recommended before antibiotic treatment to guide selection

Welfare Considerations

UTIs cause pain and discomfort from urethral inflammation, dysuria and urgency. Recurrent UTIs cause chronic welfare impacts. Welfare priorities include accurate diagnosis by urinalysis and culture, appropriate targeted antibiotic therapy, investigating underlying causes for recurrent cases, and increasing water intake to maintain urinary tract health.

What You Can Do

Seek veterinary assessment for any dog showing urinary signs rather than treating empirically
Request urine culture before antibiotic prescription for recurrent UTI cases
Increase water intake by offering multiple water sources and wet food
Investigate underlying causes such as anatomical abnormalities, bladder stones or immune suppression in dogs with repeated UTIs