Cats and dogs, like humans, can develop UTIs / urinary tract infections. Basic anatomy: There are two kidneys, and there are two tubes [respectively a left and right] called the “ureters,” and each of these ureters leaves their respective kidney going “downwards” into the bladder. At the lower end of the bladder is one tube called the “urethra,” where the urine exits. There are lower and upper UTIs, but lower UTIs are more common. Lower UTIs affect the bladder and/or, in un-neutered male pets – the prostate. Upper UTIs affect the kidneys and/or ureters (the tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder.)
Each male cat and dog has a prostate gland, and when he is “intact” / unneutered the animal can also develop prostate infections – yes, male cats and dogs have prostate glands. A bit of trivia: all male mammals from mice to elephants have a prostate gland as part of their “sexual equipment.” Male cats and dogs, if not neutered/ sterilized, have a higher risk of urinary infections, as well as infections of the prostate and obstruction of the urethra (the tube where the urine comes out of the bladder) so they cannot urinate. The prostate gland is located at the neck of the bladder and due to its glandular structure; infection in the bladder readily spreads to the prostate, where the fissures / crevices are particularly protective against the infection. The prostate under the influence of testosterone can cause abscesses, infection, and enlargement causing urinary and bowel obstruction. It is nearly impossible to clear the prostate of the infection without neutering. For both dogs and cats, neutering causes the prostate to shrink into nonexistence, preventing both prostatitis (inflammation) as well as the uncomfortable benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH – enlargement) that occurs with aging, and possibly obstruction of urine and feces.
Urinary tract infections are more common in older dogs and cats, typically over 7 years of age. UTIs are also more common in females because they have shorter and wider urethras than males, making it easier for unwanted bacteria to invade the urethra and travel into the bladder. While dogs of all breeds, sizes and genders can develop UTIs, some are genetically predisposed, such as: Shih Tzus, Yorkshire Terriers and Bichon Frises. Per the AKC (American Kennel Club) bacterial urinary tract infections are the most commonly occurring infectious disease in dogs. Bacterial UTIs affect 14% of all dogs throughout their lifetimes. UTIs also have an increased rate of occurrence in dogs with other health problems, such as chronic kidney disease and Cushing’s disease/hypothyroidism.
Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have found the breeds that place cats at a higher risk of developing kidney and ureter stones are Burmese, Persian, Ragdoll and Tonkinese breeds. However, non-purebred cats (most frequently Domestic Shorthair) still numerically make up the majority of the felines seen with this condition. If a cat is un-neutered, due to hormones the prostate can become very enlarged, causing the colon, located just above the prostate, to become compressed, causing difficulty with passing bowel movements and urinating. One cat study showed that for those cats with upper urinary tract uroliths (stones) when the cat is younger when diagnosed with kidney stones, the risk is higher for developing a ureteral obstruction. Cats aged 4-8 years of age have the highest risk of being diagnosed with upper urinary tract uroliths. Urolithiasis is a general term referring to stones located anywhere within the urinary tract, which includes the kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra. Certain anatomic issues can also predispose a cat to UTIs, such as ectopic ureters (a ureter that does not correctly connect to the bladder and the urine drains outside of the bladder), Obesity can also play a role, as overweight cats cannot groom well, and the skin folding around the genitals traps moisture and bacteria. Many observed “UTI symptoms” do not always mean that a UTI is present. All of these problems may occur because of diseases other than a UTI. For example, many cats less than 10 years of age do not have a UTI, but instead have sterile inflammation of the bladder (sterile cystitis) or urinary stones.
UTIs are considered either acute or chronic. Acute UTIs usually occur infrequently and are easy to treat with antibiotics and pain medications. Chronic UTIs are defined as three or more episodes of a UTI in a year or two or more episodes of UTI within a six-month period. Stones in the bladder can cause infections, and an infection can cause stones. Urine culture results are especially important as they will help determine if a UTI simply did not resolve with prior treatment or if a whole new infection has started.
There are some things you can do to help reduce the possibility / prevent UTIs such as: 1) review with your vet if a dietary change should be made; 2) try offering wet food, which contains more moisture than dry kibble; 3) provide a sufficient constant supply of clean drinking water; 4) let dogs out often to the bathroom (so the urine is not held in the bladder for many hours); 5) make litter boxes accessible for cats and cleaned often during the day; 6) consider using a water fountain to entice your cat to drink more; 7) add extra water to wet pet food, these methods are supportive and do not substitute veterinary care.
Symptoms: Cats may be more “secretive” than dogs about their UTI problem. Things to observe if you suspect your pet has a UTI: 1) trying to urinate more often than your pet’s normal frequency/constantly trying to urinate; 2) straining and possibly making a distress sound (screaming out loud or whining) when urinating; 3) urinating only small amounts of urine with each attempt or not passing any urine; 4) unusual body posture; 5) sometimes blood may be visible in their urine; 6) dripping urine; 7) excessive frequent licking of the genitals; 8) having an “accident” in the house – pee on the floor, urine in places other than the litter box which is unusual behavior for your pet; 9) and bad smelling, cloudy urine. Obvious urinary symptoms may not be present but other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, general malaise, loss/lack of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, tenderness in the lower abdomen, or distention/large bulge near (bladder) belly/groin area.
If the pet has frequent UTIs, discuss with your vet of the possibility of other possible causes/problems. Chronic UTIs can be due to a number of underlying causes, such as: kidney disease, diabetes, urinary “gravel”/ crystals/stones, congenital issues, neurologic disease, a urinary incontinence issue, reaction to immunosuppressive drugs, Cushing’s disease (a condition in which the adrenal glands overproduce certain hormones), polyps, a tumor, and sadly cancer. Your vet may order an ultrasound imaging of the urinary tract to visualize the site to help with a diagnosis/cause.
If you observe any symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian right away. The sooner that you begin treating an infection the sooner your pet will start to feel better. It’s vital to seek professional advice from your vet to pinpoint the specific cause of the UTI and to obtain appropriate treatment if indicated.
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