Bladder infection in dogs.

Causes of cystitis in dogs,

It is always very annoying when your dog develops a bladder infection. This is called cystitis with a fancy word. There are several causes that can cause cystitis in dogs. The most common cause for a (recurring) cystitis is bacteria. These are usually not foreign bacteria, as they originate from the male dog's foreskin or the bitch's vagina. In some dogs, the bacteria then crawl into the urethra to the bladder, where they then cause a bladder infection. Due to their anatomy, bitches have a bladder infection faster than male dogs. This is because the bitch has a shorter and wider urethra compared to the male dog, so the bacteria can crawl up towards the bladder more quickly and easily. Of course, cystitis can also cause a bladder infection. Unlike in cats, bladder stones caused by struvite are more often the result of bacterial cystitis rather than causing inflammation themselves. It has been found that once the bacteria are controlled with antibiotics, the bladder stones often disappear on their own.

Are all females and males equally likely to develop cystitis?

. Studies have shown that spayed females are most likely to develop cystitis. And neutered males are also more likely to develop a bladder infection compared to intact males. In fact, sex hormones have been shown to protect adult dogs from developing cystitis. Female hormones contribute to a healthy protective layer inside the bladder and a properly functioning sphincter of the bladder. The latter is why spayed females also sometimes become incontinent after surgery. The male hormone testosterone is needed for a properly functioning prostate gland, which releases antibodies via the prostatic fluid to protect the male dog from a bladder infection.

What can you tell when your dog has a bladder infection?

You will usually notice that the dog seems to urinate a little harder and this is also often painful. Because the dog has more frequent urges, they will urinate more often but as small puddles. With males, this may be more difficult to see because they urinate much more often than females. Nevertheless, the owner will also see that this is different from the usual way. When the dog urinates more often, the chance that this will happen again in the house is obviously greater. Most toilet-trained dogs find this very annoying and sometimes you will see that this urine is different. The urine is often more cloudy with cystitis and can sometimes contain some blood, the bacteria also cause the urine to smell different. When the cystitis is more severe or has been present for longer than seen, the symptoms often become worse and the dog also gets sicker.

Since a dog can have real (painful) symptoms of a bladder infection, it is advisable to always contact your vet if you suspect a bladder infection. This will examine the dog and check the urine for bacteria and bladder stones.

-This is an automated translation-