Urinary Tract Infection, or UTI, in dogs can be troublesome for you, and very uncomfortable for the dog. It should not be taken lightly because if left unchecked, it could lead to serious complications like renal failure or severe dehydration.

The infection affects the organs of the body that is connected to the urinary tract, which primarily functions to dispose of waste. This includes the kidneys, the bladder, and the urethra. Because of the length of the urethra, dams or bitches are more likely to get UTI than sires.

In total, about 14% of all dogs will acquire an infection in their urinary tracts. Chronic UTI in dogs can be indicative of a more serious condition, so get the dog tested every time UTI symptoms appear.

Dogs with Urinary Tract Infections find it very painful to pass water so in order to lessen their need to urinate, they would rather not drink. This leads to the build up of kidney stones and bladder stones, and inadequate hydration of the entire body.

That is why addressing a simple infection is better than waiting around if it will resolve on its own or get worse. Bladder and kidney stones may need to be removed surgically, and there are certain types of dogs that are more prone to these formations.

Check the breed of your dog and the breed-specific disorders that you should look out for. In general, crossbreeds have better health conditions than purebreds because of the fact that they are not as in-bred. They (crossbreeds) also often have stronger or more robust immune systems than dogs from the pure line.

This is not saying that all pure bred dogs are unhealthy, only that inbreeding can cause many problems for the dog. Nor is it meant to say that if your dog is a crossbreed then you should not have to worry about UTI or other diseases.

The sad thing about Urinary Tract Infection is that, in most cases, it is a disorder that is entirely preventable if the dog is given the proper care that he needs. Good quality food, clean water, exercise, and clean living conditions are the minimum that a dog requires. If a dog receives these things, it will not only prevent UTI, but a number of other illnesses and disorders as well.

In the event that the infection has already set in, the treatment regimen is also not very difficult. Most times it only takes about a week of antibiotic treatments, but these need to be prescribed by a veterinarian.