Cystitis in Dogs

What is cystitis?

Cystitis means inflammation of the bladder. In dogs, unlike cats, the cause is most often a bacterial infection: bacteria from the skin or intestinal tract travel up the urethra and colonize the bladder. Females are affected more often than males because their urethra is shorter and wider.

What are the signs?

• Urinating more often, often in small amounts
• Straining or taking a long time to pass urine
• Accidents in the house from a previously house-trained dog
• Blood in the urine, or urine that is cloudy or strong-smelling
• Licking the genital area
• Occasionally, a fever or a loss of appetite

If your dog is straining and producing no urine at all, this is an emergency. A blocked urethra, usually from a stone, can be fatal within a day or two.

How is cystitis diagnosed?

A urinalysis looks at the concentration of the urine and checks for blood, protein, white blood cells, crystals, and bacteria. A urine culture identifies the exact bacteria and which antibiotics will work against it; this is especially important for repeat infections. Blood work and an X-ray or ultrasound are added when we suspect stones, an underlying disease, or a problem higher up in the urinary tract.

How is it treated?

An uncomplicated bacterial infection is treated with a course of antibiotics chosen for the organism involved. It is important to give the full course even after the signs disappear, and we usually recheck the urine afterward to confirm the infection is gone. Pain relief and encouraging water intake help your dog feel better sooner.

My dog keeps getting bladder infections. Why?

Recurrent or persistent infections almost always have a reason behind them. Common ones include:

• Bladder stones, which harbor bacteria and irritate the lining (see Bladder Stone Surgery)
• Diabetes, Cushing's disease, or kidney disease, which produce dilute or sugar-rich urine that bacteria thrive in
• Anatomical problems such as a recessed vulva or a bladder that does not empty completely
• Long-term steroid use or other causes of a weakened immune system
• Rarely, a tumor of the bladder

When infections keep returning, we look for these causes with blood tests, imaging, and sometimes a look inside the bladder, because treating the underlying problem is the only way to stop the cycle.

Can I prevent cystitis?

Fresh water always available, frequent chances to urinate, keeping the coat around the genitals clean and trimmed in long-haired dogs, and keeping weight under control all reduce the risk. Dogs that have formed stones often need a special diet to prevent new ones.

See also: Cystitis in Cats (FUS/FLUTD)