Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs And Cats

Urinary tract infections are very common in dogs and cats. The diagnosis is made by finding white blood cells and/or bacteria in the urine. These infections usually require a Minimum of ten days of treatment with antibiotics.

Unfortunately, many of the bacteria that cause these infections have developed a resistance to the antibiotics. It is common for your veterinarian to treat the infection for longer than ten days, or switch your pet to a different medication. It is also common for there to be underlying causes of urinary tract infections such as mineral crystals or bladder stones, polyps, or food allergies. Sometimes these are difficult to detect until the infection is under control.

For these reasons it is Very Important to check another urine specimen before you run out of antibiotics. That way if there is still infection present you will not stop the medication too soon. If the infection has improved but crystals or blood are still present, further testing or treatment may be needed.

Collecting A Sample

For Cats: Empty the litter pan completely and clean it with soap and water, rinse well and dry. Or you can empty the pan and put a clean pan liner inside. Once you have a sample, pour it back into a clean container or urine specimen cup, cover and refrigerate.