If there is one thing that the pet experts at Naperville Animal Hospital know for sure, it’s that urinary trouble in pets is no fun at all. Read on to learn about common pet urinary problems, what causes them, and what’s to be done:
Common Canine Conundrums
While dogs and cats can share types of urinary disease, some are more common in one species versus the other. In dogs, the most common pet urinary issues that our doctors diagnose include:
- Urinary tract infection
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary tract stones
- Cystitis (inflammation) of the bladder
- Urine marking behavior
- Separation anxiety
- Ectopic ureter or other congenital problems of the urinary tract
- Systemic disease leading to increased urine production
- Urinary tract tumors/cancers
Kitty Concerns
Cats are a little different ball of wax (yarn?). While they can suffer from the same things that dogs do, some things such as urinary tract infections are much less common.
Urinary trouble in cats tends to be caused by:
- Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)/Cystitis
- Systemic disease leading to increased urine production
- Urinary tract stones/crystals
- Stress
- Litter box aversions
- Urine marking behavior
Diagnosing and Treating Pet Urinary Problems
Pet urinary problems can present in many ways, but if your pet is urinating more than normal, having accidents, straining or having difficulty urinating, or dribbling urine, it is time to call us to make an appointment.
Some pet urinary problems, such as urinary obstruction in cats, are a true pet emergency.
Once we have examined your pet, oftentimes additional diagnostic tests will be recommended to arrive at a diagnosis. Things like urinalysis, blood work, urine culture, radiographs (x-ray), ultrasound, or even CT are needed to know what we are treating. In the case of behavioral problems, we will need to rule out medical diagnoses with some basic diagnostics.
Once we understand what is causing the trouble, we can get started treating your pet properly. Pet urinary problems may be treated very differently depending on their origin. An infection will need antibiotics, incontinence may respond to an estrogen supplement, urinary stones may need surgery, and a stressed out kitty might need a diet change or an anti-anxiety medication.
Proactive preventative pet wellness care can also help us to identify and treat causes of pet urinary problems earlier, aiding our success in treatment.
When your pet is having potty problems, it can really put a damper on your relationship. Thankfully, most pet urinary problems are treatable or manageable with a little understanding.
The post A Problem With a Capital “Pee”: Common Pet Urinary Problems appeared first on Naperville Animal Hospital, Naperville, IL.