If your dog’s urine is reduced to a trickle, your pet may be straining to urinate. Many conditions can cause urinary tract problems, and most are serious.
Causes
Bacterial bladder infections, which are most common in females, can make urination difficult for dogs. Bladder stones also are common, and older dogs are prone to tumors and polyps. Infection or enlargement of the prostate gland can squeeze an un-neutered male dog’s urethra, preventing adequate urine flow. Bloody urine can occur with all of these conditions.
What you can do at home
Monitor your dog’s urination habits. These serious conditions can be difficult to treat, so schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if you suspect a problem.
Offer your dog plenty of fresh water, and try feeding him canned foods—they have high water content. Diluting your dog’s urine may help reduce crystal and bladder stone formation. And ask your veterinarian about special diets that help prevent bladder stones and urinary tract disease.
When to call the veterinarian
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice your pet struggling to urinate or if your dog seems constipated (straining to urinate is sometimes mistaken for constipation). If your dog can’t pass urine or experiences pain, lethargy, or vomiting, take him to the veterinarian immediately. Crystals, mucus plugs, or stones can block the urinary tract and cause bladder rupture and death. Infection in the blood from an untreated prostate infection also is a life-threatening condition. Most cases, however, clear up with prompt veterinary care.
What your veterinarian will do
The doctor will perform a thorough physical examination, concentrating on the abdomen and the urinary and genital tracts. The doctor will examine a urine sample for crystals, bacteria, blood, or white blood cells. Dogs with bladder infection and no obstruction may need a diet change or antibiotics. Your veterinarian also may recommend blood tests, urine cultures, X-rays, or an ultrasound.
Pets with urinary blockage need hospitalization and intensive care to relieve the blockage and treat the symptoms. If the doctor can’t remove the obstruction by passing a catheter into the urethra, your pet may undergo emergency surgery. The veterinarian also will remove any tumors or polyps that might be causing your dog’s distress.
In animals not used for breeding, neutering is the preferred treatment for most prostate disorders. Neutering removes testosterone, shrinks the enlarged prostate, and resolves the straining. Dogs with serious prostate infections may need hospitalization to stabilize their condition before they’re neutered.
Once the doctor identifies and treats the underlying problem, your dog’s urine will resume its normal healthy flow.
