Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs and Cats

Just like humans, our pets often have complications with their urinary systems. Serious ailments such as upper tract disorders are most common, while acute renal failure can progress quickly and lead to death when left untreated. The upper and lower tracts are both prone to serious malfunctions. To avoid an unexpected death and subsequent pet memorial, it is wise to know all the facts.

Canine urinary function is a complex array of components that primarily deal with four functions: 1) it serves as a filter of metabolic waste such as urea, mineral salts and toxins that circulate in the blood; 2) it helps regulate the volume of bodily fluids and blood levels with key chemicals and hormones; 3) urinary function initiates the recirculation of purified blood throughout the animals system and; 4) it facilitates the storage and excretion of the filtered waste products before they reach toxic levels in the body.

The upper tract has two kidneys, which manage biochemical processes . Two tubes known as ureters, one leading from each kidney, transport the waste containing the urine to the lower tract. The lower tract is primarily excretory and consists of a muscular sac known as the bladder, which received urine from the ureters and stores it until it is expelled via urination. Serious ailments can affect either of these urinary tracts.

When a dog's kidney suddenly becomes unable to eliminate harmful wastes from the bloodstream or regulate fluids, the condition is known as kidney or renal failure, which can be acute, also known as rapid, or chronic, meaning that it has developed over a period of time. Acute Renal Failure (ACF) can be a fatal condition that results from a sudden inability of kidneys to regulate the urine production and elimination of toxic wastes from the bloodstream. This condition can also lead to high blood pressure, heart failure or death.

If a dog or cat stops urinating, this is an extreme emergency. And in some cases, ARF can progress to Chronic Renal Failure (CRF), a slowly progressing disease that usually affects older cats over 10 years of age. In the canine world, chronic kidney disease is more prevalent in breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel, Doberman Pinscher, Standard Poodle, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso and Shar-Pei.

Factors causing kidney failure can include toxins, antifreeze, herbicides or pesticides. For antifreeze ingestion, the treatment needs to be given early to be effective. Inducing vomiting and flushing the stomach out can be very helpful if performed within 1-2 hours of ingestion of antifreeze, otherwise, the disease progresses very rapidly. When left untreated, death is eminent.

The first signs of kidney disorders are usually hard to spot since excessive thirst and urination is not as common in cats as in dogs. As the disease progresses, you may notice that your pet is drinking a lot of water and urinating, and there can also be weakness, loss of appetite, poor coat condition, vomiting, and even an ammonia-like odor to their breath. They can get ulcerations in the mouth, and often exhibit pale gums due to anemia.

What’s even worse, your pet could develop sudden blindness caused by eye bleeding resulting from high blood pressure or seizures. Acute renal failure can also occur when your pet eats a toxic plant, such as a tiger lily, otherwise known as Easter or Day lilies. The toxicosis in cats appears via loss of appetite, dullness, then within 48 to 96 hours later, kidney failure. The treatment should be aggressive and within 24 hours, including induced vomiting and other ways vets help evacuate toxins such as giving activated charcoal.

If the worse happens and your pet dies from kidney failure, be sure to provide family members with a way to resolve their grief, including selecting a pet urn for the ashes of a cremated pet, or an engraved pet memorial grave marker.

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