Female Dog Bladder Infection & Incontinence
- A bladder infection occurs when bacteria enters your dog's urinary tract and reaches the bladder. The bacteria multiply and spread, causing infection and inflammation, according to Mar Vista Animal Medical Center. Female dogs are at a greater risk for developing a bladder infection because their urethras are short and wide, making it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract. The bacteria can also travel more easily to a dog's bladder.
- If your female dog has a bladder infection, the main symptom you will notice is that she drinks much more water than is normal for her. As a result of drinking so much water, she will need to urinate more often. She will urinate frequently but will only release a little urine each time. According to Washington State University, because she is unable to hold her urine for very long, it might look like she is incontinent.
- If your dog is drinking more often then normal and is urinating so often she appears incontinent, contact your veterinarian. A urine sample is needed to determine whether your dog has a bladder infection. Because a dog's urine is contaminated by bacteria as soon as she urinates, your veterinarian will need to take a sample directly from her bladder using a catheter or a needle. Once your veterinarian finds bacteria in the urine, he can diagnose a bladder infection.
- You will need a prescription for antibiotics to clear your dog's bladder infection. You should give your dog the entire supply of pills, usually enough for two weeks, to be sure that the bacteria are completely removed from her system, according to "The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook." While she is recovering, be sure she has access to plenty of water and is able to get outside in order to urinate often.
- While your dog will urinate often and might begin urinating in new places while she has a bladder infection, she is not necessarily incontinent. She needs to urinate often but she can control the urge long enough to get outside. To avoid accidents inside the house, be sure she has access to the outdoors. Once her bladder infection has been cleared, she will drink normal amounts of water and will not need to urinate as frequently. In general, however, female dogs are more likely to suffer from incontinence, especially if both ureters are abnormal, according to Washington State University.