Finding a New Vet

Urinary tract infections can be very annoying and painful for humans, but they offer the same symptoms for dogs. If you suspect that your dog may have a urinary tract infection, you should take it to the vet for treatment. Failing to get a urinary tract infection in a dog treated can lead to further problems, and the infection generally does not go away on its own. Here are three things to know about it.

Signs that your dog might have one

The main sign you may notice that can indicate a urinary tract infection is seeing your dog trying to urinate a lot. If your dog begins to try to urinate more frequently than usual, it could be a sign that it is trying to go, but cannot. Urinary tract infections can also have the following symptoms:

• Soiling in unusual areas
• Bleeding in the urine
• Lethargy
• Constant licking of urinary area

If you notice any or all of these symptoms, you should take your dog to the vet. Leaving this infection untreated can result in other problems. A vet can treat a urinary tract infection with antibiotics or other types of medications.

Problems this can lead to

One of the main issues this can lead to is the development of kidney stones. When the kidneys cannot eliminate the waste inside, they can begin to form stones. Kidney stones in dogs can be painful and will not go away on their own.

The best way to find out if your dog already has kidney stones is through an x-ray. Your vet can perform an x-ray on your dog. If there are kidney stones present, they will typically show up on the x-ray. If the vet sees this, he or she will need to treat it accordingly.

How this is treated

Some types of kidney stones must be surgically removed from a dog, but most types can be treated with a special diet. Vets often sell dog food that is designed to break down stones in a dog's kidneys. Your vet may also suggest giving your dog extra water to help dilute the stones. Your vet may suggest running x-rays again in a few weeks or months to ensure the stones are gone.

Urinary tract infections are no fun for people or dogs, but they can be treated. If you suspect there is a problem with your dog, make sure you schedule a vet appointment soon. Check it out.