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Cystitis is not at all uncommon. In my clinic, I’ll see a handful of cases in dogs every week- and even more in cats! Although it is not a life-threatening issue, it does make dogs very uncomfortable and owners will be keen to get a handle on it ASAP.
This article takes a look at the more common causes of cystitis, how we diagnose it, the standard treatment options and what owners can do to help their pets from home.
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. Some owners assume that cystitis means there has to be a bacterial infection, but actually many dogs will have an inflamed bladder (cystitis) and there is no bacterial infection present.
It isn’t uncommon for owners to come into the consult room asking for antibiotics, but please don’t take offence if your vet refuses initially! While UTIs do need antibiotics, we only want to give them when they are needed.
Acute cystitis is a one-off episode that comes on quickly- and goes just as fast. Chronic cystitis can grumble along or may come and go. It can be very frustrating, for owners, vets and dogs alike.
Some of the more classic signs of cystitis include:
Straining to urinate
Frequent urination in small amounts
Blood in urine (hematuria), cloudy urine, or smelly urine
Accidents in the house
Excessive licking of genital area
Signs of pain or discomfort when urinating
Excessive thirst
Lethargy, fever, or loss of appetite (in severe cases)
Let’s take a closer look at what could have caused your dog’s cystitis.
The most common cause for canine cystitis is indeed bacteria. For cats, the same cannot be said and bacteria is not usually the cause for them. About 1 in 7 dogs develop a bacterial UTI during their lifetime.
Stones in the bladder act as a source of infection. The bacteria can stick to the surface. Stones are more common in certain breeds such as the Bulldog, Boxer and Shih Tzu. They’ll have to be dissolved with diet or surgically removed, otherwise infections continue to occur.
In uncastrated males, prostatitis can occur, especially in their senior years. This is a painful bacterial infection of the prostate gland. Signs in addition to the UTI signs can include a stiff gait, fever, and vomiting.
Rarely, cystitis may be linked to a cancerous tumor or a benign growth such as a bladder polyp. This would be more common in older dogs. These are usually detected on an ultrasound scan of the bladder.
When cystitis occurs but there is no obvious cause and diagnostic tests all come back negative, this is called ‘Idiopathic Cystitis’. This is a frustrating condition, for owners and pets alike. For many, it is linked to stress and this can mean things like moving home, a spate in kennels, or a new baby in the house.
Underlying diseases like diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome lead to excessive thirst and urination and can also be associated with urinary infections. Diabetic dogs often have sugar in their urine, which leads to the growth of bacteria.
Things like obesity, trouble emptying the bladder, chronic diarrhoea and dirty fur, can all lead to cystitis.
If you are worried something is off, the first step is to bring them to your local vet. If you can, bring a fresh urine sample in a clean tupperware container. Contrary to popular belief, there’s no need to fill the container! 5-10mls is often all we need. If your consultation is not for another few hours, keep the sample in the fridge.
Your vet will check your pet from nose to tail and feel their bladder for any thickening or masses. They generally also check their temperature, and if they are an entire male, perform a rectal exam to assess their prostate gland.
A urinalysis will include assessing the concentration (specific gravity test), dipstick and perhaps sending the urine off for a culture- when a bacterial infection is strongly suspected.
Where suspicions are high for an underlying issue or the infections are recurring, your vet may be keen to run some further tests such as blood tests and imaging of the urinary tract. This way, any concurrent issues can be detected.
How your vet treats your dog will depend on the root cause of the cystitis. This is why a vet check and diagnostic tests are so important, before rushing in to giving antibiotics.
Antibiotics are usually given orally and for a course of 4 weeks or so. A common mistake is to not give them for long enough, so the infection never clears. he urine is usually cultured a week after stopping antibiotics, to confirm no infection remains.
These dogs are uncomfortable! They have an urge to strain and they often have bladder and genital pain. Both pain relief and anti inflammatories will be appreciated and are normally given orally, usually with food.
It is helpful to offer plenty of fluids in the form of wet food and by offering lots of fresh water or some dog safe broths or rehydration drinks. This flushes through the dog, making their urine more dilute and helping to prevent the adherence of bacteria and the formation of crystals.
For some, a prescription urinary diet is needed. This is often the case for those with urinary crystals and stones. You may need to make sure they are not eating anything else, so the diet can have full effect.
Some bladder stones cannot dissolve with dietary interventions. Surgery to remove these stones is typically required. This is important not only to prevent infections, but also to keep the dog comfortable and to prevent any urinary blockages.
There are lots of supplements available to give from home which can help- both during a bout of cystitis and to prevent future issues. Some of the supplements with the best track record include D-mannose and cranberry extract. They can help prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall.
It is not advised to ignore the signs of cystitis, or to hope it will resolve without treatment. This approach could lead to a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) which could lead to kidney failure and may even be life threatening.
Cystitis in dogs causes chronic discomfort- whether your dog lets you know or not. So, do make sure you talk to your vet about your worries.
There are some steps you can take to try and prevent cystitis, particularly if your dog has had a bout in the past.
It is so important to keep your pooch hydrated. If their urine is concentrated, it is highly saturated, and there is a much higher chance of crystals and stones forming. This can mean having lots of water bowls available and adding water to meals- which should ideally be wet food, You could even give drinks like dog-safe bone broth.
Make sure you bring your dog out to pee many times during the day If they have to hold their urine, this gives bacteria more of a chance to multiply. So, try to space bathroom breaks regularly and avoid having a big, long stretch without letting your dog out.
Good hygiene is especially important in those with longer fur, as any urine staining or stool staining around the backend can mean bacteria are present, and they can ascend the urinary tract, especially in females.
Try to make sure your dog is a healthy Body Condition Score. Fat dogs are more likely to have skin folds, and this means trapped bacteria and moisture, and a higher risk of infections in general. Overweight dogs are also more prone to diabetes, which has a strong association with UTIs.
Provide bladder health supplements for those prone to cystitis and have your pet regularly checked by their vet- including a urine analysis now and then.
‘Red flag’ signs to be on the lookout for would be obvious discomfort or distress, passing large clots of blood or frank blood, or an actual inability to pass urine.
Males are more likely to experience an obstruction than females as they have a narrower urethra (the tube that connects the bladder to the outside world). If your dog is not able to pass any urine, they’re at risk for real complications. This can mean a ruptured bladder and kidney failure - and this needs immediate intervention.
Cystitis is something I see regularly in my vet clinic. There are lots of things that can cause it. For some, bacterial UTIs are behind the cystitis, but they aren’t always the cause. Your vet will normally run some basic tests to try and get a clearer picture.
For your dog, the earlier a cause is found and addressed, the sooner your dog will be back to normal and feeling comfortable again.
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