Recognizing Canine Cystitis

You may have never heard of canine cystitis. You may have no idea what this medical condition is and how it can and will effect your dog. There is a good reason why this common dog health problem is so unheard of. It is usually confused or misdiagnosed as a simple bladder infection. It really isn't surprising as the symptoms that are associated with canine cystitis are almost identical to a UTI, urinary tract infection. In fact the only way to tell the difference between the two id through a series of blood test coupled with urine test. The reason why it is so important to distinguish whether your dog has a simple bladder infection or canine cystitis is because the causes of canine cystitis may be much more detrimental to your pets well being if left untreated.

Canine cystitis is a sever infection in a dogs bladder that can causes the infected animal unimaginable pain and discomfort. The most common reason why this infection begins is bacteria. This dangerous bacteria makes it way through the urethra and into the bladder where it causes its damage. This is especially common in female dogs as their urethra is considerably shorter than their male counterparts. Although this is the most common cause of cystitis, it is not the only cause. There to more slightly less common causes for the health issue. These causes are much more dangerous and important to catch early. Some of the more serious causes of canine cystitis are bladder cancer/tumors, calcium covered bladder stones, and small pockets in the bladder that unhealthily collect urine, a medical condition called Diverticulum. Although it is much more likely that if your dog has developed canine cystitis that I began because of a bacterial infection, it is still very important to test. This will ensure that if your beloved pet does have a more serious health problem, it can be treated as soon as possible.

As I said before, canine cystitis has very similar symptoms to a common bladder infection but can be much more serious. Here are some questions to ask if you think that your pet may have this disease. Does your dog seem to be in pain when he or she is urinating. Is your pet going more often than usual, or are they going in the house even though they have been housebroken? Does your pet's urine have a terrible strong and unpleasant smell, not that urine smells great to begin with but a more unpleasant smell? Is there any blood in the dog's urine? If you have answered yes to any of these questions you should take your pet to veterinarian immediately. Only a vet will be able to properly diagnose your pet and provide the proper treatment.

Speaking of treatments, if your pet is diagnosed with canine cystitis and it was caused by a common bacterial infection, it can be treated with a few doses of antibiotics. After taking the medicine your pet will be feeling better in no time at all. Now, if the disease was caused by something a bit more serious, you will need to talk to the vet about the best course of action to take in order to ensure your dog has the best chance to recover and stay healthy.

The point of this article was to make you all aware that you should take your pet to a medical professional at the first sign of a health problem because things may not always be as they seem.