Cystitis (Urinary Infection)
Cystitis is infection or inflammation of the bladder. Infection is more common in females, as their urinary passage, or urethra, is much shorter than in males, so bacteria have less distance to travel into the bladder.
Clinical Signs
- Straining to urinate
- Producing small amounts of urine frequently
- Blood in the urine
- Lethargy, inappetence and depression
- Bacterial infection causes irritation in the bladder so the animal may strain even though the bladder is empty.
Diagnosis
Cystitis may be suspected from the signs your pet is showing. The vet may also do tests on a urine sample to check for the presence of blood, protein, bacteria and crystals and to check the pH and concentration of the urine.
Treatment
Treatment depends on what is found in the urine sample. Bacterial infection requires a course of antibiotics to treat the most common bacteria. A urine sample may be sent to a laboratory for culture to work out which bacteria are causing the problem, and to determine which antibiotic is most effective. Anti-inflammatories or prescription diets to dissolve crystals may also be necessary.
NB. It is extremely important to finish the whole course of antibiotics or the condition may recur shortly after finishing the medication.
You may see improvement in the first few days when the antibiotic has killed the bacteria in the urine, but there are still bacteria remaining in the bladder wall that will set up another infection if the antibiotic course is not finished.
Always make sure that your pet has access to plenty of fresh water and the opportunity to go to the toilet when the urge arises.
Entire Male Dogs may get cystitis related to infections or disease of the prostate gland. The vet will feel your dog’s prostate rectally and may prescribe medication for any prostate problems.
Cats
Cats get a specific type of cystitis called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease or FLUTD. This is an inflammatory disease of the bladder and often there are no bacteria present. There may, however, be crystals in the urine. This disease may be related to stress and is often recurring. There are a range of different treatments including anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, crystal-dissolving diets, anti-anxiety medication and muscle relaxants.
