3 INTERESTING CASES OF
URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI) IN FEMALE DOGS

Written: 19 Feb 2009
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS

What can the dog owner do to save money on veterinary fees? Is it really in the interest of your female dog to provide a do-it-yourself diagnosis and treatment?


1.  French Bulldog, 6 months
Complaint of owner: Not eating. Could it be due to the presence of 3 puppy incisor teeth that have not dropped off?

Vet: At this age, expect the onset of estrus. Examined the vulval area. Reddish and beginning to swell - onset of estrus. "What is the colour of urine?"
On further discussion, the owner said the puppy passed "smelly urine".
Hygiene: Gentleman owner advised to get vulval folds cleaned as they were stained with dirt.
"Should I give cranberry?" the sister phoned me as she read in the internet that cranberry and another substance was good for UTI. "Not now," I said. "Complete the antibiotics first. I don't know whether cranberries can cure or prevent UTI."
Not many Singapore dog owners think of vulval hygiene when they bathe the dog. The whole body is perfectly clean, except for the vulval area. 


2.  Lhaso Apso, 9 years
White tissues seen in urine sample
Bacteria, protein and white cells present in the urine.
Triple phosphate (struvite) crystals +
pH=9 (pH = 7 is neutral urine).
History: Had pyometra few months ago and had been spayed. I saw the bladder during the spay. It was thin (normal) and not infected. 

Alkaline urine and bacteria in the bladder encourage the formation of struvite stones. Lhasa Apso is one of the breeds predisposed to producing struvite urinary stones. What to do? 
Antibiotics and urine acidification.  "Should I use the powder used by women who has UTI?" the lady owner asked. "I don't know whether it works," I said to the worried owner. There are ammonium chloride tablets in veterinary practices recommended for acidification.
Dog was never on dry dog food for many years. So what's the cause?
Could it be due to a change of peeing procedure?  Dog was trained to pee on the plastic grate (which drains the urine into the tray) in order not to wet her lower body when she pees on the newspapers. So the dog withheld urine as she did not know where to pee - newspapers or pee grate. "Persevere," I had advised the owner. It takes time to teach old dogs new tricks. Or anybody or even young dogs. The owner succeeded. She observed that the urine was not normal and therefore consulted me.    

"Buy the urine dipsticks from the Guardian Pharmacy," I advised. "You can then check the urine pH weekly." The lady phoned back and said that nobody sells such dipsticks as there was no demand. I would order for her the Veterinary dipsticks but each bottle comes in 100 sticks!  More worries for the lady owner. Regular urine monitoring for urine pH and struvite crystals will be the ideal but the owner needs to have a plan of action - a schedule. Otherwise, struvite stones form from the crystals and much more expenses and worries will be incurred. 

3.  Miniature Pinscher X, 4 months
Pee urine a lot of times. Examined vulval area. Greenish yellowish pus oozed out.
Antibiotics given. Pee the usual number of times expect of the puppy.
but on examination during the 2nd visit for vaccination after 1 week, there was still some purulent vaginal discharge. Puppy could be licking her vulva to keep clean and infect her urethra. E-Collar and antibiotics. Owner taught to inspect vulval area.

"Your staff wrote 'Mixed Breed' in the vaccination certificate," the lady owner was worried about this. My intern who was 18 years old and just completed her "A levels" and waiting for the results on March 6, 2009  wrote "Miniature Pincher". I corrected her. The reason for the worry is that the mixed breed may not be an approved dog in HDB apartments.

CONCLUSION - Owners to have a plan - a time table to do the some of the following procedures in consultation with their vets for cases of urinary tract infections in female dogs:
1. Observe urination times and nature of urine - colour, clarity and amount, frequency.
2. Hygiene of the vulval area. Examine vulval area at bathing time.
3. Urine analysis for dogs 3 years and older to check the health of the dog.
4. Smell of urine can be evident in some dogs. Consult your vet promptly.
5. Breed disposition to urinary stones e.g. Miniature Schnauzers, Lhasa Apso.
6. Educate yourself (internet?)
7. Use urinary dipsticks to save money on veterinary fees?
8. Vulval licking of your female dog is not a normal behaviour although many Singapore owners think it is. It may be a sign of incipient pyometra or UTI or worse conditions.

In the interest of the dog, it is best to consult and follow up with your veterinarian. If you self-treat, the UTI may be worse and the dog dies from septicaemia and kidney infections over some time.