Cystitis in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Posted by Volhard Dog Nutrition on Mar 30th 2023
Maria and her dog Daisy have just come back from their morning walk. But, although she had plenty of time to pee, Daisy is begging for another pee walk ... and another ... and another. Maria does not cave into Daisy's puppy-eyed look, knowing she just went peeing. Moments later, she notices urine stains on her favorite carpet — and her dog, standing by the door, insisting on another pee walk after emptying the entire water bowl!
What could be causing Daisy's accident? Has she mysteriously forgotten her potty training, or is she dealing with a urinary tract infection? The symptoms — inappropriate urination and polydipsia (i.e., excessive thirst) — point toward cystitis.
Cystitis is a pesky, uncomfortable inflammation of the bladder. Dogs with this condition constantly feel the constant need to go to the bathroom, even after relieving themselves. The urgency forces the dog to pee wherever they can, even in places they're not supposed to.
Cystitis occurs more often in female dogs since it's easier for bacteria to reach the bladder. Bladder stones and secondary diseases like diabetes and Cushing's syndrome are linked with cystitis in dogs.
Once you notice the symptoms of cystitis occurring in your dog, it's time to schedule a visit to the veterinarian. This condition can only be treated with medication, but there are ways to help your dog fight off the bladder infection with the appropriate diet!
What are the Most Common Signs of Cystitis in Dogs?
The clearest indicator of cystitis in your dog is the urgency to go to the bathroom. You will notice your dog spending more time by the door, asking to go out more frequently. Likewise, they will empty the water bowl more often, causing the second mark of cystitis: inappropriate urination in the house. Pay close attention to the urine itself, as it may contain traces of blood (i.e., hematuria). The further you allow the inflammation to progress, the more painful it will become, especially in the abdominal area.
Other symptoms of cystitis in dogs include:
- Straining while urinating (i.e., dysuria)
- Strong-smelling urine
- Discomfort while urinating
- Lethargy
- Poor appetite
How Do Dogs Get Cystitis?
The primary cause of cystitis in dogs is bacterial infections that start in the bladder and might migrate throughout the entire urinary tract. This is most common in female dogs, whose genitalia are close enough to the ground when urinating to come into contact with bacteria. Female dogs are just as vulnerable when breeding, as the bacteria from the male dog can enter into what is usually a closed system. Bladder infections can also be secondary to other diseases, such as diabetes and Cushing's syndrome.
These bladder infections can lead to the appearance of bladder stones due to the overabundance of crystalline minerals in the urine. The rough surface of these stones will rub against and irritate the bladder wall, thus adding to the discomfort. Such cases require immediate veterinary attention since bladder stones can block the entire urinary tract, putting your dog's life in danger.
Finally, the causes of your dog's cystitis can be genetic, leading to a malformed urinary tract that prevents them from completely emptying their bladder. Unfortunately, the permanent presence of urine in the bladder will turn it into the perfect environment for bacteria to flourish.
How Is Canine Cystitis Diagnosed?
Veterinarians have four methods at their disposal to diagnose cystitis in dogs:
- Urine testing: A urine culture is the most straightforward way to diagnose cystitis. All you have to do is collect the urine sample and send it to your vet, preferably within two hours after the urination.
- Sterile sample: Bringing in a urine sample is not always enough to diagnose an infected urinary bladder. That's why your vet may request a sterile sample (i.e., a urine sample straight out of a dog's bladder). Through this simple, painless procedure, the vet reaches the bladder wall and samples the urine directly. This approach allows your vet to detect any bacteria remaining in the urinary tract.
- Bladder radiography or X-rays: Performing X-rays on your dog's urinary tract will help uncover symptoms of cystitis and detect abnormalities in the bladder, such as stones, tumors, diverticula, or polyps.
- Ultrasound examination: This sound wave technique will bring to light malignant bladder tumors, wall thickening, and otherwise unseen bladder stones without any sedation or anesthesia.
How is Canine Cystitis Treated?
For the majority of cystitis cases, antibiotics are the treatment of choice. They are the safest and quickest way to treat an infected urinary bladder, but at a cost — some helpful bacteria may fall to friendly fire alongside the harmful ones. That is why supporting your dog with probiotics while on cystitis medication is key to a smooth recovery!
The length and intensity of treatment depend on certain variables, such as the presence of underlying causes (e.g., bladder stones or diseases like diabetes or Cushing's syndrome) or whether the bacteria have reached the kidneys, causing a urinary tract infection. Additional medication will be prescribed to treat the underlying causes/secondary infections in both cases. Likewise, dogs who are regularly on medication will require special antibiotics since the bacteria present in the bladder might already be antibiotic-resistant.
How to Speed Up Your Dog's Recovery
Although medication is imperative for treating the infection, these tips will help your dog better handle the recovery process:
Putting Your Dog On a Kidney and Bladder Cleansing Diet
The following kidney and bladder cleansing diet put together by our founder, Wendy Volhard, will help your dog fight off bacterial infections in the urinary tract. This 21-day cleansing and balancing diet is designed for a 50-pound dog. Feed twice a day and adjust according to weight:
- Protein (1/3rd of the diet; use one at a time): beef, chicken, fish, lamb, cottage cheese, yogurt, or cooked 5-minute eggs with shell.
- Grains (1/3rd of the diet; use oats singly, or combine half and half): 1/2 oats with either brown rice, millet, or buckwheat groats.
- Vegetables (1/3rd of the diet; use one at a time, rotating the vegetables, or combine some together): parsnips, beets, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, carrots, green beans, lettuce, radishes, celery, cucumbers.
- Herbs: 1 teaspoon, dried, of goldenrod, nettles, parsley, uva ursi, dandelion, marshmallow (use two or three together and rotate).
- Fruit: 1/4 to 1/2 of a small watermelon can be fed instead of one meal. Use skin and seeds, as well as fruit. Must be fed at least 2 hours before or after other food. Flushes and cleanses the kidneys.
- Supplements (use in both a.m. and p.m. meals):
1/2 teaspoon of Transfer Factor Plus
1/2 teaspoon of Digestive Enzymes
1 gram of Vitamin C (calcium ascorbate) — start with 500 milligrams and slowly increase to 1 gram
1 Vitamin B Complex
2 tablespoons of Willard Water
200 IU of vitamin E (use only in the a.m.)
7. Glandulars (use 1 tablet in the p.m. meal, and feed between 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.): Renatrophin PMG.
Switching to an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Next, we must ensure your dog's diet doesn't worsen the bacterial infection. For that reason, we recommend switching to an anti-inflammatory diet, such as Volhard Rescue! This anti-inflammatory, hypoallergenic, gluten-free, and grain-free foundation mix is specifically designed for dogs suffering from food intolerances, GI issues, recovering from illness or injury, or needing food that's low on the glycemic index. Moreover, it supports the urinary tract and can serve as a lifelong diet after cleansing your dog's kidneys and bladder!
Pack Your Dog's Meals With Flavonoids
Flavonoids are chemical compounds that signal the immune system to fight against bacterial infections. They are primarily found in fruits and vegetables, with cranberries being an excellent source of flavonoids. Look for flavorless, artificial sugar-free cranberry supplements and add them to your dog's food bowl. The easiest way to feed them to a dog is by wrapping them in meat.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Excessively alkaline urine (i.e., with a pH above 7.0) will create the ideal environment in your dog's bladder for bacteria to thrive. Feeding apple cider vinegar to your dog will help reduce the urine pH to healthy levels (i.e., 6.5-7.0).
Marshmallow Root
Marshmallow root is demulcent, meaning that it soothes and protects irritated and inflamed tissue. Marshmallow root supplements help create a barrier between the lining of the urinary tract and any harmful bacteria, preventing them from worsening the inflammation. Feed 1/2 teaspoon for every pound of food.
Parsley
Parsley is a fantastic diuretic with well-known antiseptic properties that will help improve the symptoms of cystitis and UTIs. All you have to do is buy a bunch of fresh parsley, put it into a vegetable juicer, and feed 1 teaspoon of juice for every 20 pounds of body weight. You can either mix it in your dog's food or load it up in a syringe and shoot it down their throat.
Thlaspi Bursa
Thlaspi bursa is an almost organ-specific homeopathic that targets issues in the urinary bladder, such as chronic cystitis and UTIs. It is also helpful in removing urethral obstructions.
Help Your Dog Overcome Their Signs of Cystitis With Natural Remedies!
The urinary bladder is constantly threatened by all sorts of bacterial infections, such as cystitis. Although successfully treating such infections requires medication, you can strengthen your dog's immune system with a hypoallergenic diet and keep the harmful bacteria in your urinary bladder in check with our natural remedies. No more discomfort or episodes of inappropriate urination for your furry friend! For more advice on dog nutrition, health, and training, make sure that you contact us and check out our blog!
Volhard Dog Nutrition and its expert nutritionists are now offering online consultations to help more dog parents discover why, what, and how to feed their dogs the healthiest of foods! Speaking to a Volhard nutritionist will help you understand the inseparable relationship between healthy food, a healthy body, and a healthy mind. If you're interested in contacting one of our Volhard nutritionists, don't hesitate to access our consultation page!