
Urinary
An irritated bladder is like a 'scratch you can't itch'. Troublesome to sooth and important to have checked (by a medical professional). Explore common signs and urinary concerns more here.
Know When to Go
To the Vet
Bladder irritation is uncomfortable and can be difficult to recognize. What may look like behavioral disobedience, may actually be clues to a deeper medical condition. Here are the signs at home to watch for:​
Monitor at Home:
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Urinating outside the litterbox (cats) 1-2 times per week
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Marking/urinating inside the house in areas they wouldn't commonly go
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Changes to drinking habits
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Changes to frequency of needing bathroom breaks (ex needing to go outside every two hours instead of every four or noticing more litter clumps in the box)
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Grooming/licking at hind end more frequently
Schedule a Vet Visit:
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Blood present in urine
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Urinating in your presence around the house​
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Urinating more frequently - every 1-2 hours consistently
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Urinating multiple small amounts during one bathroom break
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Drinking excess amounts of water (ex double their normal daily intake - noted commonly by needing to refill their water dish more frequently)
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Vocalizing while urinating/in the litter box
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Straining with no urine production
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Discharge/urine present around hind end (ex. from vaginal area or prepuce)
If you are ever questioning when your pet should be seen, please contact the clinic to discuss your pet's symptoms further. Knowing answers to the questions below in the 'Questions to Know for a Visit in Clinic' can also be helpful for our discussion. While we cannot diagnose or prescribe over the phone, we can discuss your concerns together and make an appropriate plan for your pet and their health.
Questions to Know for a Visit in Clinic
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How long has your pet been having urinary concerns?​
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Have symptoms changed since first noticed (worse/better)?
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What are the primary symptoms? Examples: Blood in urine, squatting with no urine production, increased urgency to go, urine 'leaking'
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Are they able to hold their bladder for extended periods of time? How often are they needing to go outside?
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Is there any changes to their eating/drinking habits? Hungry more often or filling the water dish more frequently?
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Have there been any accidents in the house?
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Is there any blood or mucus present in the urine?
​ *Bonus points* If a urine sample is provided for testing.
Any sample should ideally be collected within an hour of bringing it to the clinic, but can be refrigerated for up to 12-24 hours if necessary. For best testing please collect this sample as close to the appointment as possible in a clean, dry container.
For dogs, if you are unable to collect a sample at home, when you arrive for your appointment you can call in and we can come out to help collect a sample.
For cats, if you are able to place them in a carrier 1-2 hours prior to the appointment to keep them from using the litter box, it will give us the possibility of a sample collection in clinic.
Urinary Tract Infection
Also referred to as a "UTI"
Signs:
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a bacterial infection of the bladder. Symptoms range pet to pet, from occasionally licking at vulva/prepuce more frequently to blood present in the urine.
Commonly the symptoms we recommend monitoring for will be:
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Urinating more frequently
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Urinating multiple small amounts
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Blood in urine
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Drinking more frequently
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Abdominal discomfort
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Licking at genitals
Diagnosis:
If these symptoms are noted commonly our first course of action will be to run a Urinalysis. This test gives us both readings of different values in the urine (ex. amount of blood present, pH, glucose level, etc.) as well as a microscopic computerized evaluation of the urine sample. With this testing, if a UTI is present, bacteria will be visualized, often along with both red blood cells and white blood cells. Clean urine collection is important for this testing, as a sample collected off of a hard surface may still have bacteria in it, even if it is not from the bladder (but instead from the surface itself).
Treatment:
Many times a UTI is treated with a course of antibiotics as prescribed by a veterinarian. In the few days prior to completion of the treatment course, it is important to recheck a urine sample to ensure there is no longer any bacteria present. If there is, an additional round of treatment may be necessary to fully resolve the issue. For pets with chronic urinary issues, we do have supplements available to manage reoccurrence and support the bladder.
Urinary Blockage
*Owners of Male Cats*
Know these Signs and Symptoms
Signs:
Urinary blockages are an URGENT situation in pets. If there is indication that your pet is blocked, a trip to the emergency clinic as soon as possible is highly recommended.
Commonly the symptoms we recommend monitoring for will be:
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Straining to urinate
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Vocalizing when attempting to urinate
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No urine production or only very small urine spots
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Frequent trips outside or to the litter box (often mistaken as 'constipation' at home)
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Abdominal discomfort
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Lethargy (more tired)
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Loss of appetite
Diagnosis:
An exam is necessary for diagnosis of this medical concern. Often a radiograph (x-ray) is taken or ultrasound is completed of the bladder to confirm. However, palpation (touching) the abdomen (belly) will often be a notable finding as the bladder will be large and firm. This is due to the inability to expel urine appropriately.
Treatment:
In clinic hospitalization that would include sedation to remove the blockage, catheter placement for 12+ hours and monitoring are all necessary as a part of treatment. Chances of re-blocking after the catheter is removed is a risk for the next 1-2 weeks after removal. Due to this, pets that block will need to be on a prescription urinary diet to help support the bladder and decrease the chances of reoccurrence (often for life) after this event. For pets with chronic urinary issues, we do have supplements available to manage reoccurrence and support the bladder.
Bladder Crystals/Stones
Signs:
Bladder crystals/stones is a diagnosis that requires lifelong monitoring, management and treatment. On a positive note, it is commonly well maintained with a diet change after initial diagnosis and treatment. However, they will need to be kept on this food for an extended duration of time (possibly life long) to prevent the reoccurrence of any crystal or stone formation.
Commonly the symptoms we recommend monitoring for will be:
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Urinating more frequently
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Blood in urine
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Accidents around the house
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Abdominal discomfort
Diagnosis:
If these symptoms are noted commonly our first course of action will be to run a Urinalysis. This test gives us both readings of different values in the urine (ex. amount of blood present, pH, glucose level, etc.) as well as a microscopic computerized evaluation of the urine sample. With this testing, if crystals (and possibly stones) are present, they will show up microscopically. There are a variety of crystals that may be present in the bladder, diagnosis of what type is based on the shape of the crystal on the slide. A fresh urine sample is important for this testing, as some crystals can form in the urine if left out or refrigerated for extended periods of time (commonly 2+ hours). Once crystals are found, an abdominal radiograph (x-ray) may be recommended to confirm there are not larger stones developing within the bladder.
Treatment:
For either case, it is important they stay well hydrated to promote the continuation of urine production and consistent frequency of urination.
If only crystals are present: Starting your pet on a prescription urinary diet will be necessary (possibly until symptoms resolve and crystals are no longer present, possibly life long). See the links in the section below based on your veterinarian's recommendations.
If stones are found to be present: Surgical intervention may be necessary to remove the stones. This is not commonly an emergent procedure. However, these stones often cause bladder irritation and should be addressed in a timely manner. This will help to provide your pet relief as soon as possible. Once surgery is complete, they will then be started on a prescription urinary diet to prevent the regrowth of stones. If stones were present and removed, this diet will be a life long change. See the links in the section below based on your veterinarian's recommendations. For pets with chronic urinary issues, we do have supplements available to manage reoccurrence and support the bladder.
*While these are the 3 of the more common urinary concerns we see, there are many others. For additional information and resources on any diagnosis not listed, please reach out to your primary veterinarian.*
Prescription Urinary Diet Recommendations
Cats:
Dogs:
Any of these diet options will be based on diagnosis and prescription by your primary veterinarian. These links are for quick access to options available though our online pharmacy but not all will work for your pet and their medical needs.
These are also not all available options as there are different calorie options, diet combinations and flavors available for many of the diet types.