Can Dogs Get UTI From Grooming? (Find Out!)

Normally, grooming prevents your dog from various diseases. But sometimes, your dog is too much dirty and in this situation, there are chances of infections. The most commonly known infection is UTI. Yes, you heard it right. Dogs can get UTI after grooming if the dog's coat is very dirty.

Contact between the grooming tools and the penis can easily cause bacteria from the coat and skin to enter the urethral opening, resulting in painful inflammation, irregular and frequent urination, and blood in the urine.

In most cases, E.coli causes bacterial urinary tract infections. Continue reading to learn more about the UTI related to grooming, signs of UTI, and what you can do to save your dog from UTI during grooming.

Relationship between Grooming and UTI

Maintaining proper grooming practices for your dog is not only important for their overall health, but it can also influence their bathroom habits. Interestingly, the frequency of grooming is connected to how often your dog needs to pee.

Let me explain how this works: When your dog is groomed regularly, their fur remains clean and devoid of dirt or debris. This cleanliness extends to their skin as well, reducing the chances of any potential irritants lingering. This proactive approach can effectively ward off urinary tract infections, which are often linked to increased urination frequency.

Conversely, if your dog isn't groomed adequately, their fur can trap dirt, bacteria, and other irritants against their skin. In such cases, grooming might inadvertently introduce bacteria into the urinary tract.

This can trigger irritation and inflammation, potentially leading to urinary tract infections and more frequent urination. Therefore, prioritizing your dog's grooming routine is crucial to maintaining a healthy urinary tract.

To sum it up, maintaining regular grooming sessions for your dog not only keeps them looking good but also contributes to their urinary health. Cleaning their fur and skin will prevent urinary tract infections.

Signs and Symptoms of UTI in Dogs

Recognizing the common indicators of a urinary tract infection (UTI) in dogs is essential. Here are the usual symptoms:

Frequency of Urination Increases: Frequent urination, possibly with increased urine volume, is a key sign of a dog UTI. Urination may also become painful, evidenced by squatting or leg-raising without urine production.

Urinary Incontinence: When a dog lacks control over urination, leading to accidents indoors, it signals a UTI. Even a previously house-trained dog may start having accidents due to a UTI.

Hematuria: Blood in the urine, appearing as red dots or making the urine appear pinkish to red, is a common UTI symptom in dogs.

Abdominal Discomfort: Dogs with UTIs may experience abdominal pain. Sometimes, this pain extends to the back. Pain can lead to loss of appetite, lethargy, and disinterest in regular activities.

Genital Licking: Intense and frequent genital licking can occur as dogs attempt to soothe painful areas caused by a UTI. This behavior may also be an effort to manage dribbling urine.

Increased Thirst: UTIs lead to more frequent urination, and increasing thirst levels in dogs, although this might not be immediately noticeable due to their natural inclination to drink water.

If your dog displays these signs, reaching out to the veterinarian and scheduling an appointment is crucial. Taking prompt action by seeking veterinary care is paramount.

Contrary to self-resolution, a dog's UTI will not clear on its own. In reality, without treatment, the condition is likely to worsen, possibly spreading to other body parts or causing lasting damage to the urinary tract.

Remember, neglecting a dog's UTI can lead to serious consequences, such as kidney failure, which can be fatal. It is imperative to grasp the significance of early intervention and not delay in seeking veterinary assistance.

Treatment of UTI in dogs

The good news is that treating your dog's UTI is typically a straightforward process. Generally, the prescribed antibiotics work to eliminate the microorganisms responsible for the infection. In some instances, a specialized diet might also be recommended to aid in dissolving urinary stones. 

The treatment period usually spans around 10 to 14 days. Antibiotics are often administered orally, although injections can also be used.

For more complex cases, antimicrobial therapy might extend to 4 to 6 weeks, accompanied by a urine culture after the first week to confirm its effectiveness. In cases where the infection stems from a more serious issue, like a tumor, surgical intervention may become necessary.

Given that UTIS in dogs are usually uncomplicated, they tend to make a swift recovery and regain their health in a matter of weeks. You can anticipate observing signs of improvement within several days of initiating treatment for your dog. 

However, in intricate scenarios, repeat antimicrobial administration might be required, and it could take more than a couple of weeks before dogs experience a full recovery.