An 8-year-old castrated male American Bulldog is brought to the clinic by his owner for further evaluation. He has a 1-week history of painful urination. Abdominal radiographs from the referring veterinarian show several inflammations and somewhat pus in the lower abdominal region. The patient was ordered a course of selective antibiotics and kidney support nutritional profile drugs, after which the owner noticed an improvement in activity level.
Pyelonephritis
Pyelonephritis is an infection of the (UUT) upper urinary tract that affects the kidneys and ureters, among other organs (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder).
Usually, when Pyelonephritis occurs, it is due to a malfunction in one dog’s defenses, such as ureteral mobility, blood flow to the kidneys, or the flap valves connecting the kidneys and ureters.
Pyelonephritis can also develop due to kidney stones or germs ascending from the lower urinary system to the upper urinary tract, spreading the infection to the upper urinary tract.
Obstruction of an infected kidney or ureter may result in more severe problems, such as sepsis (a bacterial infection of the blood) or urosepsis (a bacterial infection of the blood caused by decomposing urine being forced into the bloodstream).
Coli or Staph infection spread from the lower urinary tract to the upper urinary tract is the most prevalent cause of canine Pyelonephritis. However, some other bacteria could also be at blame for the infection.
In rare cases, fungal infections may be the source of the problem. Another possibility is the presence of kidney stones. However, it is sporadic for a bloodstream infection to be the root cause.
Even though dogs of any age or breed can get the ailment, lower UTIs are more common in female dogs than male dogs due to the structure of their lower urinary tracts.
There are a few medical conditions that may increase the likelihood of developing Pyelonephritis. Among the many conditions that might occur are ectopic ureters, which do not join properly to the bladder. When urine runs backward from the bladder into the ureters, this is referred to as vesicoureteral reflux. In addition, renal dysplasia is a congenital disability that affects the kidneys’ ability to function.
Several other factors can increase the likelihood of a dog developing pyelonephritis, including the following:
- Bladder stones
- Renal failure
- Diabetes mellitus
- Cushing’s disease
- Steroid use
- Catheterization of the urethra
- Retaining urine
General symptoms or signs of Pyelonephritis
- Blood in the urine
- Fever
- Difficulty urinating
- Discolored urine
- Polyuria (frequent urination)
- Foul-smelling urine
- Abdominal or lower back pain
- Frequent thirst (polydipsia)
How To Avoid Pyelonephritis?
The majority of veterinarians agree that providing your dog with enough freshwater is the most effective way to prevent Pyelonephritis. Additionally, take numerous walks with your dog or provide plenty of pee breaks for him throughout the day.
If your dog suffers from recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) or Pylonephritis, your veterinarian may recommend that you give him vitamins. Cranberry and vitamin C can benefit dogs with chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) by reducing the pH of their urine. However, before utilizing any treatment, always consult with your veterinarian. In addition, these supplements can exacerbate some types of infections, mainly if certain crystal forms (calcium oxalates) contribute to the disease.
Your dog’s many Pylonephritis or difficulties getting one to go away could be caused by an underlying medical condition as well as a bacterial infection. Therefore, your veterinarian may recommend additional tests to discover the underlying cause of chronic Pyelonephritis.