Decoding Pet Urinary Problems

Almost nothing is more frustrating than a pet who is urinating in an inappropriate place. Not all issues related to the urinary tract are created, equal, though. Advantage Veterinary Center wants to shed a little light on decoding pet urinary problems for our fed up pet owners.

Sometimes There’s a Medical Issue

Pet urinary problems may present in several ways. There may be increased or decreased frequency of urination, straining to urinate, blood in the urine, loss of housetraining, or urinating in inappropriate areas. The hard part lies in the fact that no matter the underlying cause of the issue, the symptoms often appear similarly.

We do see urinary troubles related to true medical problems in our patients on a regular basis. We may find a pet is experiencing symptoms due to:

• Urinary tract infection
• Urinary tract stones
• Masses or growths within the urinary tract
• Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)
• Endocrine diseases such as diabetes mellitus and Cushing’s Syndrome
• Organ dysfunction such as kidney disease or liver disease
• Toxin exposures
• Incontinence
• Trauma to the bladder
• Prostate disease
• Spinal cord abnormalities
• A congenital abnormality such as ectopic ureters
• Obstruction of the urinary tract

In these situations it is important to determine what the underlying cause is and remove it where possible.

… and Sometimes Pet Urinary Problems are All in the Head

There are times, though, when pet urinary problems have a behavioral cause. Pets may begin to show symptoms of a urinary problem when they are experiencing stress or anxiety, feel threatened, or are trying to establish territory or dominance in a social setting.

Issues like separation anxiety, submissive urination, urine marking, and even stress can lead to urinary problems. If your pet is diagnosed with a behavioral cause for urination issues, our behavioral counseling services can be instrumental in getting everyone happy again.

Decoding the Cause

Knowing how to best help your pet means that we need to determine a diagnosis, or underlying cause. In the case of behavioral urination issues, we must first rule out any medical cause that may be contributing to the problem.

When your pet comes to us with a urinary issue, diagnostic testing is essential to rule out potential causes and lead us to the right diagnosis. We may recommend:

• A thorough, current physical examination
• Urinalysis
• Blood testing
• Radiographs (x-rays)
• Ultrasound
• Urine culture and sensitivity

Arriving at the correct conclusion efficiently is an essential part of success in helping your pet.

Pet urinary problems can be frustrating to deal with and certainly are often no fun for the animals involved, either. If your pet is experiencing symptoms of a potential problem, call us today so that we can get started helping.