Cystitis – bladder inflammation

As anyone who has ever suffered with cystitis (a sore bladder) will know, it is a very unpleasant condition. Although not life-threatening, cystitis can be very uncomfortable for your dog. It is important to seek veterinary advice as soon as possible since most cases can be easily treated.

Cystitis means inflammation of the bladder lining. It can be caused by an infection in the urine, but other issues can contribute such as urinary crystals, urinary stones or even tumors in the bladder. Because the bladder is sore, dogs feel the urge to empty it more often than normal.

Bacterial cystitis is far more common in female dogs than in males, due to their anatomy. The first sign you usually notice is your dog passing small amounts of urine very often. Sometimes you will see blood in the urine and occasionally your dog will strain, as if trying to pass urine, but nothing comes out. In these cases, cystitis may be mistaken for constipation. A few dogs with cystitis become very thirsty and some dogs feel a bit ‘off color’. They may also lick their genitals excessively.

Your veterinarian will probably know what is wrong with your dog from your description of the symptoms. If this is the first time your dog has had this problem your veterinarian may be able to prescribe treatment based on these symptoms and a basic urine screen.
Tests on a urine sample will show if there is anything abnormal, eg sugar, protein or crystals in the urine. If there is a problem, then the urine may be sent to a laboratory to see if bacteria can be grown. If bacteria do grow, there are tests that can be done to find the right antibiotics to clear up the infection. However, if the cystitis symptoms do not clear up with the usual medication, or if the problem keeps coming back, then your veterinarian will want to do further tests to help rule out other issues. Your veterinarian may advise that the bladder is examined using X-rays or ultrasound. Blood tests are likely to be carried out, to check your pet’s overall health status including things like their kidney function.

The most common cause of cystitis in dogs is an infection caused by bacteria. Usually the bacteria gain entry to the body through the urethra (which is the tube leading from the bladder to the exterior).

There are a whole range of different problems which can make it more likely that your dog will develop cystitis. In some cases, a bladder stone may have formed causing irritation to the inside of the bladder. Sometimes there is another disease present that makes your dog less able to fight infection, for example, diabetic dogs may have a lot of sugar in their urine making the bladder an ideal place for bacteria to grow.

If your dog has cystitis for the first time and there is no other obvious problem your veterinarian may decide to prescribe a course of antibiotic tablets and anti-inflammatories. In most cases the problem should start to clear up within a few days of starting the tablets. It is very important that you continue to give the tablets until the course is finished, even if your dog seems completely better. If you stop treatment too early the problem may come straight back and this can lead to issues such as antibiotic resistance.

Letting your dog out to empty their bladder regularly will help to make them feel more comfortable. Encourage your dog to drink plenty of fluids as this will help to flush out the infection from the bladder.

Most dogs recover very quickly from cystitis. However, if there is an additional underlying problem then this must also be cleared up or the cystitis will come straight back. Treatment for complicated cases of cystitis may require further medical or even surgical intervention (eg bladder stones). Your veterinarian will be able to advise you further on your dog’s individual needs.