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Urinary problems
Straining and producing nothing is an emergency, not a house-training issue.
01The signs · 1 point›
· Straining, or going frequently with little coming out
· Accidents in a house-trained dog
· Blood in the urine
· Licking the genitals more than usual
· Crying or straining to urinate
· Strong-smelling or cloudy urine
· Accidents in a house-trained dog
· Blood in the urine
· Licking the genitals more than usual
· Crying or straining to urinate
· Strong-smelling or cloudy urine
02The emergency version · 1 point›
A dog — particularly a male — straining and producing NOTHING may have a urinary obstruction. That is life-threatening within hours. Go immediately.
03What it might be · 1 point›
Infection, bladder stones, crystals, and in older dogs sometimes a tumor. In male dogs the prostate. Repeated 'UTIs' that keep coming back are often stones or an underlying condition such as diabetes or Cushing's, not a series of unrelated infections.
04What the vet needs · 1 point›
A urine sample, ideally a fresh morning one caught mid-stream in a clean container and delivered within a couple of hours. A clean takeaway container and a ladle works. This one step often saves a whole appointment.
05Prevention · 1 point›
· Water always available and plenty of it
· Frequent chances to empty the bladder — holding it is a risk factor
· For dogs prone to stones, a prescription diet genuinely works and is worth it
· Do not punish accidents until a medical cause is ruled out
· Frequent chances to empty the bladder — holding it is a risk factor
· For dogs prone to stones, a prescription diet genuinely works and is worth it
· Do not punish accidents until a medical cause is ruled out
06Sources — check this yourself · 1 point›
· American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (acvim.org)
· Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com) — the standard clinical reference, free online
· Cornell Riney Canine Health Center (vet.cornell.edu)
· Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com) — the standard clinical reference, free online
· Cornell Riney Canine Health Center (vet.cornell.edu)
07Everything here is free · 1 point›
Catching a urine sample yourself is free and speeds up the diagnosis considerably.
Rosette Dog is educational and is not veterinary advice. In an emergency, contact your veterinarian or the nearest emergency animal hospital.
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