Urinary tract problems are very common in our pets, but how can you tell if your dog or cat has a urinary tract problem, what causes them, and what you should do to help them?

Signs to look for include:
• An inability to urinate or only passing a small amount of urine
• Bloody or cloudy urine
• Loss of bladder control or dribbling urine
• Increased frequency of urination or visits to the litter box
• Straining in or crying out in pain when trying to pass urine
• Prolonged squatting in a litter box or fear avoidance of litter boxes and soiling in inappropriate places
• Constant licking of the urinary opening
• Strong odor of ammonia in the urine
• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Increased water consumption
• Hard, distended abdomens.

Urinary system problems can be caused by many different things such as stones, crystals, or debris in the bladder or urethra, plugging, which is debris blocking the urethra, bladder inflammation or infections, incontinence from excessive water drinking or a weak bladder, spinal cord problems, congenital abnormalities, and even cancer. If you think your pet is experiencing any of the signs we’ve talked about, see your veterinarian immediately. Urinary tract problems should be treated as an emergency situation.