Dysuria (Trouble Urinating) in Dogs

Overview of Dysuria (Trouble Urinating) in Dogs

Dysuria is defined as difficult or painful urination. It is characterized by straining to urinate, frequent attempts at urination, and evidence of discomfort when urinating. Discomfort may be demonstrated by crying out during urination, excessive licking at the urogenital region or turning and looking at the area.

What to Watch For

Straining to urinate
Frequent attempts at urination
Blood in the urine (hematuria)
Excessive licking at the urogenital area
Passage of only small amounts of urine
Vocalization when attempting to urinate
Inappropriately urinating (in the house)
Unproductive urination (no urine passed)

Causes of Trouble Urinating in Dogs

Causes of dysuria include a number of different conditions including:

Urinary tract infection
A stone in the urethra
Bladder stones
Urethritis (inflammation of the urethra)
Masses (tumors) in the bladder or urethra
Stricture (narrowed area within the urogenital tract)
A neurologic problem resulting in increased urethral tone or decreased bladder tone

Treatment of Dysuria in Dogs

Treatment will depend upon the underlying cause of the problem. It may require:

Antibiotics to treat infections
Surgery to treat stones or a stricture
An anti-inflammatory dose of steroids to treat inflammation

Home Care

Administer as directed any medications prescribed by your veterinarian. Observe your dog’s urination patterns. Make sure urine is being passed in adequate amounts. Observe your dog’s general activity level, appetite and attitude.

Make sure your dog has plenty of water and has frequent opportunities to urinate. Follow dietary recommendations of your veterinarian.

In-depth Information on Canine Dysuria

Cause of trouble urinating in dogs may include any of the following:

Calculi or stones, either in the bladder or urethra
Infection, including bacterial cystitis (infection of the bladder), urethritis, vaginitis, prostatitis (bacterial) or prostatic abscess
Bladder cancer, including transitional cell carcinoma, rhabdomyoma or sarcoma
Urethral cancer, including transitional cell carcinoma, transmissible venereal tumor
Prostate cancer, including adenocarcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma
Vaginal or penile cancer, including transmissible venereal tumor, fibroma, sarcoma
Trauma, including ruptured bladder or urethra, urethral stricture
Inflammation, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or granulomatous urethritis
Neurologic, including detrusor-urethral dyssynergia

Diagnosis In-depth

Diagnostic tests needed to determine the cause of dysuria include:

Urinalysis to identify crystals, abnormal cells or evidence of inflammation
Urine culture and sensitivity to identify the presence of infection
Plain abdominal radiographs to assess for the presence of cystic calculi or bladder stones
Contrast cystourethrogram. A radiographic dye study to evaluate for the presence of calculi in either the bladder or urethra. This study will also establish the presence of filling defects that may be masses, areas of inflammation or strictures.
Abdominal ultrasound to assess the kidneys, ureters, bladder and proximal urethra
A rectal exam to assess the size and thickness of the pelvic urethra evaluating for masses, prostatic enlargement, or stones
Blood tests such as a complete blood count and serum chemistry profile to assess for changes suggesting infection or elevations in kidney values

Treatment In-depth

The course of treatment will be dictated by the underlying cause of the problem.

Dysuria caused by the presence of a stone in the urethra may require a technique referred to a retrograde urohydropropulsion. This is when a catheter is advanced to meet the stone and sterile water is flushed under pressure to dislodge the stone and either flush it out of the urethra or back into the bladder.
The presence of stones in the bladder may require either surgery to remove them or in with some types a special diet to dissolve the stones.
Antibiotics to treat for bacterial infection may be required for a short period of time (two weeks) with a first infection or up to three months with recurrent infections.
With granulomatous urethritis the use of steroids to decrease the inflammation and perhaps an antispasmotic agent/smooth muscle relaxant such as prazosin will be necessary.
Some tumors of the bladder or urethra will require surgery to remove and those that are not amenable to surgery will require chemotherapy drugs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Follow-up Care for Dogs with Trouble Urinating

Follow-up may require long-term medical management. Also subsequent radiographs may need to be taken or repeat ultrasound examinations. Frequent examinations of the urine and repeat cultures will be required to monitor for infections and response to antibiotic management.

Urinalysis to identify crystals, abnormal cells or evidence of inflammation
Urine culture and sensitivity to identify the presence of infection
Plain abdominal radiographs to assess for the presence of cystic calculi or bladder stones
Contrast cystourethrogram. A radiographic dye study to evaluate for the presence of calculi in either the bladder or urethra. This study will also establish the presence of filling defects that may be masses, areas of inflammation or strictures.
Abdominal ultrasound to assess the kidneys, ureters, bladder and proximal urethra
A rectal exam to assess the size and thickness of the pelvic urethra evaluating for masses, prostatic enlargement, or stones
Blood tests such as a complete blood count and serum chemistry profile to assess for changes suggesting infection or elevations in kidney values

Treatment In-depth

The course of treatment will be dictated by the underlying cause of the problem.

Dysuria caused by the presence of a stone in the urethra may require a technique referred to a retrograde urohydropropulsion. This is when a catheter is advanced to meet the stone and sterile water is flushed under pressure to dislodge the stone and either flush it out of the urethra or back into the bladder.
The presence of stones in the bladder may require either surgery to remove them or in with some types a special diet to dissolve the stones.
Antibiotics to treat for bacterial infection may be required for a short period of time (two weeks) with a first infection or up to three months with recurrent infections.
With granulomatous urethritis the use of steroids to decrease the inflammation and perhaps an antispasmotic agent/smooth muscle relaxant such as prazosin will be necessary.
Some tumors of the bladder or urethra will require surgery to remove and those that are not amenable to surgery will require chemotherapy drugs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Follow-up

Diagnosis In-depth

Diagnostic tests needed to determine the cause of dysuria include:

Urinalysis to identify crystals, abnormal cells or evidence of inflammation
Urine culture and sensitivity to identify the presence of infection
Plain abdominal radiographs to assess for the presence of cystic calculi or bladder stones
Contrast cystourethrogram. A radiographic dye study to evaluate for the presence of calculi in either the bladder or urethra. This study will also establish the presence of filling defects that may be masses, areas of inflammation or strictures.
Abdominal ultrasound to assess the kidneys, ureters, bladder and proximal urethra
A rectal exam to assess the size and thickness of the pelvic urethra evaluating for masses, prostatic enlargement, or stones
Blood tests such as a complete blood count and serum chemistry profile to assess for changes suggesting infection or elevations in kidney values

Treatment In-depth

The course of treatment will be dictated by the underlying cause of the problem.

Dysuria caused by the presence of a stone in the urethra may require a technique referred to a retrograde urohydropropulsion. This is when a catheter is advanced to meet the stone and sterile water is flushed under pressure to dislodge the stone and either flush it out of the urethra or back into the bladder.
The presence of stones in the bladder may require either surgery to remove them or in with some types a special diet to dissolve the stones.
Antibiotics to treat for bacterial infection may be required for a short period of time (two weeks) with a first infection or up to three months with recurrent infections.
With granulomatous urethritis the use of steroids to decrease the inflammation and perhaps an antispasmotic agent/smooth muscle relaxant such as prazosin will be necessary.
Some tumors of the bladder or urethra will require surgery to remove and those that are not amenable to surgery will require chemotherapy drugs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.