Infections in a Female Dog
An infection can be a common occurrence in your dog, ranging from mild to serious cases. Dogs can contract such infections as distemper, parvovirus, rabies, bladder infection, ear infection, upper respiratory infection and Lyme disease. Female dogs are more prone to certain infections and diseases due to their reproductive systems.
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Uterine Infection
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Uterine infection (also known as Pyometra), affects many middle-aged female dogs not spayed. The ovaries produce two hormones in the body, estrogen and progesterone. The cause of Pyometra is due to an excess amount of progesterone in the body, or the uterus becoming insensitive to it. Cysts from on the inner walls of the uterus, fill with fluid, and along with the thickening of the walls of the uterus, the organ dramatically increases in size and weight. As this fluid spills out of the vagina, a bacterium enters the cervix. These fluids can enter the bloodstream and may enter the kidneys. If not excreted, the toxins will build up and cause uremic poisoning, unless treated, usually by spaying your dog, intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
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Female urinary tract infections (UTI) are far more common in female rather than male dogs, according to Wellsphere.com. When your dog reaches middle age, the urinary muscles get weak, stones form and the bladder gets damaged. Some causes of an UTI can result from dehydration, poor grooming which may cause bacteria to enter the vagina, and the growth of kidney or bladder stones. Treatment involves diagnosing and resolving any underlying issues such as surgically removing stones. Antibiotics are prescribed for the infection.
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Bladder Infection/Urinary Incontinnence
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A bladder infection and urinary incontinence is common in female dogs of all ages, according to MarvistaVet.com. A urine culture can diagnose white blood cells or bacteria that are visible in the urinalysis. The urine culture will confirm the infection. Cystitis is a bacterial infection of the bladder. Urethral infections often precede cystitis. Bladder infections are often the cause of incontinence, predominantly in females. An oral antibiotic is prescribed which treats the bladder infection and often remedies the incontinence problem in your female dog.
Canine Herpes Infection
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Canine herpes infection, according to MarvistaVet.com, is a reproductive problem that affects the female dog. The infection shows no signs in the adult dog, yet affects all the unborn pups, sometimes fatally. The female is usually infected by direct contact with an infected male. The infected dog finds it difficult to maintain antibodies that can be found in the bloodstream. Antiviral medications such as Acyclovir can help though there is no real cure for canine herpes infection in your female dog.
Prevention/Solution
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Wellsphere.com states that, in preventing most of these infections in your female dog, be sure your dog always has plenty of water and give your dog the opportunity to urinate as often as necessary. They recommend you bathe and groom your dog often to keep away germs and bacteria and give your dog ample exercise. To prevent any infections due to the reproductive organs, have your female dog spayed. Since most infections are caused by alkaline urine with high PH, a diet of animal-based proteins will benefit your dog to provide acidic urine with low PH. As with humans, a cranberry supplement will reap great benefits in your female dog to ward off urinary and bladder related infections.
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References
- Photo Credit câlinerie image by Francis Lempérière from Fotolia.com
