Management For A Dog With Urinary Tract Obstruction
Similar to their human friends, dogs too are not free from different infectious agents that cause various diseases. Dogs are prone to injuries as well. A dog owner therefore has to have the competence to administer first aid to save the pet from suffering pain and also to save the life of the pet.
Urinary blockage is one of these emergency situations that would need immediate treatment. A dog that cannot empty the bladder can die as this condition will result to electrolyte imbalance and can impair the normal functioning of some of the organs of the dog. A dog that is unable to pass urine would not be able to empty the bladder thus it can rupture causing chemical peritonitis, a condition where urine is leaked into the abdominal cavity.
Urinary obstruction will make a dog repeatedly try to urinate. A dog with urinary obstruction would be in pain as the repeated attempt to empty the bladder may not be successful. Another sign of urinary blockage is cloudy or blood tinged urine. The dog's inability to pass urine will result to abdominal pains. The pet may dribble urine so that the owner may think that the dog has developed an unwanted behavior or has forgotten its housebreaking training.
The dog's inability to empty the bladder can be a sign that the dog has a urinary disease. Urinary blockage can be due to urinary tract infection in female dogs and due to prostate problems in male dogs. This condition can also be caused by the accumulation of minerals that caused the formation of crystals or stones in the urinary tract. The obstruction in the urinary tract can also be caused by lesions, scars tissue or tumors.
Herbal remedies or first aid treatments would not really do well for the dog's urinary blockage especially if the renal failure is already acute. The best thing a dog owner can do is to take the pet to a veterinary facility for correct diagnosis and treatment. The vet may initiate a urethral massage or use a catheter to flush the stones to the bladder. The catheter is not removed for 24 hours while the condition of the dog is closely monitored. If the unblocking of the urethra is unsuccessful, an emergency surgical procedure will be done to remove the stones. After the surgical procedure, IV fluids are administered and antibiotics are given to prevent infection.
Learn more about dog first aid and urinary blockage at Sarah's Dogs.
