When a dog starts to suffer from canine bladder enlargement due to an infection or bladder stone, he will be experiencing pain and discomfort. This will make him lethargic and without appetite. Don't expect this to just go away like the common cold.
Unfortunately, if this infection is left untreated it could lead to disastrous medical conditions like liver and kidney problems, which could threaten the life of your dog.
If you see your dog having problems urinating, incontinence, and overall, not being his usual energetic self, bring him to the vet for a check up. Your vet will most likely conduct some urine and blood tests to determine the reason for the change in his conduct.
Most bladder problems can be treated with antibiotics, a change in his diet, and providing him with natural supplements. The antibiotics should run its full course, which is a minimum of 14 days to a maximum of 30 days. If you stop the antibiotics after 10 days because you think that your dog is all better, you take the risk of the infection returning, in even greater magnitude.
Removing bacteria is the essential procedure to making sure that an infection does not start. It is very hard to prevent bacteria entering your dog because of the nature of his character. He will play, and play anywhere. He could get bacteria if he sits in an area where he urinated or defecated. The best way is to make sure that in case any bacteria enter, his system is ready to fight it.
By drinking a lot of clean water, your dog can urinate regularly. As long as his urine is Ph balanced and there are no stones blocking his urine tract, all the harmful bacteria will be eliminated.
If you are having a difficult time getting your dog to drink water, you could shift from dry dog food to moist canned dog food. You could also start him on a supplement to level out his Ph.
Suppose your dog has been diagnosed with bladder stones, your vet will try to get a sample of the stone to find out what kind it is. If the bladder stone is canine struvite, simple medication and a shift in the diet to one like the Hill's Prescription Diet u/d will dissolve the stone.
However, if the stone is the more serious kind, the oxalate, your best option would be to have surgery done to remove it. If not, it could grow bigger and block the urinary tract of your dog. When this happens, your dog could be in serious danger of systems failure and have to go through a lot of pain.
You should also look for natural supplements that have Berberis vulgaris as it main active ingredient because this herb can keep your dog's urinary tract and bladder functioning properly.
Thus, if you notice anything unusual in your dog's behavior, schedule a visit to the vet as soon as possible.
Sources: www.naturalstandard.com/monographinfo.asp?title=Berberis%20vulgaris&file=barberry
www.co-urology.com/pt/re/courology/fulltext.00042307-200005000-00003.htm
