Canine bacteruria

Urine from 237 dogs submitted for euthanasia was collected directly by needle aspiration from the urinary bladder. The bacteriological findings were correlated with the sex and age of the dogs. E. coli was the most frequent species found. The overall incidence of bladder infection was 6–2% for males and 26–6% for females. Bladder infection can be categorized on the basis of occurrence in either very young or in older dogs. The infection incidence increased linearly in bitches older than 4 years, ending at a 50% frequency in those more than 10 years old. Pyometra frequency also increased after 4 years of age and this pattern may indicate a common causative factor for urinary tract infection and pyometra. This investigation shows that subclinical urinary tract infection is common in dogs and is related to age in bitches.