Female Urogenital
Urinary and reproductive organs form the urogenital system. On the base of anatomy and function, the urinary system consists of two parts, the upper part which is the kidney and uterus, and the lower region which includes the urinary bladder and urethra. It is also known as the lower urinary tract. The upper part of the urinary tract purges the metabolic wastes from blood. The waste metabolic products are then excreted from the body through urine. The kidneys also play a role in the maintenance of electrolyte and water concentration and also contribute to the regulation of blood pressure. Before the excretion of urine from the body, it is stored in the urinary bladder. The lower urinary tract also gives a pathway for excretion i.e. urethra. The symptoms of UTI can be the following: increased urination, increased drinking, difficulty in urination, blood in urine, smelly urine, vomiting and diarrhea, fatigue, and restlessness.
The reproductive organs, the uterus, and ovaries, constitute the genital system. The function of these organs is to release hormones that help in reproduction. The common symptoms associated with genital tract infections are; discharge, difficulty to defecate and urinate, lethargy.
Prevalent Urogenital ailments affecting dogs include:
- UTIs: Mostly found in female dogs, these ailments do not affect male dogs as they have large urethra. The presence of UTIs in males might be the signaling towards other problems such as bladder stones, poor immune system, or prostatic illness.
- Kidney failure: These are of two types, acute and chronic. Acute kidney infections might be due to toxins and drugs and infections. Aging can be the reason for chronic kidney issues. If there is a delay in the diagnosis then the causative agent cannot be detected.
- Urinary bladder stones: This disease is less common. Stones can either be due to some mineral imbalance or maybe due to some infection.
- Uterine infections (pyometra): Happens in females in the heat if they do not get pregnant.