A narrative review of current perspectives on urinary tract infections in dogs and cats

Abstract

Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common diseases in dogs and cats. The infections occur when the natural defence systems of the urinary tract and pathogenic bacteria are out of balance. Diagnosis of UTIs requires a simultaneous evaluation of clinical signs and urine culture, which is necessary before initiating appropriate antibiotic therapy. Several variables, such as subclinical bacteriuria or pre-analytical errors, can make the interpretation of urine cultures problematic. The aim of this review was to provide an up-to-date overview of UTIs in dogs and cats and to improve the current understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenic aspects of uropathogens, and innovative therapeutic modalities.