Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Subclinical bacteriuria in healthy female dogs and 3-month outcomes
By Wan, Stephanie Y et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2014·Department of Medical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence and clinical outcome of subclinical bacteriuria in female dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 101 healthy female dogs was tested for subclinical bacteriuria, which means they had bacteria in their urine without showing any symptoms. Out of these dogs, 9 were found to have this condition, but none developed any clinical signs over a 3-month period. Four of the dogs had bacteria that stayed in their urine, while the other four had bacteria that cleared up on their own. The study suggests that subclinical bacteriuria in healthy female dogs is usually not a serious issue and often doesn't require treatment.
People also search for: dog urine bacteria symptoms · healthy dog urine test results · female dog urinary tract infection treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of subclinical bacteriuria and its natural clinical course over a 3-month period in healthy female dogs. DESIGN: Observational, prospective, cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 101 healthy client-owned female dogs. PROCEDURES: In all dogs, screening clinicopathologic tests and bacteriologic culture of urine were performed. In culture-positive dogs, subclinical bacteriuria was confirmed by 2 positive culture results within 2 weeks and dogs were reevaluated at 3 months. RESULTS: The prevalence of subclinical bacteriuria in healthy female dogs was 9 of 101 (8.9%). Three-month follow-up data were available for 8 of 9 dogs with subclinical bacteriuria. Four dogs had persistent bacteriuria, and 4 had transient bacteriuria. No dogs with subclinical bacteriuria developed clinical signs during the 3-month observation period. Subclinical bacteriuria was diagnosed in 6 of 51 (12%) young and middle-aged dogs and 3 of 50 (6.0%) senior and geriatric dogs. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of subclinical bacteriuria with age. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that subclinical bacteriuria is a nonprogressive condition in healthy female dogs and can be persistent or transient. No significant difference in the prevalence of subclinical bacteriuria in young and middle-aged dogs versus senior and geriatric dogs was detected. No dogs with subclinical bacteriuria developed clinical signs requiring antimicrobial treatment during the 3-month observation period. Healthy female dogs with subclinical bacteriuria may be a population of dogs in which antimicrobial treatment is unnecessary.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24941394/