3 STEPS TO EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF BACTERIAL URINARY-TRACT INFECTIONS- DIAGNOSIS, DIAGNOSIS, AND DIAGNOSIS

Bacterial urinary tract infection, a common cause of urinary tract dis ease in dogs, is estimated to affect 14% of dogs during their lifetime s. Results of several investigations of feline lower urinary tract dis ease indicate that the initial episode is associated with bacterial ur inary tract infection in only 1% to 3% of patients. The severity and o ccurrence of sequelae associated with bacterial urinary tract infectio n can be minimized with early detection and appropriate treatment and follow-up. Identification of bacteria in urine is not synonymous with urinary tract infection because the bacteria may represent contaminant s or pathogens. This review emphasizes the value of urinalysis and bac terial culture of urine in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection. F ailure to perform urine cultures or failure to correctly interpret the results of urine cultures can lead to diagnostic errors as well as th erapeutic failures.