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"Urinary tract infections (UTIs), also called &amp;ldquo;cystitis,&amp;rdquo; are caused by bacteria that settle in the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and/or urethra. UTIs are fairly common in companion dogs, especially in females. The bacteria enter the urinary tract from the outside environment or from the dog&amp;rsquo;s feces. They move up the urethra, which is the tube-like structure connecting the bladder to the outside world, and lodge in the bladder. They can travel from the bladder up the ureters into the kidneys, causing even more severe problems. If not treated, UTIs can be very serious and potentially fatal. Most dogs with UTIs feel an urgency to urinate, a burning sensation when urinating and severe accompanying pain. Some dogs have a high pain threshold and don&amp;rsquo;t show any outward signs of discomfort, which can make UTIs quite difficult to diagnose unless a urinalysis is done to identify bacteria in their urine."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Health/Urinary-Tract-Infections.aspx>