Urinary tract infection resulting from catheterization in healthy adult dogs

The urinary bladders of 70 clinically normal adult dogs of both sexes and a variety of breeds were catheterized after a urine specimen was taken from each dog by antepubic cystocentesis. All of the specimens were negative for bacterial growth after 72 hours' incubation at 37 C. Three days later, a 2nd urine specimen was taken from each dog by cystocentesis. All 35 specimens collected from male dogs at this time were culture-negative, whereas 7 of 35 (20%) specimens collected from female dogs were culture-positive. It was concluded that urinary bladder catheterization in female dogs is associated with substantial risk and should be used only when alternate methods of urine collection are not available.