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BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in dogs. The responsible bacterial populations have evolved with increasing resistance to many antimicrobials. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of canine urinary tract isolates over a 51-month period. ANIMALS: One thousand six hundred and thirty-six bacterial isolates from 1,028 dogs. METHODS: Aerobic bacterial isolate growth and susceptibility data from urine cultures of dogs were identified, retrospectively. Medical records were reviewed to obtain signalment, comorbidities, and antimicrobial use in the previous 30 days. The UTIs were further categorized as uncomplicated, complicated, or pyelonephritis. RESULTS: Common bacterial isolates identified were Escherichia coli (52.5%), Staphylococcus spp. (13.6%), and Enterococcus spp. (13.3%). In vitro susceptibility among all isolates varied for commonly prescribed antimicrobials (amoxicillin 59%, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 76%, cephalexin 66%, enrofloxacin 74% and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 86%). For all antimicrobials tested (except aminoglycosides), in vitro susceptibility was higher in uncomplicated versus complicated infections (P 90% efficacy among isolates tested. Multidrug resistance was frequent among isolates tested suggesting that routine culture and susceptibility testing is indicated. Previously prescribed antimicrobials may affect empirical choices made pending susceptibility testing.
Wong et al. (Wed,) studied this question.