What is E. Coli Infection?
E. Coli infection is more commonly found in newborn puppies in the first few weeks of life; however, it can be found in dogs of any age. The onset is often very sudden, and can lead to serious complications, so it must be treated immediately. E. coli infection can lead to blood poisoning, or septicemia, and has been found to compound with parvovirus in dogs and puppies, leading to an increased risk of death by parvovirus.
The bacterium Escherichia coli, more commonly referred to as E. coli, resides in the lower intestines of dogs and is typically benign. However, when highly concentrated, it causes an acute reaction known as colibacillosis or E. coli infection.E. Coli Infection Average Cost
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Symptoms of E. Coli Infection in Dogs
- Vomiting
- Lack of appetite
- Dehydration
- Rapid heart rate
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Malaise/weakness
- Diarrhea
- Low body temperature
- Bluish gums, nostrils, ears, lips, and anus
Causes of E. Coli Infection in Dogs
E. Coli infection is typically caused by puppies being born to an unhealthy mother. Puppies' immune systems are typically supplemented by their mother's colostrum, the antibody-rich milk produced soon after birth. When puppies do not receive colostrum for any reason, they suffer increased vulnerability to various infections. Risk factors are poor nutrition of birthing mother, unsanitary or crowded birthing environment, mammary gland infection of a nursing mother who has E. coli infection herself and prolonged birth. Causes also include contact with an infected animal or objects, such as bedding, that has been contaminated by an infected animal. It is because of these causes that E. coli infection is often contracted in conjunction with other infections, commonly parvovirus.
The best way to prevent E. coli infection in dogs is to maintain sanitary conditions in a birthing environment and maintain proper nutrition in a pregnant dog. Less commonly, dogs can get E. coli infection from contaminated food or water. In common kennel areas, regular cleaning of facilities is a source of prevention, as is proper nutrition. Feeding a raw diet may increase a dog’s risk, as can exposure to an infected dog, cat, or person. Be sure to maintain proper hygiene for your dog and yourself. Wash your dog’s food bowl after each meal, if you have multiple pets and you suspect one is infected, keep them separate. Additionally, wash your hands after handling food and dogs.
Diagnosis of E. Coli Infection in Dogs
A speedy diagnosis will depend upon seeking prompt veterinary care and describing your dog's risk factors for E. Coli infection. A sample of your dog's feces will be taken and examined underneath a microscope, and the veterinarian will conduct a physical rectal examination to check for abnormalities. A complete blood count will be taken to measure red and white blood cells, as a decrease in white blood cells is one of the first signs of parvovirus. Your dog's blood will also be analyzed for a biochemistry profile, which will determine if E. coli is present in your dog's blood and at what levels, as well as indicate if your dog has blood poisoning. A urinalysis will also indicate if there are any further abnormalities, which may indicate other concurrent issues.
Treatment of E. Coli Infection in Dogs
If your dog tests positive for E. coli infection, he will very likely need to be hospitalized in order to achieve stabilization and begin treatment. This will include an IV in order to restore and maintain fluid and electrolyte levels. In the case of severe dehydration accompanied by diarrhea, your dog will be given a solution of glucose. Typically antibiotics will be prescribed to treat the E. coli infection itself. Because of the rapid onset of the infection, timing of treatment correlates to a dog’s chance of success. There is very high morbidity, over 95%, in young puppies that are left untreated, and a chance that death can occur even with treatment.
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Recovery of E. Coli Infection in Dogs
Provide your dog with a warm and very comfortable space to rest, possibly in a cage, during recovery period. Restrict activity and monitor vitals and behavior carefully. The veterinarian may have specific nutritional instructions for your dog, such as bottle-feeding, during this period. If your puppy is under six weeks old, and the mother is unavailable or infected, your puppy may continue to require intravenous nutrients and hospital monitoring.
You will bring your dog back into the veterinarian for regular blood tests in order to monitor the levels of E. coli infection in your dog’s blood. Be sure to contact the veterinarian immediately should you notice a change in your dog’s body temperature and health.
Cost of E. Coli Infection in Dogs
An E. Coli infection is dangerous for anyone to suffer from, even your furry family members. For puppies, the timing of the treatment is just as important as the treatment itself. A trip to the veterinarian’s office is always necessary! The veterinarian will need to hospitalize your dog and start him on intravenous fluids to help regulate his electrolytes and prevent severe dehydration. This can cost between $67 and $95. If severe dehydration has already occurred then, your dog may need an oral solution of glucose which can cost around $40 on average. Your dog will also need antibiotics to fight off the infection. Normally, antibiotics can run between $10 and $100.
E. Coli Infection Average Cost
From 36 quotes ranging from $500 - $6,000
Average Cost
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E. Coli Infection Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Siberian Husky
Kira
12 years +
8 found this helpful
8 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Frequent Urination
Hi, I'm not sure what kind of bacteria was found in my dog's sterile urine sample, but she was also found to have a slightly high kidney count. My vet informed me that this means the infection has spread to her kidneys. She has been prescribed Cefpodoxime for 30 days to treat the bacteria. She has been taking this medication for 10 days, and has been able to make it through the night without an accident for the last 4 nights. However, she has been very tired, and has still been drinking/urinating excessively throughout the day. Is this normal? How long can I expect it to take before she starts to regulate? Thank you in advance.
Nov. 18, 2017
8 Recommendations
Treatment can take a while and it is encouraging that you are seeing improvement, but it may take another ten days before you see a resolution of symptoms and then still not be a full resolution of symptoms given her age and any other possible underlying issues. Continue with the therapy prescribed by your Veterinarian for now and check in with your Veterinarian once the antibiotic course is completed for another urine test and checkup. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 18, 2017
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Basset Hound
Maggie
4 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
We just adopted a basset hound who just gave birth two 8 pups. We fostered Mom after she gave birth and adopted one of her pups. Mom had several procedures while being fostered. One hair follicle removed from her neck and tail, tooth extraction and then once her milk dried up, she was spayed. While fostering her she had been treated twice for UTIs. Clavamox given each time and both times when she finished her abx, her symptoms became present again. A week ago, she started having frequent urination again with discharge, took her to vet, vet more blood present in urine dip but she attributed that to her recent spay. She was not treated and we were told to keep an eye on her. Last Friday, Maggie began passing blood clots, lots of them, with bright red blood. I immediately took her back to the vet, her Urine was dipped. Positive blood, we did an X-ray, no bladder stones. I requested a urine sensitivity be done. Results came back today, E. coli was present. Her bleeding has stopped for the most part, a few mucous discharges have been present and she only has two days left on abx. What else can be done? I was also told too that she was in heat when she spayed but the vet who did the spay 3 weeks ago said it’s not likely to have blood and clots now
Nov. 9, 2017
0 Recommendations
After three weeks, I wouldn’t expect to see blood clots being discharged after spaying; if the sensitivity testing came back it should have indicated an antibiotic which would be most effective for treating the E. coli infection and Maggie should be transitioned to that antibiotic if possible. Apart from that, there is little else that can be done apart from using the antibiotic indicated in the sensitivity testing. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 9, 2017
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Boxer
cyrus
8 yrs
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Anorexic
Vomiting, Diarrhea, Weight Loss,
My 8 yr NM boxer has a uti, CS of urine show 100,000 plus colonies of ecoli, blood work is WNL, fecal NPS, radiographs sent to a radiologist all organs appear good. We are on 1.5 ml baytril 100 mg, IM SID, a decreasing dose of pred acetate IM inj( to stimulate appetite) he is getting 2.8 ml of convenia sq inj once every 10 days.. because he is a boxer with a sensative stomache he is on reglan 10 mg BID, carafate slurry 1gn BID.. my Dr is going to add a 3rd abx once he starts eating again, my concern is weight loss 78 down to 60, his body condition score prior to this was 7/8... how long does it typically take to beat this bacteria?
Sept. 18, 2017
0 Recommendations
E. coli is the most commonly found organism causing urinary tract infections; a culture and sensitivity test would give the antibiotic which the bacteria is sensitive to and is normally effective, some cases may need combination with another antibiotic. Male dogs may have a primary cause for their urinary tract infection which may be caused by many different conditions which would need to be ruled out by your Veterinarian. Treatment for urinary tract infections like this may take a few weeks to get under control in severe cases. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.cliniciansbrief.com/sites/default/files/sites/cliniciansbrief.com/files/ManagingEcoliUTI.pdf
Sept. 18, 2017
Is E. coli in a dog's urine a hazard to people? I know we have it in our lower gut. My roommates pug has it.
Nov. 10, 2017
Randall T.
My weimerainer 15 years old. Baytril not effective to kill e-coli in Angel. She has had e-coli off and on for years. Had culture done to see what antibiotics work on her e-coli and none of them work. Right now I tried the SOLARAY
D-Mannose which is supposed to eat e-coli and her infection was better but it put her in a dangerous acidic state of her urine (4). Now putting 4 drops of oregano oil in a capsule and down her throat so she will swallow. I empty one of my supplement capsules and put the oregano oil in the empty capsule. This is supposed to kill e-coli. I make sure she eats after swallowing the capsule. Put mashed potatoes or any thing deelicious on food and I ordered Kelp from amazon and put a heaping spoon of kelp on the food to make her more alkaline. She is on 500 milligrams of Cephalexin every 8 hours. We will see Wed when her urine is tested but incontinence is gone. Urine looks clearer. I think the combination of oregano oil (Young Living Oil) and cephalexin 3times a day is working. Put table food on good dry food-anything to get him to eat. Baytril ruins their appetite. I am sending prayers to your be-loved boxer.
Nov. 27, 2017
Joy
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Doberman Pinscher
Lilah
9 Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Vaginal Discharge
Licking Genitals
My doberman puppy (9 weeks old) had goopy vaginal discharge, noticed it the day after we got her. It got as bad as strings hanging from her genitals inches long, right after urination. She has now been on cephalexin for almost the full 10-day term, and about halfway through it the "goopy" discharged stopped, but there is still discoloration in the last few drops of urine we wipe up. It is now very watery like urine should be which I think means progress, but I am worried it has not been eradicated from her system.
With all of the horror stories about E. Coli, I don't want to take any chances. I have taken her to 2 vets with another appointment tomorrow, and neither one seems too concerned about it (keep an eye on it kind of thing). I don't really notice any other symptoms, but the vet that gave us the prescription did look at a swab, and confirmed it to be E. Coli. I feel helpless in all of this because it sounds like this can turn life-threatening very fast... is there anything more I can be doing? Would a second round of the antibiotic likely clear it up?
Aug. 30, 2017
0 Recommendations
It is so bad that Lilah is going through this at her age; E. coli is unfortunately everywhere and is a normal resident of the intestines but usually does no harm. In this case, I would have taken a sample to see if the infection was still present either with a swab or a urine culture just to be on the safe side (and to ease the concerns of a loving owner). Many time a wait and see approach is best as repeated doses of antibiotics may cause different problems later down the line. Ask your original Veterinarian who wrote the prescription to take another sample, you are paying for a test afterall. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 30, 2017
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E. Coli Infection Average Cost
From 36 quotes ranging from $500 - $6,000
Average Cost
$1,200
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
