Effects of cranberry extract on prevention of urinary tract infection in dogs

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are associated with a temporary or permanent breach in host defense mechanisms that allows virulent microbes to adhere, multiply, and persist within the urinary tract. Infections can be confined to a single site within the urogenital tract, such as the renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, urethra, prostate gland, or vagina, or can be found at multiple sites. UTIs are most commonly caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli, which is the most common uropathogen. The E. coli strains that cause UTIs have proteinaceous macromolecules (fimbriae) that facilitate adhesion of bacteria to uroepithelial cells in the urinary tract.
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Nephrology/Urology Source Type: research