Simple Summary
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant health concern in dogs and cats and have public health implications, as companion animals can serve as reservoirs for pathogenic and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. In the study period, the estimated prevalence of UTIs in dogs and cats associated with LUTDs or other illnesses was 26.1%, with true values ranging from 8.0% to 58.9%. Prevalence was higher in dogs than cats and higher in females than in male, and all age groups were affected. Escherichia coli was the predominant causative bacterium, and prevalence remained stable over time.
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur in dogs and cats across diverse populations and regions. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we estimated the pooled prevalence of UTIs in dogs and cats with lower urinary tract diseases (LUTDs) or other illnesses and characterized the distribution of bacterial uropathogens. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified 887 articles, of which 18 were published up to October 2024, met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses using a random-effects model estimated a pooled prevalence of 26.1%. Prevalence was greater in dogs (44.6%) than in cats (18.6%), and higher in females (30.1%) than in males (14.6%), affecting all age groups. Single-pathogen infections predominated, with Escherichia coli being the most common uropathogen in both species, followed by Proteus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. in dogs and Staphylococcus spp. in cats. Prevalence remained relatively constant over the study period (1991–2021). These findings underscore the value of pooled prevalence and bacterial distribution data for guiding empirical antimicrobial selection, and they highlight the need for further systematic reviews on antimicrobial susceptibility and multidrug resistance to inform treatment strategies.