Aetiology and local antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial pathogens causing dogs urinary tract infections from January 2019 to July 2024 in Split, Croatia

Urinary tract infections in dogs are common in veterinary practice and one of the main reasons for the use of antimicrobial drugs. They are mostly caused by bacterial infections, while viral, fungal and parasitic infections account for less than 1% of cases. In practice, treatment usually starts with antimicrobial drugs selected based on existing clinical experience, without knowing the specific pathogen or its sensitivity to a particular drug. The aim of this study was to present the local prevalence andantimicrobial resistance of the most common bacterial pathogens of dog urinary tract infections isolated from samples obtained in the city Split, Croatia and its surrounding areas. From January 2019 to July 2024, 897 urine samples were analysed bacteriologically, of which 307 were positive. Of the total number of bacterial isolates, 194 (62.8%) were Gram-negative bacteria and 115 (37.2%) were Gram-positive. The most frequently isolated bacterial pathogens were E. coli (45%), coagulase-positive Staphylococcus sp. (13.9%), Proteus sp. (10%), beta-haemolytic Streptococcus sp. (9.7%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp. (7.4%), Enterococcus sp. (5.5%), Pseudomonas sp. (4.2%) and Klebsiella sp. (2.6%). Data on local susceptibility and resistance patterns of the most common uropathogens can help clinicians in the selection of antimicrobial drugs and can serve as a basis for antimicrobial resistance monitoring in the coming years.