"Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common diagnosis in companion animal practice and is responsible for a significant proportion of antimicrobial use in veterinary medicine. The veterinary community has begun to follow the standards of care in human medicine and shift its definition of an UTI based on culture results and toward the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms. An improved understanding of the pathophysiology of UTI, risk factors for clinical disease, and the implementation of more reliable in-house diagnostic testing can lead to improved outcomes for patients and reduce inappropriate treatment. Investigation of antibiotic-sparing therapies holds some promise as well."