Home Remedies for Dog’s Urinary Tract Infection
How can I tell if my pet has UTI? One of the first warning signs of cat or dog urinary tract infection might be some straining, pain or discomfort when urinating, but any change in urinary habits could signal UTI.
Watch out for incontinence or increased frequency of urination, the ability to pass only a very small or an abnormally large amount of urine, and urination in inappropriate places. Cats often stop using the litter box altogether to urinate. Other symptoms may include the passing of urine which is cloudy or strong in odor, an increased thirst, and visible inflammation or irritation. Symptoms which may indicate UTI (but could also be signs of other illness) include lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever and back pain.
What can I do about it? Urinary tract infection in dogs can be a recurring phenomenon and it might tire you to constantly take your dog to the vet. Consequently, you may wonder if a dog’s urinary tract infection can be treated with a homemade formula. Fortunately, a dog’s UTI can be treated from the comfort of home. Make sure, though, that the dog’s condition is not severe. If it is, it is highly advised that instead of giving the animal homemade treatment, you take it to the vet for proper diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment.
Urinary tract infection does not pose a life-threatening risk to dogs. Thus, you may address the problem yourself in your home. There are several homemade remedies that are effective in treating a dog’s UTI. Some of these remedies are listed below.
1. Frequent bathing. Bathing your pet frequently can help prevent the recurrence or spread of bacteria that are causing complications. Bathing the dog frequently can help flush out bacteria that may invade its urinary system through the opening of the urethra.
2. Citrus juices. If your dog is suffering from UTI, you can give it citrus juices such as orange juice, lime juice, and cranberry juice (NO grapefruit). These can help boost the acid level of the dog’s urine.
Grapefruit has the potential to actually be toxic to your dog, even the essential oils.. The peel, pith and seeds are the most dangerous as they contain chemical compounds known as psoralens which can cause lethargy, depression, diarrhea, vomiting, photo-sensitivity, drooling, trembling and a sensitivity to light. Toxicity can be fatal.
3. Apple cider vinegar. This has properties which can neutralize the bacteria present in the dog’s urine, reducing the discomfort caused by the disease to the pet. You can give the animal apple cider vinegar by mixing it in water. You would like to try 1 tsp. for a small dog and 1 tbs. for a medium-large dog. If you add it to your dog’s drinking water, you should also offer plain water, just in case your dog doesn’t want to drink the water with the ACV in it. You don’t want to risk his/her drinking less water and possibly becoming dehydrated.
4. Clean water. Give your dog ample amount of clean water everyday. This can help wash out the bacteria that have accumulated in the canine’s urine. In the process, the infection may be lessened.
Aside from the remedies listed above, you may also give your dog herbal remedies and homeopathic remedies. These remedies have been shown to have wonderful effects in dogs suffering from UTI and other urinary problems. These remedies cannot only help cure the UTI in your dog; these likewise prevent the recurrence of the disease. Herbal and homeopathic remedies are also safe because they do not have side effects that may add to the discomfort and pain felt by the pet.
If you are going to use herbal and homeopathic remedies in treating a dog’s urinary tract infection, especially look for products which have uva ursi, staphysagris, berberis vulgaris, golden rod, juniper berry, and cantharis as ingredients. These ingredients have properties which can help soothe the dog’s bladder, relieve the inflammation, and ultimately strengthen the bladder. Prolonged use of these remedies can help keep ypur dog in top shape by preventing the recurrence of infections.
Urinary tract infection is truly a rising problem in today’s society. However, you can help keep your dog safe from infections by giving it home remedies. It is still very essential, though, that you take your pet to the vet regularly for check-up. By doing so, occurrence of infections can be detected and dealt with earlier.
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Melissa Simmonds is a dog health enthusiast. She has done much research in the hope of finding ways of treating a dog’s urinary tract infection She has learned from her research that a dog’s UTI can be treated with homemade remedies.
Article Source: Melissa_Simmonds
MORE INFO
Cranberry Extract is high in Vitamin C and prevents bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall. Women who drink a pint of juice a day had 63% reduction in recurrence of urinary tract infections. And YES YOU CAN GIVE IT TO YOUR PETS!!!! One 3000 mg capsule is equivalent to 24 ounces of cranberry juice.
Dosing schedule: 1/8 capsule for cats & small dogs, ¼ capsule for medium dogs, ½ capsule for large dogs and 1 capsule for giant breed dogs. Give THREE times a day.
From the Antietam Valley Animal Hospital‘s newsletter
Guidelines for Use: Cranberry has no known interactions with antibiotics or other medications. But by acidifying the urine, cranberry may lessen the effect of another herb sometimes used for UTIs called uva ursi (also known as bearberry). Try one or the other.
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Oh, BTW, her teeth are fine. No gum disease or anything. I take good care of all my dog’s teeth. I brush them once a day and they have antlers to chew which are good for their teeth, but they cannot ingest them as they can the rawhide bones. I don’t like those at all. The antlers are expensive, but I have a friend who works where I buy them, and she gets them for me at her cost & discount, and they last for months.
Yes, I thank you for your response. I did get the cranberry capsules and gave her 1 yesterday, but today she squatted in the house as if she was going to urinate, but all I saw after were several drops of bloody urine. I decided then that I needed to take her to the vet. But, she has had 3 surgeries on her (R) hip for tumors. After the last one the vet said he could no longer operate on her if they come back, as she has no more loose skin in that area and it would require skin grafting from some other part of her body. That would add between $1K & $1500 to the cost, which as a retired woman I cannot afford. I only have $300 in savings as I had to buy a new HVAC system this year at $4K. That pretty much wiped my savings out. I know I cannot afford Rx vet meds. I will call tomorrow (Fri 10/2) for an appt. next week sometime. We have a Cat. 4 hurricane bearing down on us on Sunday, so I don’t know what that will bring as yet. I hope to tell you what he said and see if there is some less expensive way to treat it. I love this site. I’m so grateful for your help. Oh, her bowel movement is quite different now also. Very little and stringy. I should be thinking we’re coming to the end of the line, but OMG, I just don’t want to.
So you are in the northeast, eh? Good luck this weekend.
Your dog’s situation is painful and that’s why she sometimes pees just a little. She needs antibiotics to work on the infection. Will your vet provide you some to hold you until her appointment? If not, is there a pet store nearby that sells fish products? There is a product for fish called Fish Mox which is Amoxicillin. It’s labeled for fish tanks, but is the same product as you would get from your vet. They even sell it at some Walmarts.
Don’t get ahead of yourself and think about things you don’t know. It doesn’t help to worry.
We have 5 rescued dogs, 4 large breeds, & 1 min pin. The oldest is my best friend and will be 14 this year. She cannot jump up onto the bed any longer, but I boost her up and she does not exhibit any signs of being in pain. She is eating & drinking normally, however, she seems to be incontinent. I am nearly 67 and have no serious health problems, but I learned the hard way that (probably due to my age) when I need to urinate, I must go immediately or will have a problem. I can handle it as I can use the restroom whenever I want, but Abby must wait until we take all the dogs out, which is about 6 times a day. For the past week she has been urinating without control, sometimes a small amount and sometimes larger. She seems in good health otherwise. Would cranberry capsules help her situation, even though I don’t see any signs of a UTI? I am wondering about some sort of dog diapers many senior people must use. Please offer your advice and any suggestions.
Diapers will certainly help with the inconvenience of the “accidents”, but they don’t address what the problem is. Given that the amount varies, it could be a UTI. UTI is painful so they actually will try to avoid going to the bathroom because of the pain, yet they will then always feel as though they have to go. Are you finding any blood in her urine?
Cranberries may help, but if she has a bad infection, they may not be enough. It would be worth a trip to the vet to nail down what is happening with her. How are her teeth? Sometimes an infected tooth can lead to kidney issues because of the bacteria involved.
Hi My 1 year old lab has suffered from chronic UTI’s from the time I brought her home as a little pup. I’m at my wits end just not sure what to do. We have tried giving her cranberry juice in her water and it seems to help however the infection always returns regardless of our efforts. I have tried taking her to the vet as well. Any recommendations would be appreciated as to what I could possibly do to finally be rid of this nuisance. Thank you!
My best thought is that it is related to diet. A good quality food (it helps to add water to dry kibble and let it soften before feeding), stir in some wet food and add some probiotics. Maybe some kelp sprinkled on top, too.
Wow, this is so great. My wife and daughters just left the country for six weeks and while I was walking our little Yorkie, Coco (: I noticed her squatting a lot more than usual but not urinating.
Then she was leaving little puddles around the house. I thought about UTI and did a Google search, which led me here. I certainly prefer to help her with natural remedies first.
Thank you so much.
Bill
Good luck.
I have a ten-month-old Golden Retriever. She has been picky about her food lately but never showed other signs of a UTI until she started breaking her housetraining today. The puddle I cleaned did not seem to have any blood in it when I wiped it up, and she did not whine or cry when she peed (three times) outside about an hour and a half beforehand. She’s also been very thirsty. At first I assumed that because it was humid, she was hot and thirsty, and she is a pretty active dog. But now that she is peeing in inappropriate places, I am worried about her. (The picky eating has been a problem before and could totally be unrelated, however when I saw loss of appetite as a symptom I thought I should mention it). I would take her to the vet tomorrow but it is closed until Monday. What’s the best thing I could find at my local Hannaford to help ease her symptoms until I can bring her to the vet?
Thanks for your help!
Sometimes when they have an upset stomach or feel constipated, they will drink more. And given her young age, maybe she ate something that you did not see her eat? Has she pooped? How is her attitude? Is she slowing down or does she seem normal?
With a UTI, they will not always whine or cry, but it is painful which leads them to pee inappropriately — a little here and a little there and they may linger over the place they are peeing even after there is nothing coming out. Depending on the severity of the infection, there may not always be blood in the urine each time.
As most bladder infections are due to a build up of bacteria in the urinary tract, a 10-day course of an antibiotic such as Amoxicillin is generally recommended. The recommended dose of amoxicillin in dogs and cats is 5-10mg/pound every 12-24 hours. Amoxicillin can be given with or without food as it is stable in gastric conditions. If you have a pet store nearby that sells fish or a farm supply store, they may carry Fish-Mox which is amoxicillin labeled for fish — so you can purchase it without a prescription. Though generally safe, be aware of the side effects as well. If these occur, you should discontinue use and contact your veterinarian.
Side effects of Amoxicillin may also consist of:
• Mild nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal Pain
Serious side effects that may occur include:
• Severe or bloody diarrhea
• An allergic reaction
• Seizures
• Bruising or unusual bleeding
In addition to these side effects, it’s been noted that there is an increase in the likelihood of yeast and certain fungal infections in dogs.
You can also give her some cranberry juice on her food. This may help, too.
Because the picky eating has occurred before, it may not be a factor in this case, but sometimes that simply means they do not like what they are being served. Do you feed dry or wet food? A good food that they like will help keep bacterial levels in check.
Best to you both.
Hey…love this thread and was just wondering…I make my own dog food…rice, left over veggies from us…and/or bag of veggies, 1 pkg boneless chix, olive oil and 4 eggs. Cook all together…and mix. So I’m thinking…about adding (just to make it last longer…a small bag of Rachel Rays’ all natural dog food. Now with one of my pups seemingly today having a uti (my son said…oh yeah…I saw a drop of blood in her urine). I’m thinking…why don’t i add either a bag of cranberries to the mix (cooked in of course) or simply 1/2 bottle with no sugar to the mix.
I make enough for 2 dogs for one week. It’s in a container in the fridge and the eat it up.
Thoughts???? Thanks 🙂
Congrats on making your own dog food. Lucky dogs!
The cranberries will help, but you’ll need to keep an eye on her urine. Cranberries are not always effective in every case.
I had taken my puppy pitbull to the vet maybe 2 weeks ago or so. They said she has a uti with her pee sample..such little sample though was hard to get. She would have pee’d every couple seconds with so little pee..and she licks her genitals sometimes as well..i thought that was quite normal. After she finished all her antibiotics…its happened again, after a maybe a week later..im so worried..and wondering why. The vet is expensive but I mean I will do whats necessary for her. Still same symptoms, she pees so little and in a couple seconds…or minutes…
Talk to your vet. It could be diet. She may need a change in her food and they can make suggestions for that. Dry food can be a culprit.
Cranberry juice may help prevent UTI’s by preventing adherence of a certain bacteria, E. Coli, to the bladder wall. However, almost as many UTI’s in humans are caused by a form of Staphylooccus. Staphylococcus is not affected at all by cranberry.
IN nuring home research, cranberry juice does not prevent UTI’s.
Researchers now believe that cranberries contain substances that prevent infection-causing bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract walls. There are a couple of different theories about how exactly cranberries do this. Some studies show that certain antioxidants in cranberries change the bacteria so that they can’t stick to the urinary tract. Another idea is that cranberries create a Teflon-like slippery coating on the urinary tract walls that prevents E. coli from getting a good grip. Studies that have analyzed the effects of cranberry products on urinary tract infections have gotten mixed results.
Vitamin C for the prevention of UTI’s has little double blind controlled research–the only kind of research that controls for observer bias.
Some reserach on vitamin C has been done in older people and it shoes that vitamin C has no effect on preventing UTI’s.
Vitamin C can promote the formation of kidney stones. Kidney stones predispose the kidney to bacterial infection because the rough surfaces of the stone serve as a location to harbor bacteria.
While I agree that supplements can help prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in dogs, trying home treatment for an active UTI is dangerous.
The problem comes when, as it inevitably does, the bacteria crawls from the bladder up the ureters to the kidneys. A bacterial infection in the kidneys kills kidney cells. UTI’s should be diagnosed by urine culture with sensitivities to make sure that one is giving and antibiotic that will actually kill the bacteria causing the problem.
My little dog Patty came from Animal control. She was turned in because she was incontinent of urine–probably the most common symptoms owners notice. Being turned in because of incontinence and having that incontinence go away once the UTI is appropriately treated, means that she had a UTI long before she got turned into animal control. As a result, her kidneys are damaged and have a lot of dead cells.
The horrifying thing that occurs when part of the kidney is already dead, is that it is easier to get another UTI. Every UTI damages the kidneys further. Finally the damage is so great that the dog dies from kidney failure. As Patty’s veterinarian stated, Patty will die 3 to 5 years early because of kidney failure.
Please do not treat UTI’s at home. Take your dog to the vet, get a urine culture and give every single antibiotic dose prescribed. Skipping even one dose of antibiotic can allow the bacteria to become resistant to that antibiotic.
My 9 year old pit just started showing symptoms of a UTI today. She has never experienced this before but we had recently experienced many stressors including a move and change of diet. In my personal experiences cranberry pills have worked wonders. Antibiotics also worked but I am not a fan of medications if i can avoid it. I have begun giving her cranberry pills today as well as a homemade meal plan consisting of steamed vegetables and boiled chicken. I will update the board once I see any progress or lack of.
Looking forward to hearing how things go.
I have a 12 year old bulldog- puddle mix.she has been trying to urinate and is frequently squatting around the house but nothing comes out. This is the first day she has had this. I gave her two cranberry tablets and some Apple cider vinegar. How long should I wait before taking her to the vet?
Thanks.
I have a 7 year old male rat terrier named Brownie who had a bladder stone and neutered surgery in 2012 and started urinating blood again 3 years later it occur when he gets excited to see me when I arrive at home from work Brownie urinates and at the end of urinating is when I see slight blood for 2 days now and completely stop for now. HELP!!!!! ANY SUGGESTIONS!!!!! I don’t want him to have surgery again.
You could have your vet check him. It may be something simple that you are catching early and some meds will clear it up.
My dog is matted and has a uti. Should I get him groomed first then monitor his pee by giving him cranberry juice then take him to the vet?
Why do you think he has a uti? Could it be related to being matted? If he does have a uti, you should address this before the grooming.
Very intersting comments. My dog has crystals in her bladder and I am wondering if there is any way of disolving them with home remidies. She has a UTI right now and is peeing every hour. I will try the apple cider vinager in the morning. She seems a bit dull but no fever. I didn’t care for the vet I took her to. He almost sounded like he was wanting to do surgery on her and keep her on a special diet that is prescription. I looked at the ingrediants and it was full of fillers and she wasn’t happy with it at all as I got one can of the stuff. What do you recommentd?
Surgery seems a bit extreme as a starting point. What I have found is that vets generally want to keep them on iv fluids for 48 hours to flush their kidneys, then go from there. What have you been feeding your girl? I think dry kibble is part of the problem… unless it is a good quality and you add water to it to soften it before feeding.
I have had reoccurring UTI’s myself for about a decade and was constantly running to the doctor and being pumped with antibiotics. My aunt told me about what she referred to as “magic” cranberry pill and it has seriously changed my life. As soon as I feel any signs of a UTI I pop 2 drink lots of water and it goes away. I seriously was on antibiotics so much for UTI’s that they actually stopped working on me. The pills are called Ellura heres the link on Amazon : //www.amazon.com/ellura-Cranberry-Supplement-Prevention-Infections/dp/B00AYH4VE0.
I have no idea what makes it work better than other cranberry pills, but other stuff hasn’t really worked on me. It’s really pricey but worth every penny. I am not sure if this would be okay to give to a dog? Obviously a smaller dosage. I currently have a 7 month old puppy exhibiting signs of a UTI but I am not sure if she’s sick or it’s a housebreaking issue. She seems to be housebroken and goes to the back door to let me know when she has to pee, not to mention I am constantly taking her outside with training treats making sure she doesn’t have an accident. But every now and then she will just randomly squat and pee? It’s frustrating because I would just have her outside 5 minutes prior to that! Also she sometimes wets herself when shes napping. I am going to try some cranberry juice with water and go from there. Not sure if the pills I mentioned would be good to give her.
If she had a UTI, she would be trying to pee frequently and would only pee small amounts. From what you have described, it sounds more like a housebreaking issue.
I have a 9 yrs old min pin, he pees but seems like he has more to go, drips a little but as he stands with his leg up thinking or trying to go nothing else comes out….wjat should i do, could this.be a UTI??? Can i give him some cramberry juice and how much?
It sounds like a blockage. It could be stones or crystals or even a mucous plug, however if there is no or little pee coming out, this is more than an infection to be treated with cranberry juice. If he is unable to eliminate the urine in his system, it will back up in his system and can lead to renal failure. Please take your pup to the vet as soon as you can.
Hello. I have a 3 yearold girl. Just got her a week ago and 2 nights ago she started peeing in the house. At night and once when I was gone for 5 hours. . She doesn’t have any signs of uti she’s a very happy girl. I take her out all the time. Not sure what to do?
It could just be the change of homes.
You might put a pee pad down for her and slowly move it towards the door and then outside.
My 2yr old bluenose pitbull is straining and trying to pee it drips outa few drops and that’s it. I can see him push trying to pee. Don’t seem to be in pain has a low fever. What can I do??? Can dogs get kidney stones
Sounds like he has a blockage of some type. It could be stones or it could be a mucus plug. You should see a vet as soon as you can because urine is a bad thing to have backed up in his system. Untreated, it can become life threatening.
I have an 8 month old shepherd. Boxer mix. According to her last owners she was fully house broken but since getting her a week ago she has had a TON of per accidents. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain. Her urine doesn’t smell strong or appear cloudy. She is fixed. Could this still be a UTI or could it just be a New home and we haven’t learned to communicate needing to go outside?
It could be several things. First, it could be the change of homes and owners. With that change comes a new routine. Do you take her out at regular times so she can begin to know a schedule? Do you praise her when she pees outside?
Did she have a UTI previously? Was it recently? If so, did she finish her meds?
Do you know the previous owners well enough to know they represented things accurately?
Do you keep her in a kennel when you are away? If so, does she pee in her kennel? Usually a dog will not soil the place they sleep, so they will not usually pee in their kennel. Of course, if they have not be housebroken, they may pee in their kennel.
It almost sounds like she isn’t really housebroken.
My puppy who almost 10 months old suffered from a uti bright her to the vet and they put her on antibiotic and finished it 2 days ago. As tonight it started all over again. What can I give her for frequent peeling. She dribbles all the time. Especially when I give her lots of water. Most of the time she doesn’t even realize and lays there wet. Help what can I do.
Thanks
Is she fixed? That can sometimes be a contributing factor. Did she dribble before the uti?
does 21 century essential bladder support cause diarrhea in dogs? She is a 70 lb
Weimaraner .
Any time you add something new to a dog’s diet it could cause diarrhea simply because they are not used to it. You could give your dog acidophilus to even things out in her digestive tract or a bit of good quality PLAIN yogurt.
This post was very helpful, thank you! How many cranberry capsules can i give to my 12 week old puppy, they’re 500mg.
Give one 400-mg capsule per 20 pounds of dog each day. If the dog is less than 20 pounds, cranberry tablets can be purchased and then broken in half or fourths.
Here are some additional options:
Solid Gold makes a supplement called Berry Balance to treat UTIs. There is also a great herbal product from Animal’s Apawthecary called Tinkle Tonic.
Be sure to read the reviews: Urinary Tract Infection at Only Natural Pet Store
My 4 month old male puppy is passing blood in his urine and has urine frequency, is there a home remedy for him his breed is German Shorthair Pointer about 30lbs.
I hace a 10 week old pit/boxer mix that might be showing signs of a uti..what is your reccomended dosage with a cranberry capsule?
Check the dosage at the bottom of this post. Hopefully that will answer your question. Good luck!
What is the recommended dosage of UVA ursi for canines? I have a female golden who’s older and suffering from an uti, I would rather not give her meds if I don’t 100% have to. Thanks I am urgently awaiting your response.
Dosing information is hard to come by.
For most herbs we don’t know the exact dosage that should be effective. So, when we don’t know, we usually tend to extrapolate from the human dose. The medication should have a dose on the bottle which is safe for humans to take. For a dog of 70 lbs you would generally give 1.5-2 times the dose that is recommended for humans. (I know it seems backwards, but dogs usually need a higher dose of most medications or supplements than people).
Uva Ursi is not a totally benign drug though. Given long term it can reduce potassium levels. It can be toxic if given in too high a dose as well. If I was recommending it to a patient I would use it for 4-5 days in a row when it seems like an infection is brewing, but I would not use it long term.
Source
My dog has a UTI and I’ve been trying the apple cider but she’s not a huge fan of it so I was wondering if “21st century bladder support” from petsmart will help, it does have vitamin C 20 mg, cranberry extract 30mg, soy protein concentrate 40mg, wild yam extract 100mg, Rehmannia root 120mg, pumpkin seed powder 125mg. or am I just better off giving her plain cranberry pills from the health store?
This stuff sounds really good. I would certainly give it a try.
Is it okay if i give my dog an antibiotic for her UTI while she is pregnant? Or I just give her water and Vitamins C?
Antibiotics are dosed based on weight, so the dose you will give to your dog would be an overdose to the pups. However, not knowing the extent of her UTI, I would suggest checking with your vet. You might look into a more natural approach to the problem.
Here’s a list of meds that may or may not be used in pregnant dogs.
What about juniper berry pills? I have 425 mg ones at home can I use those? What’s the proper dosage a day for a pug?
I just realized today that my dog has a UTI, apx. a year ago she had one I took her to the vet she took antibiotics and cranberry pills 4200 mg. I gave her 2 of those cranberry pills today 🙁 have I hurt her by doing this? or should I just not give her anymore for a few days? I would never do anything to hurt her!! HELP!
how many mg do you give the dog for the uti I have a shih Tzu medium size I see the pills have different mgs which one should I use on top of the 1/4 of the pill
Which pill are you asking about?
I used cranberry juice with no sugar added with his water and my dog’s uti cleared up almost immediately! He is back to his normal self!
D-mannose…its a sugar one of the essential ones our body lacks because of our lousey nutrition (sometimes just based on the environment. ?….anyhow I was very sick at one time and a doc handed me about 10 prescriptions. ? Said u will live with this for therest of ur life I said no did some research about missing sugars..added them and have been healthy ever since..d-mannose is one of those sugars.the bacteria attaches to it and it flushes out of the body…gonna give it to my dog now..she started with uti symptoms today…from
Whosayswecantfigureitoutourselves….just try
Deb
I agree, no citrus, especially sugary citrus SHOULD NOT be given to dogs with a UTI! what were they thinking???shessh, even people are highly reccomended NOT to drink juices or citrus with a UTI….it will make it worse! Just water, sugar free cranberry juice, or apple cider mixed in lightly with water! lots and lots and lots of water.
Isak–thanks so much! I am going to try the vinegar rinse on his paws they are so sore 🙁 I feel.awful because I think.he is in allot of pain and discomfort. How long do.you think I should give the uva ursi until I.bring him to the vet? Is there anything else that can be done for the pain and discomfort?
I am also very interested in what else isak has to recommend – my pup seems to be going through the same thing, with the exception he’s not having issues with his ears yet. I don’t know about your dog, nikki, but I’ve had issues with mine not wanting to drink much water the last week & now he’s got diarrhea, too. He seems to be experiencing some discomfort as well.
Thanks so much for the info. My pup has had allot of changes the past few months and since has a reoccurring uti. First time was treated with antibiotics but I would love to treat at home if possible. I also think he had a food allergy so have just switched him over to grain free to rule that out as his paws are very itchy and his ears are flared up and cleaning them with the solution from the vet doesn’t seem to help anymore 🙁 he also has a yellow coloured discharge that comes out of his penis…..any other suggestions?? I feel awful as he must be in extreme discomfort.
Sounds like you are on the right path: stabilizing his diet and going grain-free.
A small amount of green or yellow discharge at the tip of the penis is common and normal in dogs. As they mature and go through puberty (if not neutered) it will be more pronounced. It is called smegma and is a combination of skin cells, oils, moisture and some small amount of bacteria. It can also be related to uti.
For his ears, you could try a vinegar rinse: Create a mixture of 1/3 apple organic cider vinegar (2% to 2.5% acetic acid) and 2/3 water. Using a dropper, gently flush the ear canal with between 1 and 5 ml of the solutions. (1/5 teaspoon = 1 milliliter; 1 teaspoon = 5 ml)
The vinegar rinse may even relieve the itchiness of his paws.
If you’re worried about the sweeteners in cranberry juice, try just plain cranberries. I heat them up a little & mix with rice & boiled chicken breast & my dog loves it. It seems to slowly be helping. I don’t want to give him too much, either. I’ve been using about 1/2 cup with each meal. No sweeteners. I add a little sea salt as the vet says sodium will encourage more water consumption.
DO NOT GIVE CRANBERRY JUICE ESPECIALLY WITH SWEETNERS.
YOU CAN GIVE PETS CRANBERRY CAPSULES.
What store did you buy your cranberry capsules at? And also what brand, I am in need of doing this for my puppy immediately unfortunately..
You might be able to find Cranberry capsules in your local grocery store or a health food store. I think they should be fairly easy to find. The brand will vary from location to location so maybe this will help:
Cranberry Extract is high in Vitamin C and prevents bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall. One 3000 mg capsule is equivalent to 24 ounces of cranberry juice.
Dosing schedule… 1/8 capsule for cats & small dogs, ¼ capsule for medium dogs, ½ capsule for large dogs and 1 capsule for giant breed dogs. Give THREE times a day.
From Antietam Valley Animal Hospital’s newsletter
How long of a period of time should I give the cranberry capsules
It is not advisable to give a dog cranberry juice. Especially with sweetners. This could be serious.
It is better to give a dog cranberry capsules under the supervision of your vet. Be sure it does not contain sugar or sweetners. It should include a non-sweetner.
Can you explain more specifically about the issue with the sweetners? Thanks.
How much cranberry juice my dog is 25 lbs
Cranberry doesn’t cure existing infections, but it mechanically prevents bacteria from adhering to the tissue that lines the bladder and urinary tract. Because they are continuously washed out of the system, bacteria don’t have an opportunity to create new infections.
Some dogs do not like cranberry juice. So dilute it with water until you find the point that they do like it. Cranberry capsules are easier to use and more effective than juice, since they are far more concentrated. On product labels, the terms cranberry, cranberry juice, cranberry extract, and cranberry concentrate tend to be used interchangeably.
If your cranberry capsules are a veterinary product, follow label directions. If they’re designed for humans, adjust the dosage for your dog’s weight by assuming that the label dose applies to a human weighing 100-120 pounds. Giving cranberry in divided doses, such as twice or three times during the day, will make this preventive treatment more effective.
Would azo cranberry be,ok for my dog?
I have heard of people giving one or two every day with a drink of chicken broth to wash it down and provide extra fluid. I haven’t tried it myself.
Are you able to use home remedies if the pet (dog) has crystals in the urine?
What home remedies were you thinking of using?
Actually, they say that cranberry juice helps because it makes it to where the bacteria from the infection, or from what would cause the infection, doesn’t stick to your inner walls so it helps flush the bacteria in a way
How long does it take to notice the pup etting better on the avc?
Each dog is different, but I would think you would notice improvement within a day if what you are doing is working. I don’t know your pup’s exact situation, so I cannot say with certainty. Best to you!
I have suffered recurring UTI’s for many years and taken endless prescriptions for it. The thing that finally cured me is uva ursi and cranberry pills. Both can be purchased in capsule form (I get mine at Whole Foods.) Cranberry is safe to take long term and as often as you like, but uva ursi is damaging to the kidneys if taken long term. It is suggested to use only in case of actually having a UTI or occasionally to prevent one. For example I take cranberry almost everyday, and uva ursi only once a week, and more if I feel I have a UTI coming on… I can only assume this would translate over to using it for my dog. I have always thought that citrus is NOT good because of the acid. I can’t say how true this is but I’m my own case I have always avoided it when I have a UTI. Apparently cranberry is not as acidic. Again, I don’t know this to be fact, it’s just worked for me… I plan on giving my dog a cranberry pill a day from now on, besides it has a lot of good antioxidants and vitamins anyway… Best of luck to all your pooches!
I would definitely want to try your way of treating my dog’s UTI, but how many pills of uva ursi & how many times a day do I give it to him? I assume cranberry capsules would be one a day. He weights around 20 lbs.
How much citrus can I give to my dog? He is 80 lbs.
“While dogs produce vitamin C in their bodies (unlike human beings and guinea pigs who must have it in their diet), under stress or disease, they may need vitamin C in excess of their manufacturing capacity. In excessive dose, vitamin C can cause flatulence and diarrhea. This intestinal tolerance level varies among dogs, but is generally around 3000 mg per day in an adult German Shepherd. I recommend this be given to all dogs. For dogs under 2 years of age, give 250 mg vitamin C twice a day. For dogs over 2 years of age, give 500 mg of vitamin C twice a day. ” source 1 | source 2
From EarthClinic:
As a daily supplement, “…incorporate substantial doses of powdered Vitamin C into the dog’s daily meal.
Here is a daily dosage guide for adult dogs:
Small dogs: 500mg – 1,000mg
Medium – Large dogs: 1,000mg – 2,000mg
Giant dogs: 2,000mg – 4,000mg
Use a sodium ascorbate or another form of buffered vitamin C, as plain ascorbic acid may cause an upset stomach.
Start with the lowest recommended dosage and gradually increase it once or twice per year. If the dog is producing loose stools the dosage may be a bit high so cut back slightly and increase it gradually over time.
I agree with the citrus but what about cranberry juice???
Cranberry juice is very often recommended for cleansing kidneys.
I doubt my dogs would drink citrus juice (especially lime juice), however the author’s research — and the research of others — supports citrus. So perhaps introducing Vitamin C in pill/tablet form will be fine. From one article:
For Gods sake unless dogs are totally different from humans citrus is the worst thing you can do. Orange juice may have a lot of vitamin c but in your body a chemical process occurs that changes orange juice to a very alkaline product. Bacteria love alkalinity and thrive in those conditions. Look up foods to avoid for urinary infections . Citrus is one of them.
Go pee on a stick after orange juice if you don’t believe me.
If you are going to give false and harmful info than don’t give any at all
the good thing about herbal remedies is that they do not have side effects.`;*
This is very helpful info and I thank you for posting.
How much ACV should I add to the water?
Generally, 1-1/2 tablespoons ACV daily for big dogs (50 lbs or more), 2 teaspoons for a 35 pound dog and 1 teaspoon for the 15 pound dog.