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.
……………………………………………………………………………….
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.
299 Comments
What do you think?
Leave a Reply
Merchandise
More Places to Find Us
RESCUES -- the faces of some of the rescues who have shared my life.
WillWorkForDogFood.org -- just trying to make a living
Our Family Store -- note cards, t-shirts, mouse pads, bumper stickers and more
Did we help you? Would you like to make a donation to our cats and dogs? Click the donate button. Your help is appreciated.
Dear Isak,
I wrote to you a few months back regarding our very very precious Megy and seeking advice in particular regarding alternative remedies for treating chronic cystitis which you very kindly helped us with, however Megy was last week diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer and so did not have chronic cystitis at all….!! We are completely devastated as we have been told that Megy has only a few weeks to live and that there is nothing that can be done to help apart from pain relief. We were given the diagnosis following an ultra sound and did not opt for the biopsy as that would have involved an anaesthesia and yet another day away from home…! We were prescibed loxicom and pardale for pain and naturally our priority is keeping Megy comfortable. However we think that the prescribed medication has brought about the onset of kidney disease/failure as Megy has significant mobility problems in the hind quarters suddenly, add to that she has gone off her foid and we need to change diet several times a day, all the symptoms of one of our previously loved pets who has kidney failure and it is all too familiar…!
Would you be able to offer any alternative therapy support in particular with the dietary options and challenges or indeed any alternative remedy suggestions for the bladder cancer or kidney failure please? We are feeding Megy turkey breast, quinoa, chicken breast, sweet potato, potato, little tuna in spring water, white fish, but running out of options fast as what is relished in the morning is rejected at lunchtime…! Any help would be SO very much appreciated. We fully appreciate we are running out of time but every extra hour we have with Megy will mean the workd to her and to us….! Please help, Teena
I am so, so sorry. Make the best of every day with Megy so you are both sure to have still more good memories! And remember that a bad day today might not mean a bad day tomorrow.
With a diagnosis of a few weeks, it’s hard to suggest anything to “try.” However, the side effects of lexicon include loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Perhaps you can reduce the dosage or even not use it? Pardale is essentially Tylenol with Codeine. It is something that is used fairly commonly in dogs with pain. Maybe that’s all you need? Check with your vet.
When I have a dog being a finicky eater at my house, the one thing that almost always works is canned Friskies Turkey and Giblet food for cats — the pate kind. Yes, dogs LOVE cat food. Maybe this could jump start her eating again.
The ideal diet for a dog with kidney failure is lower in protein, low in phosphorus, and is not acidified. This type of diet helps reduce the amount of protein wastes or “metabolic toxins” that may make your pet feel sick and lethargic. In advanced kidney disease, a decreased protein diet will also decrease the workload on the kidneys.
If you want to make your own, here are a couple recipes: recipe one and recipe two.
Your vet may be spot on with the diagnosis, but have you considered a second opinion? I have received an erroneous diagnosis a few times. Just a thought.
Sending you and Megy both BIG hugs!
Platt hound mix, she broke her femur and is on a splint. The splint is right against her private area and is running (which our get told us would happen) she has blood in urine and strains to pee, dribbles and it’s cloudy. Is there anything I can do to help at home until she goes back in August.
Boy, she’s having her problems, eh?
It’s important to understand what is causing the problem. The straining that you are seeing could actually be caused by pain (if you have ever had a urinary infection, you can relate to the pain) — she has to pee but doesn’t want to pee because it hurts. Holding it can actually cause more problems because she needs to eliminate the toxins in her urine. Your vet can prescribe the necessary pain meds. For that reason, it would be good to take her to the vet.
Antibiotics for dogs, like Cephalexin or Clavamox, are the most common treatment for UTIs due to their ability to destroy and inhibit the growth of bacteria. Pet stores that carry fish supplies generally stock a product called Fish Flex. This is cephalexin. You might try it for a couple days to see if you see an improvement.
My 5 year old jack Russell/Rat terrier has a uti. I don’t have the money for a vet. What can I do. Her vola is swollen and she keeps licking herself.
Is she spayed? What signs are you seeing that makes you think she has a uti?
My great dane puppy. 14 weeks old has been on 3 weeks of the same antibiotic for this bladder infection .I have changed her food to royal canine puppy development as per the Vet. We went in yesterday after the 3 weeks of antibiotic and change of dog food and she still had no improvement in her pee sample (same amount of crystals). She now has been placed on a new antibiotic and i was told to buy royal canine urinary specific food for dogs even though she is a puppy at 14 weeks. They also keep pushing her 10-12 weeks shots down the road because she is on an antibiotic. i have an appt with the vet again in 2 weeks time to see if there is an improvement from the new good and new antibiotic. I’ve been spending a lot of money and its making me super sad my puppy has still not got any better.
Bladder infections can be difficult to get straightened out. Different antibiotics attack different bacteria, so perhaps the change will make the difference. In general, bladder infections are related to diet — this includes food that you are aware of as well as anything she may be getting into that you do not know about. Because they don’t make a urinary formula dog food for puppies, the vet changed her to the big dog formula. A low-protein diet can speed the dissolution of struvite stones when accompanied by appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Did your vet mention which kind of crystals he is seeing? In general, dogs should have a urinary pH of between 5.5 and 7.0. There are testing kits available, if you want to test her pH yourself.
Once you get it under control, there are things you can do to prevent a reoccurrence, but run them past your vet first:
• Supplement with cranberry capsules. Compounds found in cranberries help to prevent bacteria from attaching to the tissue that lines the bladder and urinary tract.
• Supplement with probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria. A healthy population of beneficial bacteria in the dog’s system will help to combat any unhealthy bacteria (such as the bacteria that causes UTIs).
• Vitamin C is often recommended for dogs prone to UTIs due to its antiiinflammatory properties.
• Uva Ursi is an herb often used to treat UTIs due to its anti-bacteria properties. It should only be used intermittently for short periods of time.
source
My 9 week old pitbull female puppy has a uti I don’t have the money for a trip to the vet what do I do
It really depends on the severity. If she has pain, she will pee only in small amounts because of the pain. This also gives her the sensation of needing to pee frequently. It’s very much like when you have a urinary tract infection. In that case, she needs antibiotics specific to the bacteria in her. This is generally clavamox, a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. They may also prescribe a pain reliever for her.
Pet stores sell amoxicillin for fish called Fish-mox that may help you (dose it down to her weight), but you need to be sure she in fact has a uti and it’s not something else. You can also give her cranberry. This is believed to prevent bacteria for sticking to the walls of the uterus.
Also, has she been de-wormed? It’s common for puppies to have worms, so de-worm her as well.
Good luck.
It may work or may not. But I am going to try this on my 4 month puppy who might have a uti.
I was given information for humans by a very educated pet homopathic. You take the silk off of an ear of corn boil the silk in 3 1/2 cups of water and drink 3 cups of silkwater throughout the day 4 10 days,now I have done this for myself and it works,I honestly don’t see why it wouldn’t work for our animals.
if you are going this route please let me know if he helped your dog or cat.
Let us know how it works out. I have read that it helps with urinary incontinence in dogs.
Here’s another recipe I just saw:
As a guide for fresh, use the silk from one ear of corn per one cup of boiling water. Cover and let the tea steep for roughly 20 minutes. Give 1/4 cup for every twenty pounds two times a day.
source
i enjoyed reading the responses, i find this very informated. This is a really good site. My question was my male dog had two operations on the same item. He now pees like a female dog, but he has a slight discharge from the penis that hardens and I have not found anything that will soften and brakes this discharge which hurts him when it is touched. I cannot find anything on any of the sites, Can you help me?
Does your dog have long hair that may be getting matted in the discharge? Is it a yellowish-green discharge? If so, that is smegma which is actually made of cells and lubricant fluid that surrounds the penis inside its protective sheath. Male dogs have that discharge as part of the normal cleansing of the penis even if neutered. Irritation could cause the the amount of secretion to be increased. Try using a sterile saline solution to gently wash the area (just the outside) in case there is some debris in there. I wouldn’t try hydrogen peroxide because it is drying, and this is a mucous membrane we’re dealing with. We want to keep this moist. Sterile saline is nice an neutral, and will flush debris.
If this continues and it’s very foul smelling, you may want to check with your vet. It could be an infection. A simple antibiotic regimen will probably clear it up, and for the most part, it’s cheap.
Hi Isak,
Thank you very much for you reply and your advice, it is very much apprecaited. We have followed your advice and wet the dry prescribed food that we give Megy and she loves it. We have also ordered tinkle tonic and cranberry extract. In your opinion can you see any issue with giving Megy these considering she has pancreatitis?
Many thanks, Teena
I don’t think you will have any problems with the changes and her pancreatitis, but keep an eye on her. Best to you both.
Dear Isak, I have a 14 year old spayed springer spaniel/sheep dog cross breed with recurring UTi’s. Naturally she is been treated by our vet by antibiotics as she had an ecoli infection that was persistent. But still the infection keeps recurring and our vet thinks that because she is spayed she is more likely to pick up infections . She also sits touching the ground to piddle so I am sure that doesnt help with preventing reoccurrence. We did succeed in getting rid of the ecoli but the uti has reoccurred again now for the 4th or 5th time in the last few months. I am worried about the long term use of antibiotics especially as she also suffers from pancreatitis which is being managed with a presribed low fat dry food. She is taking nothing else for the pancreatitis however we do give her a powder probiotic when she is on the antibiotics. I am very interested in alternative natural remedies and wondered if having pancreatitis would rule out some of the natural remedies you mention in other articles such as cranberry, blueberry, d mannose, citric juice and apple cider vinegar? I would be EXTREMELY grateful for any help that ypu can give please! I give fresh clean drinking water every day from a filtered jug but would bottled water be better? She is an indoor extremely precious pet.
Thank you Teena
Dr. Karen Becker explains it very well:
If you want, you can monitor your dog’s pH by catching her pee on a pH test strip available at several locations — Petsmart, Walmart — and online.
Many people have had great results with a product produced by Animal Essentials called Tinkle Tonic, suitable for an array of urinary tract disorders. A supplement like this can be fed in conjunction with a healthy food.
Diet – Increased fluid output is encouraged in western medicine, with diets that create thirst and therefore promote urine formation. A more moderate approach is to increase fluid intake with a moist pet food diet that will help to keep the whole system well hydrated.
Restricting the intake of sweet fruits & vegetables is also recommended when bladder infections occur. There is some disagreement as to whether an acidifying diet helps to combat infection; some veterinarians recommend acidic fruits or supplements since acid is thought to inhibit excess bacterial growth. Many vets recommend a daily dose of Vitamin C for this purpose. Cranberries contain a substance that actually prevents bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall. That’s what makes cranberries stand apart from many of the other supplements.
Increased water intake is ideal for pets prone to urinary tract problems, to help keep the system flushed out and well hydrated. If you feed dry food, add water to it and let it soak for several minutes before feeding it to your dog. You might compare the prescribed food to Wellness Core dog food. They make a low fat version, too.
As for the pancreatitis, the general recommendation is usually a low fat diet. I don’t think there is an issue with trying to maintain a slightly acidic urine pH. You can check this with your vet. However, probiotics are questionable with pancreatitis. Pancreatic enzymes are okay, though.
In short, the better the nutrition and the fewer the prescription meds, the happier and healthier the dog.
Good luck! And let us know what works out for you two.
Sorry, by irritated she has redness with some raw areas around the front of vulva. She is also somewhat swollen around vagina. She has been spayed. So not sure what is causing. I have also placed her in a cone for 2 weeks just in case she was licking. I also wipe her with hypoallergenic/unscented baby wipes after she uses the bathroom. I hope this helps.
Does she by chance have diarrhea that may be getting on her vulva and irritating it? To help with the inflammation, you can use “Preparation-H” wipes which people use for hemorrhoids. Just clean the rectum and vulva with them.
Or, you can clean the rectum and vulva with antibacterial soap (or the baby wipes you are using), rinse, and apply hydrocortisone cream every few hours.
I have a 7yr old aussie mix. I have taken her to the vet because her girl parts were irritated. He could see nothing wrong. She is not having accidents or peeing to often and no blood. Could this be a uti?
What do you mean by girl parts — inside or outside? What are her symptoms that make you say her girl parts are irritated. I think if she had a uti the vet would have noticed. You could give her some plain yogurt or a capsule of acidophyllus (sprinkled onto her food and stirred in) to add good bacteria to her stomach and see if this helps.
UTI’s can be caused by a variety of factors and some may be more serious than others. The issue of pain and discomfort should not be overlooked in our efforts to provide at home treatments. A clinical assessment and accurate diagnosis is crucial and should be stressed in advance of promoting alternative approaches. Once your pet’s condition has been objectively determined, exploring non-pharmaceutical remedies make reasonable sense once the pain or discomfort associated with a UTI can be brought under under control. Anyone of us who have ever suffered from a UTI will attest to the sheer misery they can cause. Please remember that most animals, domestic or wild, will mask their suffering even while battling a severe illness or other malady, so by the time the symptoms become outwardly evident, the animal in question could be in significant distress.
Look up d-mannose. It works for animals and adults for cure and prevention of uti’s. It’s almost tasteless (slightly sweet) and I swear by it!! Started treating my dog this morning as she was exhibiting symptoms of a uti. I’ve given her 1 teaspoon every two hours for the last four hours and her symptoms and blood tinged urine has already subsided. She’s a big girl and weighs 125 lbs. There are no side effects and it is totally natural and safe. Dr and vet recommended. I purchased the NOW brand 100% pure d-mannose. I’ve used it too… It works!!
Thanks for the tip! Do you use the powder?
Hi Isak, Good Day!! I have a 6 years of Female lab. She has been spayed 5 months ago.
After a week, there was some bloody discharge while she urinates and when I consulted the doc, they said it’s normal to have a bloody discharge as there might be stagnation of blood after surgery which would have flown out.
But after few days again blood(dark red) appeared in smaller quantities and I even saw it today when she passed urine. Please advice me what needs to be done here. Will it be due to cancer? But just before the spay was done, they did a whole stomach scan and found nothing related to tumours.
I have planned on the home remedies such as administering Green Parsley leaf, Apple Cider Vinegar(ACV) and Curd.
I have always been providing low fat milk to my dog since she was few months old, is that a healthy one or will that have any impact on UTI?
Will this work? I have seen people saying once there is blood in the urine it’s always severe and cannot be treated with home remedies. Please provide your thoughts. Thanks!!
I am not following what you are saying. You say she was spayed 5 months ago. How long have you been seeing the blood in her urine? Since the spay? Or just recently?
It can happen that a dog will get a UTI after spay/neuter, though it’s not common. As for milk — most dogs lack the enzymes necessary to break down the lactose in milk. So beyond their mother’s milk, it depends on the dog and whether they can tolerate it. Believe it or not, low fat milk contains the same amount of lactose as regular milk.
UTIs occur when a dog’s pH becomes more alkaline; bacteria thrives in an alkaline environment. There are many reasons why this can happen. If you have caught it early, the Green Parsley leaf and Apple Cider Vinegar(ACV) can help. They alter the dog’s pH creating an environment that the bacteria doesn’t like. However if you do not see a change, you should have your vet check her. They can prescribe antibiotics.
Can I put the Apple cider vinegar or in my dogs food .? And they don’t have a problem I’m just want to give it to him so they won’t have a problem !
You can give it a try, but they may not like the taste of it, unless you start with a very small amount (maybe mixed with water) and work up from there. Adding it to their drinking water can dilute it more so it is less noticeable to them.
How much uva ursi should I give my dog for a uti? It comes in capsule form. My dog is about 70lbs.
Thank you
If you want to use capsules, you will most likely have to adjust the human dosage. One vet (Dr. Marie over on just answers) suggested giving one and half or two times the human dose. Or, you can try this tablet form made for dogs and crush it if necessary. Here’s a link to a company on Amazon.
The last couple of days, my 4 year old Collie has been urinating two-three times and in multiple spots.
I noticed that her urine is slightly bloody as of last evening.
She’s not having accidents in the house.
She doesn’t need to go out more than usual.
She doesn’t cry when urinating.
Her urine doesn’t smell.
I haven’t noticed her licking her lady parts.
She doesn’t appear to be in pain or seem lethargic, etc.
She’s been drinking plenty of water and is given fresh water 2x day.
Can I add an extract capsule of cranberry to her food, about 20mg per pound of body weight? I have Nature’s Way Cranberry capsules on hand.
If she has a urinary tract infection, what is the treatment plan?
Thanks.
Cranberry creates an environment that is not friendly to bacteria so bacteria cannot continue to flourish. Give it a try and see if it eliminates your situation. If not, your vet will test the urine to determine what strain of bacteria she has and prescribe antibiotics to address that strain. It is often a form of amoxicillin, a broad spectrum antibiotic.
I have been prone to Urinary Tract Infections my whole life. I’ve probably tried every home remedy that I could find out on the market today! DO NOT drink Cranberry Cocktail–theres a lot of sugar in it and it will just aggravate your condition further.) Cranberry Juice has a dry taste for me, so I haven’t always been a huge fan of
The Lady Soma cranberry Concentrate is a great alternative – I take it in the morning when I take my regular vitamins. I have made it part of my regular routine so that my body is prepared if another Urinary Tract Infection is lurking in the shadows. These pills are small and easy to swallow as well as not having any taste. Good Luck!
You are correct about the cranberry cocktail containing too much sugar. Especially for pets, you do not want to use a product with sugar in it. Bacteria feeds off sugar.
Thanks for your recommendation.
I have a 5 month on collie mixed . He shows that he can to the door and cries to let us know he needs to potty. He urinated ALOT when we first got him.. we had to take him outside every 5 minutes. Now he’s starting to make trails of pee . He peed from upstairs..all the way down the stairs to the door. Like he couldn’t hold it. So can I just give him regular cranberry juice or what do you suggest ?
A typical dog needs to urinate every 4-6 hours; puppies maybe every 2-4 hours while they are being housetrained. More often than that indicates that something is amiss. Is he drinking a lot of water? If so, the question is why is he drinking so much water: changes in diet, weather, or exercise routine?
Are you able to see his urine? Is there any orange or red in it to indicate an infection?
How long has this been going on? How long have you had him?
If this has been going on for a while and it seems to be getting worse, a trip to the vet would be a good idea. If there is an infection going on, the vet can prescribe antibiotics like amoxicillin to knock this out. Or maybe he has a muscle weakness somewhere. The vet can prescribe meds for that. I think it would be a good idea to know for sure what is going on with him.
Hi,
I have 6 year old male labrador and he’s facing trouble urinating. Urine trickles (drop by drop) instead of flowing in a steady stream. Do you think it’s a case of UTI?
Could you suggest some natural remedies for the same?
You certainly want to keep an eye on this. The way a male’s “plumbing” is built, the “pipes” get narrower and narrower from the bladder to the end of the penis so that they can more easily get blocked than females. And you want to avoid any blockage as the urine can back up and cause problems with other organs. It can be pretty serious.
If there is a blockage, it’s important to locate the source — stones, a mucous plug, etc. Then the appropriate measures can be taken.
You can try the vinegar or cranberry solutions mentioned in this post to see if they will flush out the problem, but if you suspect he is blocking up, have your vet check him out.
I have a 5 yr old female Belgian Malinios, who acts like she has a UTI. Frequent urination, and seems to pause for a long time while going. There appears to be tinges of orange or reddish color to her urine when she peed on the tile floor. I would like to try the cranberry extract or juice on her prior to taking her to the veterinarian. Is this more conservative approach doesn’t work, I will take her then. How long should it take to start working that I would notice an improvement? She is an indoor/outdoor dog, healthy otherwise, no fever, no vomiting or loose stools, weights about 55lbs, and this has been going on for about 30 days.
Essentially, the cranberry creates an environment that bacteria doesn’t like, so it could take a few days before you see a difference.
I have two dogs that share dog food. One has a UTI infection. Can I add cranberry to the shared food?
Yes, you can. Cranberry creates an environment that the bacteria responsible for UTIs does not thrive it. You will still need to keep an eye on the dog that you think has the UTI. If it does not seem to be responding, you should have her checked by your vet. They will generally prescribe antibiotics, like Clavamox.
Hi, i have a 5 month old male puppy and he’s been sick for 6 days now. He has fever, he’s lethargic, he pees involuntarily and he grunts like he’s in pain every time he pees. After reading your article, i thought he’s only got UTI, but just today, he vomited and there was a worm on it, it was long and very light brown in color. He is my first pup and i am now in panic, i’m so scared of what may happen. The nearest vet clinic does not open until Saturday and he gets really stressed when travelling, i wonder what i can do for the mean time as first aid, before i bring him to the vet on Saturday. I really need you help. Thank you in advance.
It’s common for puppies to have worms. They can get them from their mothers or from what they pick up in their environment. Worms can cause a pot-bellied appearance, lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. If he has not been wormed, that would be a good place to start. Most places that sell pet food will sell puppy wormer that will eliminate a few different worm. This includes grocery stores, big box stores, feed stores.
Hookworms and roundworms are the most common worms found in puppies and kittens. A guide for deworming as recommended by the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists says for puppies:
• Every 2 weeks until 3 months of age, starting at 2 weeks old
• Once a month from 3 to 6 months of age
• After 6 months, follow adult recommendations. Also after six months, use a heartworm preventative medication that is effective against hookworms and roundworms.
There are several products which can be purchased without a prescription. Nemex-2 for dogs will be effective for roundworm and hookworm in dogs. It is always a good idea to consult with and have your puppy checked by your veterinarian.
There are several prescription items, Droncit Canine, Panacur Granules, Drontal Plus Taste Tabs for Dogs and Drontal Plus Tablets for Dogs which are often recommended. After your puppy reaches the appropriate age, there are a number of products which can be prescribed or purchased over the counter which need to be taken monthly to prevent a parasite affecting your puppy or kitten. This is only a partial listing of products used for treating worms infecting your pet.
It is also important to treat your dog for fleas. Fleas are a vector for the tapeworm. They can carry the tapeworm form one host to the next. Be sure to treat your pet for fleas on your pet and also treat your pet’s environment for fleas.
Hi, my dog is taking prednisone daily. The vet told us to stay away from the meat that may cause her the allergy. She is taking the pill for a month now but if she stop taking the pill the allergy start again; itch, smell from her ears, biting the feet and body odor. We met a lot of vet for the past years none of them telling us she has allergy until 2 months ago. She is already 10 years old lab. We switch her dog food to salmon and sweet potato about 2 months ago.
Also we have city water but we filter the water.
We would like some natural product them medicine. Seems the medicine only help the time being not for long term. We appreciate your time and advise.
From the symptoms you described — itch, smelly ears, biting feet and body odor — it sounds like she has a yeast infection. While prednisone can help with the skin issues, it suppresses her immune system so that her body is not able to naturally combat the infection.
Keep in mind that prednisone is a serious drug and should be gradually reduced and not simply stopped.
Here is a great article that talks about canine yeast — both the good and the bad. I think it will give you some options that will get you on the right path with your girl.
My 10 years old female lab. She is getting UTI at least twice a month. We do not want to give her antibodies anymore. She has allergy and taking pill daily. We feed her natural balance – salmon and sweet potato. Sometime we gave her peanut butter in her toy – Kongs. The vet told us that when she have diarrhea may cause the UTI. Please advise. Thank you
You have a few things going on.
1. Diarrhea is a symptom of something, not a problem. It occurs because something else sets it in motion.
2. Antibiotics generally kill all bacteria, including good bacteria.
3. A recurring UTI.
4. An allergy.
One thing they all have in common is food/digestion, so there are a couple things you could try. First, I would suggest sprinkling acidophyllus or some other form of a probiotic over her food regularly. You can buy acidophyllus in capsule form wherever vitamins are sold. This will add good bacteria back into her gut to replace what the antibiotics killed and should help with her diarrhea. If she should still get diarrhea, you can give her some plain canned pumpkin – a couple tablespoons. This should also help.
Do you know what the allergy is from? Food? What is the pill she takes?
Have you tried one of the other Natural Balance flavors in case it may be what is setting her off?
For the UTI, you might try adding some cranberry to her diet. It does not “cure” a UTI, but rather creates an environment that is not so friendly for the bacteria to grow in. In that regard, it works more as preventative maintenance.
What kind of water is she drinking? Well water? City water? Though less likely, sometimes water can be the problem.
I hope this helps.
I have a 9 year old male Lab. We feed him a raw diet (Primal frozen patties), and he is in excellent health….except he keeps having recurring urinary issues. He does not have trouble urinating or experience pain, he just gets a very foul smelling discharge. He goes on a round of antibiotics, and then a month or two later, we notice the smell again. Some antibiotics make him throw up. He got violently ill from ciprofloxacin. We are trying Baytril now. He seems to do better with a lower dose, but I don’t think that always kills what seems to be a resistant bug. He had a prostate exam which was normal….the Vet thought his urethra might be a tad inflamed, but nothing serious. Do you think he just needs a long-term dose of antibiotics? I think I read to give him a higher dose at night to build it up in the bladder. We really try to keep him on as natural of products as we can. The only supplement we give him is fish oil capsules. Would those contribute to a UTI? He only eats Origen Six Fish for occasional yummies as a treat/reward….just 8-10 morsels. I am just at wit’s end. He is my baby, and I don’t want to keep giving him antibiotics, but we can’t seem to figure out what is causing this! Do you have any suggestions? Thank you VERY much!
In general, what goes in must come out and fish oil is pretty smelly stuff. So given what seems to be his good health and raw diet, I would consider the fish oil capsules as a possible source.
Further, antibiotics will kill all bacteria, including the good bacteria in his gut. So this creates an imbalance. You can restore the good bacteria by sprinkling acidophyllus on his food. I add some to my dogs’ food regularly — like every other day. It can be purchased in capsules that you can open where vitamins/supplements are sold or you can buy the powder in bulk online.
That’s where I would start. Let us know how things go.
How much apple cider vinegar or cranberry juice do I give my 10yr old female Pitt/boxer/sharpi mix 55pounds because she shares a water dish with two other dogs
You can add the apple cider vinegar to her food if you want only her to get it. Or mix it into the shared water bowl. You can start with feeding 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon twice daily on her food and about that for starts in the water bowl. If the dogs won’t drink the water, you can dilute if even more.
If you use cranberry juice, find the juice with the least amount of sugar. You may need to mix it into her food. Or you can try cranberry extract tablets. These are available at vitamin/supplement stores. A bit more potent and mixes well into food.
I have a 10yr pit/boxer /sharpi mix shes bout 55 pounds and she had a uti 6mo ago she was treated by vet now she has it again and I wanna try the apple cider vinegar or cranberry juice how much should I give her because I have two other dogs and all three share the same water dish…
Hello,
I have a 6yr old, spayed female dog that weighs approximately 40 lbs. She is showing signs and symptoms of UTI, which she had 6 months ago, which I gave antibiotics per her vet. I would prefer a homeopathic approach and read your article and posts, which were very enlightening. I feed her Blue Buffalo dry dog food, but am open to the use of wet to supplement and would like your input on a good dog food to feed her. To treat her UTI, I have apple cider vinegar at home and am going to the store to get test strips, Fish Mox and cranberry extract capsules. I would like to know the best quality, most reasonably priced brand/product.
Thank you for your time and knowledge,
Jeanne
You can add some water to her food and let it soak for a bit to soften the food before she eats it. Then top it off with some canned food. A good quality canned food that I use comes from the local Tractor Supply store. It’s their own brand: 4 Health.
Check the ingredients on the Blue Buffalo dry food you are using. Is it the grain-free version? If not, you might consider switching to a grain-free diet. Perhaps your girl is a bit sensitive to grains.
If you have unfiltered city water, you might consider buying your dog bottled water. The chemicals in city water can sometimes cause problems for some dogs. Some people have a water filter on their refrigerator that dispenses good water.
Good luck. Let us know what works out for you.
Leanne – do you take your dog out to at least go potty more than three times a day? Maybe the dog needs two morning potties for example first thing then an hour after eating then when you return from work and again another hour after eating dinner then again before bedtime.
I have a 4 or 5 year old King Charles Cavalier. He has been with us for / years and completely house broken .,but has started peeing in different places now for 3 days once a day. The only thing I can think of is I am slowly changing his food. I bath him, take him on walks twice a day , let him out before bedtime,but he still has peed. Do u think he might have a UTI?
Thank you
LeeAnn
There are many causes for accidental peeing. Changing his food could be one, though usually a change would be more noticeable in his bowel movements. Is he eating and drinking as usual? Is he as active as he normally is? You said this accident happens just once a day? Is it possible that he is trying at other times and you are not seeing him try? Is there any blood or even pink/red tint in his “accidental” urine? When you walk him, does he try to pee but nothing comes out so he lingers in the pee stance longer than usual? Without testing his urine or feeling his bladder, it is hard to say what is going on. You should monitor him today for any of the symptoms I mentioned — lingering in the pee stance, drinking more, eating less, lethargy — and if these symptoms are present, a trip to the vet before the weekend is upon us may be your best bet.
I have a 5 1/2 year old boxer he pees himself in his sleep or stays outside for 20 min and pees but sometimes squats like he needs to pee but nothing comes out he already has Pancreatitis I don’t know what else to do
Have you discussed a change in his diet with his vet. That may help.
A male’s “plumbing” is not designed very well. It is like a series of pipes that get smaller and smaller, so any obstruction that forms in his bladder can cause a clog as it pushes its way out an ever narrowing pipe. A female’s “plumbing” is pretty much one size the whole way — smarter design.
If he sometimes pees in his sleep and sometimes cannot pee, it sounds like he may have either an infection or the start of a blockage of some kind. The blockage could be crystals or even a mucous plug. Sometimes when peeing is painful — like a urinary tract infection can be — they will not pee. That could be what you are seeing when he squats but nothing comes out. An infection will respond to antibiotics, but a blockage usually requires having a vet flush his bladder out.
You don’t want him to become blocked as this can become very serious if he cannot relieve himself. So monitor him closely.
My min Yorkie is stopping every few yards but passing no wee.Please can you advise as to how to help her.She is 13 years old..l would like to treat her with natural products if possible but need your advice please.
Thank you
If she is not passing any urine, this could indicate a blockage. It could also indicate that it is just too painful for her to urinate. Given her age, I would suggest a trip to the vet as soon as you can. If it is a blockage, it could become life threatening as urine backs up in her system. If she is not urinating because of the pain — urinary tract infection can be very painful — then the doctor can prescribe pain meds as well as determine the cause of her problem.
Hello
I have a 2 year old bassett/beagle mix. She’s house broken but she has urinated twice this week in my bed. We leave the dog door open and make sure she goes out several times especially right before bed everyday. I haven’t seen her licking herself and she doesn’t seem to be in any pain when she urinates and she has access to fresh water all the time. Could this be the start of something? Any suggestions? Thanks.
Does she sleep on your bed? If so, does this happen while she is asleep? Or is she going out of her way to urinate in your bed? If she is going out of her way, it could be she is trying to alert you to a problem she is having.
my dog is a female and she is having UTI I NEED help with her i am 14 years old and i don’t know what to do …
please help me her simpthoms are: urinate very little, and with pain, she eats well and drink’s watter ,she got three lomps near to her abdomen, hasent had period sithoms…
PLEASE TELL ME EVERY THING YOU GUYS CAN HELP WITH OKAY?
From what you are describing, it sounds like she should be seen by a vet as soon as possible. If you can tell she is in pain, it could be greater pain than you realize. A UTI with pain could be very serious. If she cannot eliminate urine from her bladder, it will back up in her system and that is quite dangerous to her health. If you cannot get to a vet immediately, you can give her aspirin. NEVER GIVE IBUPROFEN, TYLENOL, MOTRIN OR ALEVE TO YOUR DOG. Instead give Aspirin (Bayer Aspirin is okay) — 1 tablet (325mg) per 30 pounds every 12 hours. This is only for 2-3 days.
You can also give her Fish-Mox — sold where fish supplies are sold. It contains amoxicillin.
But you should see a vet. She deserves to have her condition examined first hand by a professional.
I rescued a dog that was found running in the street. We tried to find his owner but apparently they just was unable to take care of him. He had a uti infection and we took care of it. It’s been three or four months and he has another one. I’m going to try cranberry capsules and see if it helps. At least until he goes back to the vet. Thanks for the tip.
Good luck. The cranberry doesn’t “cure” the problem; it creates an atmosphere that is not as supportive for the bacteria.
Due to the way boys’ urinary tract is built, they can have a more difficult time with urinary tract problems. If you think of their urinary tract in plumbing terms, the tract of boys gets increasing narrower whereas a girl’s is consistent. So it’s easier for boys to get blocked and this can cause a backup that can be harmful. Just something to watch for.
My daughter has a 9 week old pug/terrier/beagle mix puppy that has started to pee everywhere even on her lap now. She can’t afford a vet visit yet so we need advice on the best thing to treat the infection
UTIs are a bit tricky. The vet checks what type of bacteria is causing the infection and prescribes the appropriate antibiotic for that strain of bacteria. They often prescribe clavamox — a mix of Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid. Some people have used Fish-Mox at a dosage of 10-20 mg/kg (5-10 mg per lb) twice daily. So roughly speaking, 10 lbs x 10 mg/lb = 100 mg twice daily for 5 days.
Keep in mind that UTIs can be very painful and antibiotics alone will not help with the pain. You’ll need to watch for that.
My 10 month old/aprox 50 lbs pit bull just had 10 puppies 3 day’s ago and Im pretty sure she has a bad UTI. Can I give Amoxicillin while she’s nursing? I can’t really afford vet unless absolutely necessary; so I’m trying to treat by myself first.
It’s not uncommon for females to get a urinary infection after giving birth. However, I would not recommend the Amoxicillin for her while she is nursing unless your vet approves it as it will end up in the pups and, at such an early age, can cause bone or growth development problems.
How much juice should a 20 lb dog get?
In general, dogs don’t like citrus juice, so try just a few drops in a bowl of water. If he/she won’t drink it, add more water.
Thank you! The information is appreciated very much.
My dog is 8yrs. She weighs 7lbs. If I were to use the fish-mox, how much would each dose be and how often?
Fish-mox dosage is 10-20 mg/kg (5-10 mg per lb) twice daily. So roughly speaking, 10 lbs x 10 mg/lb = 100 mg twice daily for 5 days.
My 4 year old 52 pound golden doodle, had a UTI and I found giving her a probiotic yogurt, one 100g serving each day seemed to clear her problem within a few days. This was my own remedy trying probiotic yogurt, there’s no guarantee it will work, but it’s worth a try if your dog is having this problem.
I have a 9 month old chiweenie puppy. She is going through her firstcycle of heat. She has been vomiting yesterday and seems to have a decrease in energy since she went into heat. Yesterday and today she seems to pee and then dribble, pee then dribble. Is this consistent with a uti or is this a symptom of going into heat??? We are on day 9 of her cycle, and the vomiting was controlled with phenegran and her appetite has definitely returned, however the peeing and dribbling has me concerned. I would love any advice you could give. Thank you
Females dogs in heat often develop UTIs around their heat cycles as their hormones fluctuate and urine pH levels change.
As for the vomiting: any idea what the cause was?
Thank you so much!! The information was extremely helpful!!
My 9 month old puppy is peeing blood and can’t poop. The vet I go to says it’s a UTI. What can I give her to save $150 for a visit.
For the constipation, you could add a little plain pumpkin to her food or even a little oil — mineral oil, olive oil, etc. Also make sure she has plenty of water.
As for the UTI, a vet visit is the best way to go. They can test her urine and determine the correct bacteria in her system and prescribed the correct antibiotic for that bacteria. If left unchecked, it could become painful. If it does, she will try to not pee making things worse.
Often the antibiotic prescribed is a 10-14 day dose of amoxicillin or clavamox (amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium). Some fish stores and online pet supply stores sell amoxicillin that is labelled for fish tanks called Fish-Mox. It is non-prescription amoxicillin.
I have a 14 week old make cocker that I got when he was barely 8 weeks. As soon as I got him home I noticed frequent urination or at least an attempt to urinate. I took him to the vet immediately and he does have a UTI with struvite crystals. He’s on his third round of Clavamox, have also added cranberry supplement and 1 tsp of ACV per day. I called his breeder and she said she’s never had any of these problems in her dogs. He will go back to vet on the 27th after this round of drugs is finiahed Im worried about my little guy and forget trying to housebreak him.
Any ideas? I wasn’t aware a male puppy would get this. THX
Only 15% of patients with struvite bladder stones are male.
Struvite stones in the dog are almost always formed because of the urinary changes that occur with specific types of bladder infection: almost always Staphyloccocal infection. Also, struvite requires an alkaline pH to form.
After you’ve cleared up the bacterial infection, the next thing to do for a pet with crystals or stones is to create a healthy urine pH that is neither too acidic nor too alkaline. A pH of 7 is neutral. Everything above 7 is alkaline, and everything below 7 is acidic. Often, a pet’s urine pH can be maintained naturally between 6 and 6.5, a good healthy range, on an appropriate diet. Dry pet food causes an increase in urine concentration, which can contribute to crystal and stone formation. Creating more dilute urine by offering a moisture-rich diet is critical to avoiding a recurrence of stones or crystals. An appropriate diet in combination with infection management is often effective at dissolving struvite stones, but it can take a few weeks to several months for the stones to completely disappear.
To reduce urine pH – which is the goal in most struvite situations – you want to feed your pet a low-carb, grain-free, potato-free, and preferably fresh or at least canned food diet for the increased moisture content.
You can buy pH strips from your vet or at the local drug store to check your pet’s urine pH at home so you know when it’s in or outside the desired range. In the morning prior to feeding your dog is when you should collect the urine sample. You can either hold the pH tape in the stream of urine while your dog is voiding, or you can catch a urine sample in a container and dip the tape into the sample to check the pH. This should be done immediately with a fresh sample to insure accuracy.
To prevent the re-occurrence of struvites, it’s recommended to do the following:
Best to you.
For small to medium breed dogs, how much acidic juice should I give her, and should I dilute with water?
Cranberry juice diluted with water can be given to dogs with a bladder infection, and just as in people, it will help to flush the system and acidify the urine in the bladder which helps to kill bacteria. This will not treat the bladder infection alone, so a course of antibiotics would still be necessary and potentially, depending on the severity of the bladder infection urinary acidifiers will also be beneficial. Be sure to get juice that has no or very little sugar in it.
Dogs often don’t like cranberry juice… even diluted in water. So you might try the gel-pills (from Walmart). One 3000 mg capsule is equivalent to 24 ounces of cranberry juice. As a guideline 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.
You do need to be careful with how much you’re giving her. You don’t want her urine to become too acidic, or that’ll just cause other problems, such as oxalyte crystals. You should test the pH balance of her urine fairly often. Here’s an example test. By checking her urine, you can make sure you’re giving her just the right amount for a neutral pH balance, because how much of the supplement she’ll need may be hard to predict. It can vary from dog to dog.
Citrus juice may help in the same manner, although cranberry juice is probably more effective as a flushing agent for the bladder and kidneys. But again, just in small doses — maybe 1/4 cup once or twice a day for a medium dog. Any fruit juice for a dog should be free of added sugar, artificial colors, or other ingredients.
can a schnauzer dog with diabeties have cranberry juice or orange juice
Yes to both, just do it in moderation. You might try putting whole fresh or frozen thawed cranberries in a blender with a little orange juice to make a puree for your dog. This can be mixed into some food. Just keep in mind that cranberries are best used for preventative purposes. If your dog has a full blown UTI, he/she will likely benefit most from a round of antibiotics as well.
His symptoms were frequent,bloody urination,excessive drinking.Prior to that he has had dribbling mostly when he barks. I felt it was due to his age so I wasn’t worried until he was exhibiting actual symptoms of UTI But the dribble disappeared for a few weeks and now it has returned but that’s the only symptom that has come back. I read about golden rod strengthening the bladder and reducing crystals. I started giving him staphyagrias. Is three granulars three times a day enough? I have ordered golden rod. I didn’t want to wait a week to start him on therapy as I do not want the UTI to return.
Keep in mind that in classical homeopathy only one remedy is given at a time. The three granulars three times a day — is that coming from the bottle? If so, I’d follow their dosage directions.
And let us know how it all works out.
Hi, I have a male cattle dog he’s around 15. This year He has been battling with urinary dribble about a month ago it seemed to have escalated into a full UTI. I choose to treat him with pure cranberry 1oz twice a day for three days and it seemed to work. For maintenance I gave him a natural product called Berry balance in addition to that I give him a table spoon of apple cider vinegar twice a week in his drinking water. But the dribble is back what am I doing wrong? Is it safe to continue prolonged use of cranberry products? I had stopped the berry Balance but it has only been a three four days maybe I should give pure cranberry again and continue with the berry balance?
In moderation, I think you are okay to continue the berry balance, however I wonder if you have fully addressed the full UTI you mentioned occurring last month. What were the symptoms then?
The urinary dribble could be that his bladder muscles are just softening with age, but without a checkup with your vet, it’s hard to say with certainty what is going on.