Urinary Tract Infection is a common disease that occurs in dogs and is caused by a bacterial infection. Around 27% of dogs develop it once in their lifetime. There can be many reasons why dogs suffer from UTIs. Therefore, your dog needs to have a nutritious and healthy diet. Dog UTI Treatment would help if you also kept your dog hydrated to avoid such problems in the future. they can cure dog urinary tract infection easily if you understand its symptoms and causes. But before that, let us look at the reasons why this problem occurs in dogs:
What is Dog UTI Treatment At Home ?
As the name suggests, Dog UTI treatment at home is that, it is a bacterial infection in the urinary tract. This infection occurs when the bacteria pass through the urethra and the bladder and multiply. The bacteria then becomes painful; hence, an infected dog struggles to pee, and the burning sensation makes him lick his genitals. E.coli is the bacteria that give rise to UTIs in dogs. However, there can be other signs of UTI in dogs as well that can cause UTI, like the growth of fungus in the area or other bacteria that cause inflammation.
What Causes UTI in Dogs?
what causes Uti in dogs? UTI is caused when the genital area is not clean from debris. The debris later turns into bacteria and passes through the urethra to the bladder, causing infection in the Urinary Tract. This problem can also occur when a dog’s immune system is weak due to a lack of nutrition in his diet. Some of the less common causes of Urinary Tract Infections may include:
- Inflammation in bladder
- Prostate disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Stress
- Trauma
- Kidney disease
- Abnormalities in the spinal cord
- Kidney Stones
Symptoms of A Urine Infection in Dogs
Some of the common symptoms of a urine infection in dogs include:
- Blood dripping out from urine
- Strong odor in the urine of your dog
- Struggling to urinate
- Whimpering during urination
- Frequently licking the genitals
- Urinating in less quantity
- Frequently urinates
- Severe back pain
- Less energetic
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Feels lethargic
- Fever
- Sensitivity around the genitals
How to Treat UTI in Dogs?
- If you suspect your dog is suffering from a Urinary tract infection, then how to treat Uti in dogs? you should immediately consult a veterinarian. One should never ignore the symptoms of UTI because it can spread to the kidneys and prostate. It would help to take your dog to a vet as soon as possible to avoid further complications. The treatment depends on the root cause of the UTI. Therefore, it is necessary to get your dog diagnosed.
- The veterinarian may advise you to give your dog some antibiotics. They will also recommend you bring some changes to your dog’s diet. In some cases, the veterinarian takes urine samples of the dog to check for infection or the kidney’s condition. You can take the samples at your home or the clinic. Here is how you can take the samples at home.
- When your dog wakes up to pee in the morning, you can take a container and catch it in it. Make sure to seal the container and take it to the clinic within two hours. You can also use a spoon and transfer the urine to a container. It would help if you took the samples early in the morning since the urine is more concentrated.
- The vet may also take your dog’s X-rays to determine the underlying reason for the problem. The X-ray will also help your vet search for bladder stones. If your vet finds crystals in your dog’s urine samples, the X-rays will help identify the problem. Sometimes, the veterinarian may advise you to do subcutaneous fluid therapy or surgery to remove bladder stones or tumors. They may perform surgery to cure congenital abnormalities.
- Usually, most veterinarians will prescribe antibiotics for the UTI, and most dogs feel better within 48 hours of taking medicine. Ensure that the number of dog UTI medicines given is not more or less than the amount prescribed by the vet. You take your dog for a recheck-up after the antibiotics to confirm whether the infection has disappeared.
How to Prevent UTI in Dogs?
#1 Take care of your dog’s grooming:
It would help if you kept your dog groomed to prevent Urinary tract infections. The rear end of your dog needs to be cleaned regularly. UTI is more common in female dogs due to the issue of fecal contamination through the anus. Therefore, you need to clean around the rear end and the genitals.
#2 Give your dog a proper diet
How to prevent UTI in dogs? Give your dog a nutritious and specialized diet. You can consult your dog’s veterinarian for a prescribed diet. It will keep the bladder and the kidneys of your dog healthy.
#3 Regular intake of fresh and clean water
Give your dog fresh and clean water every day. If your dog drinks plenty of water, all the toxins will leave the body. Therefore, increasing the quantity of water for your dog is important.
#4 Let your dog urinate regularly
You also need to make sure that your dog pees regularly. Your dog should not hold his pee for long because it can harm the bladder. If the pee stays in the bladder for a long time, it can increase bacterial infection in dogs. A dog can hold his pee for at least 8 hours. However, letting your dog hold his pee for that long is not a good idea.
#5 Go to the Veterinarian for a regular check-up
Take your dog out for a regular check-up, especially if he is older. Older dogs can develop kidney or bladder issues easily. Hence, it is necessary to get your dog tested regularly.
What to Feed a Dog with UTI?
If you are thinking about What to Feed a Dog with UTI? Then here are a few things to feed for the better Dog UTI Treatment:
#1 Pure cranberry juice
Cranberry juice is popularly known to fight Urinary tract infections effectively. However, cranberry for dogs uti would help if you made sure the juice is 100% pure since high-sugar Cranberry juice can harm your dog’s health. The liquid also helps in flushing out the bacteria from the bladder, which in turn reduces inflammation and reduces infection.
#2 Medication and Supplements
You can add antioxidants and prebiotic and probiotic nutrients to your dog’s diet. It will help in getting rid of the infection. You can also buy supplements from local food stores. However, you need to consult your veterinarian before feeding your dog the supplements.
#3 Freshwater
It would be best if you increased the water intake of your dog. Water is effective in flushing out the toxins from your dog’s body. It would help if you kept your dog hydrated with plenty of fresh and clean water. You can keep a few bowls of water for your dog to drink. You can also mix the water with your dog’s favorite kibble and turn it into porridge to make it tastier for him to eat. Some dogs also love ice cubes; if your dog is one of them, you can give him a few ice cubes. However, you also need to ensure not to give your dog too many ice cubes since it harms some dogs.
#4 Blueberry
Blueberry is also an effective food that can keep your dog’s urinary tract healthy. You can add blueberries to your dog’s diet since it is useful in flushing the toxins out of one’s body and can keep your dog fit and healthy.
#5 Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar helps lower the pH level in your dog’s urine. That is why this bladder can neutralize the bacteria in your dog’s bladder. You can give your dog 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar twice daily. However, if you have a puppy, and you will see puppy UTI symptoms, then you should make it 1 tablespoon. Please do it for seven days for effective results.
#6 Vitamin C
You can give Vitamin C supplements to increase acidic formation in your dog’s body. High acids can wipe out the bacteria from your dog’s bladder and prevent the development of bacterial substances. However, provide acid in moderation because it increases calcium oxalate crystals. These calcium oxalate crystals can harm your dog if given in excess. That is why you need to take care of your dog’s intake of Vitamin C.
Conclusion
If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, you must take your dog to a veterinarian for a dog UTI treatment. People should not ignore the infection at all. If you do not do something about it, it may become a serious condition like kidney disease. It would help if you also took your dog for a frequent check-up to ensure that he is fit and healthy. There are also many supplements available in local food stores. You can buy and add these supplements to your dog’s diet after consulting his veterinarian.