Discover natural tips to treat and prevent urinary tract infection in your dog or cat.
Effective remedies for optimal kidney health.
Urinary tract infection is a common problem in dogs and cats.
To treat it effectively, it's essential to know the signs and take preventive measures.
In this article, we present the symptoms of urinary tract infection, possible causes, and natural tips to improve your pet's kidney health.
Contents
- 1 Symptoms of urinary tract infection in dogs and cats
- 2 Causes of urinary tract infection in dogs
- 3 Natural tips to prevent and improve your pet's kidney health
- 4 Homeopathic treatment for dog urinary tract infection
- 5 Kidney stones and effective remedies
- 6 How to treat a urinary tract infection in dogs?
- 7 FAQ on dog urinary tract infection
Symptoms of urinary tract infection in dogs and cats
There are several signs that clearly indicate your pet is suffering from a urinary tract infection.
- Blood in urine (hematuria) or cloudy and smelly urine
- Difficulty urinating (dysuria)
- Whimpering while urinating (stranguria - pain during urination)
- Accidents in the house
- Excessive frequency of urination
- Urinating in very small amounts
- Intense licking of the urinary area
- Fever (possible symptom)
Causes of urinary tract infection in dogs
Urinary infections are more common in females due to their shorter urethra.
Bacteria such as Escherichia coli, staphylococci, and Proteus are often responsible for these infections.
Factors such as incontinence, urinary obstruction, anatomical abnormalities, and immunodeficiency can also promote recurrent infections.
Natural tips to prevent and improve your pet's kidney health
Diet
Opt for high-quality food, whether it's kibble, canned food, or a balanced raw diet.
Cranberry
This fruit can be beneficial in lowering urine pH and preventing the development of bacteria in the kidneys.
Use a suitable cranberry supplement for your pet (aff).
Probiotics
Probiotics contribute to the development of good bacteria and can be administered in the form of a probiotic supplement suitable for dogs, or goat's milk (aff).
Apple cider vinegar
This vinegar can help lower urine pH and eliminate bacteria.
Add a teaspoon to your pet's food or water bowl for about ten days.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C acidifies the urine, which blocks the development of bacteria in the kidneys.
Administer a vitamin C supplement adapted to their daily diet (aff).
Consider a dose of 250mg per day for optimal effect.
Colloidal silver
This natural remedy has antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
Prefer a 10ppm silver solution and have them drink 2 to 10ml (depending on size) 3 times a day for 10 days (aff).
Hydration
Your dog should have water available at will and at all times. And even more so when suffering from an infection.
Remember that the more your dog drinks, the more its kidneys filter out bacteria that it expels through urination.
Homeopathic treatment for dog urinary tract infection
Naturopathic veterinarians mainly prescribe:
- Apis Mellifica which is indicated to relieve burns, difficulty urinating, and frequent urination
- Aconitum Napellus which is mainly indicated to soothe a dog anxious from cystitis burns
- Nux Vomica which is prescribed to stop spasms, cramps, and burns.
For better effectiveness, choose a 30CH dilution then dissolve 3 granules in a little water, shake, then administer the remedy with a syringe (without needle!) directly into the dog's mouth 3 times a day.
As an attack dose, administer 3 granules of each product then repeat 2 times spacing the intake by 15 minutes (total 3 doses).
The dosage is the same regardless of the dog's weight.
Kidney stones and effective remedies
There are three different types of kidney stones in dogs.
The most common, called struvite, is composed of minerals (magnesium, ammonium, phosphate).
Next is calcium oxalate which forms when the urine is too acidic.
The last, ammonium urate, is more related to a genetic disorder.
Depending on the size of the stone, surgery may be scheduled to remove it.
But if small stones are in place, intervention can be avoided as long as the dog or cat does not suffer from urinary difficulties or cystitis.
If your veterinarian has detected the presence of crystals or small stones in your pet's kidneys, it may be wise to combine these three natural remedies:
- For a 22 pounds dog:
- a teaspoon of honey
- a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
- two tablespoons of green tea
With a little luck, plenty of water to drink, and a more liquid diet, this simple remedy can help your dog pass small stones through urination.
Just give them a teaspoon a day.
Note that this natural solution is just as effective for cat crystals.
If you need to fight calcium oxalate stones, you'll be surprised at the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate.
Its action is radical in making urine more alkaline while raising the pH and thus pushing back both stones and recurrences of urinary infections.
A study conducted on humans demonstrates its benefits in this area with a dosage of 2000mg per day.
You can apply a dosage of 100mg per day for 22 pounds of weight for both dogs and cats diluted in water or directly in their food.
How to treat a urinary tract infection in dogs?
Urinary tract infection in dogs or cats is a common health problem, but with early recognition of symptoms and adequate prevention, it can be treated effectively.
Natural remedies such as cranberry, probiotics, apple cider vinegar, vitamin C, and colloidal silver can be used in addition to veterinary treatment to support your pet's kidney health.
FAQ on dog urinary tract infection
What are the signs your dog has a UTI?
The major sign of acute urinary tract infection is difficulty urinating resulting in a few drops during urination.
It can also manifest through incontinence.
The urine is dark and sometimes contains blood.
Finally, intensive licking of the genitals is a sign of discomfort and pain.
How long does cystitis last in dogs?
UTI in dogs can last for about a week if treated in time.
The veterinarian provides an antibiotic prescription for a period of 10 days to 2 weeks.
To treat the acute phase, he adds anti-inflammatories to relieve the pain.
What are UTI meds for dog?
Amoxicillin is the antibiotic of choice for veterinarians to treat bacterial cystitis in dogs.
A new protocol encourages it to be prescribed for only 5 days if the dog is not prone to recurrent UTI.
It is sometimes necessary to combine several antibiotics to overcome urinary tract infection.
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