Having a dog is a bit like having a child. You need to take good care of this animal the same way you’d care of a baby, especially as they are incapable of taking care of themselves entirely. This is why if your pet falls sick or gets an infection, you have to be ready to take care of it as best as possible.
Of course, this applies to urinary tract infections in dogs. The symptoms of a UTI can help you know if your dog might have this health issue, and these include crying when peeing, dripping urine, and peeing with a very strong smell. UTIs are more common in dogs than you might reckon. One study found that your dog has about a 14% chance of having a UTI in its lifetime, while another study examining urine samples found nearly 40%% of dogs have disease-causing microorganisms in their pee!
What really matters is treating a urinary tract infection if your dog has one. However, since not everyone can go to the vet or buy expensive medicines, you might want to know if there’s a dog bladder infection home remedy that you can turn to that will help your little guy get better in no time. That’s what this article is all about, so stick around so we can get into what you need to know about dog UTI home treatment!
Do you have a specific question about home remedy for a dog bladder infection? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
What can you give a dog for urinary tract infection?
If your best pal has a urinary tract infection, you might be scrambling to figure out what you can do to relieve the pain that it’s feeling.
Well, of course, the number one option will always be to go to the vet, as they can answer this question much better than I can. But there are some things that I know your vet will say that will save you some time (and money) if you decide not to take a trip down to their office.
Here are some of them below:
Antibiotics
As the name gives away, a urinary tract infection is an infection, which means that there’s some pesky microorganism in your little guy’s urinary tract. You’ll need to turn to antibiotics to get rid of these for good, just like humans do.
However, the best dog UTI treatment over the counter will always be prescribed by your veterinarian, as they might have an idea of the organism causing it, or they might get you to do a urinalysis, which can give them more info.
Analgesics
UTIs can be super painful, even for us. For this reason, your dog can benefit greatly from getting painkillers to help make things easier when they have to pee.
Of course, these won’t treat the underlying problem, but they will certainly help your dog out in the short term.
Natural Remedies for UTI in Dogs
Getting the right antibiotics or painkillers for your dog with a urinary tract infection will involve you going to the vet. For many people, getting care for their pet is something they want to do, but it is hard to do because of several barriers, the most notable of which is the cost.
This is why you might be looking for a puppy UTI home remedy that might work just as well as pharmaceutical products. Fortunately, there are quite a few that you and your canine can give a shot.
Don’t worry. I’ve saved all of the very best ones ahead.
How to treat a dog with UTI naturally?
So, if you’re looking for a home remedy for dog UTI, there are quite a few that you can use, but let’s talk about some natural tips you can follow to make things better for your dog.
Plenty of water
One of the best ways to naturally prevent and aid the treatment of a UTI in your dog is to make sure that it always has more than enough fresh water to drink from.
Water constantly flowing through the kidneys reduces the risk of stones developing in the kidney or bladder and helps flush out bacteria.
Dietary changes
Some foods can make your dog’s diet more acidic than it needs to be, which can promote the growth of stones and lead to UTIs when not treated.
The best way to know the changes to make depends on the exact kind of stones, but general rules you can follow include more wet food and less salt. More water, too, of course!
Frequent walks
Walking your dog often is a weird-sounding dog UTI home treatment, but it helps because walks make your dog more likely to pee, which prevents urine from sitting around in its bladder. By peeing more, stones are less likely to form!
Best home remedy for dog UTI
Now, you’re here for a dog bladder infection home remedy, and we’ve finally gotten to the part where I show you what you need to know.
Remember that some of these work wonders for you, while others show no difference. All dogs are different, after all!
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is used to treat UTIs in humans, so you might be shocked to hear that it is also one of the best natural remedies for UTI in dogs.
The idea is that cranberry juice somehow stops bacteria from sticking to the bladder walls, making it easier for your dog to pee those harmful microorganisms out.
Use cranberry juice with no added sugar if you do this for your dog.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Avoid this puppy UTI home remedy if your dog has stones, as it will make the urine more acidic. However, if the UTI is purely due to bacteria, this acid can help kill the bacteria.
If you have a small dog, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to their water or food, and double that for a bigger dog. Do this for about a week for the best results.
Parsley Leaf
You don’t always have to use a dog UTI treatment over the counter when there are natural herbs that can help, like parsley leaf. This option is great because it promotes urination and has antiseptic action.
To use parsley leaf for this purpose, you’ll want to blend the leaves into a juice and give your dog one teaspoon for every 20 lbs of weight.
Couch/Quack Grass
Couch grass is a weed that you can find all over the place if you live anywhere in North America, but did you know that it can be very helpful for treating UTIs thanks to its natural pain relief and antimicrobial effects?
Get the dried root of this weed, chop it up, and let it simmer in about a cup of water for 20 minutes. Once done, drain the liquid and let it cool down.
Now all you need to do is give your dog half a teaspoon for every 20 lbs of weight, and do this twice daily.
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
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