Dog urinary infection is an all-too-common problem among our canine friends.  Did you know that herbal and homeopathic remedies can help to solve the problem of canine uti?  Here are six safe and effective natural remedies for pets that every dog owner should know about.

The Three Best Herbal Remedies For Pets With Canine Bladder Infections

People have been using herbal remedies for centuries to treat bladder problems.  Now many dog owners are turning to these same time-tested remedies to treat canine urinary tract infections.  Three herbs that you should know about are:

• Burdock – blood purifier and systemic cleanser.  Known for helping to maintain kidney function
• Dandelion – although most people think of it as a weed, dandelion has a long history as an herbal healer.  Loaded with vitamins, it helps to maintain fluid levels in the body and can help to balance blood sugar as well
• Cleavers – lymphatic cleanser and blood purifier which supports urinary function

Kidney Support, by PetAlive, is an easy-to-use tincture that contains theses three herbs.  If your pet has kidney or urinary tract problems, click on this link to learn how these healing herbs can help.

The Three Homeopathic Remedies For Canine UTI

Homeopathic remedies help the body to heal itself.  Anyone who’s ever used homeopathic remedies for a bladder infection knows how well they work to relieve the burning pain associated with urinary tract infections.  They also help with relieving urinary urgency, too.

Homeopathic remedies for dogs are just as effective for our pets as they are for people.  These three homeopathic remedies are recommended for bladder infections in dogs:

• Berberis vulg (3X) – Known for its positive effects on the urinary tract, it also supports a healthy immune system
• Cantharis (6C) – Soothes the bladder while promoting a healthy urine flow
• Staphysagris (6C)- Supports urogenital health

UTI-Free is a safe, natural homeopathic remedy that’s registered with the FDA.  Click on this link to learn how this effective combination of remedies can relieve the misery of utis in dogs.

How You Can Support Urinary Health In Your Dog

Along with herbal and homeopathic remedies, here are other suggestions for preventing canine urinary tract infections.

• Make sure your dog has plenty of clean, fresh water available.  She’ll probably drink more than you think.  A 60-pound dog can drink 3 quarts of water a day.
• Let her out often for potty breaks.  Don’t make her hold her urine too long.
• Boost her immune system by feeding her a high-quality preservative-free dog food.
• Lots of exercise will stimulate her bladder, as well as keeping her in top condition.
• Bathe her regularly.  This washes away the bacteria that can cause bladder infections.

Many pet owners have ended the problem of canine uti with natural pet remedies.  Can they help your pet as well?  Click on any link in this article to learn more.

Image via Wikipedia

Bladder infections in puppies are easy to overlook.  After all, puppies do piddle a lot.  But if you’re having trouble house training your new puppy, you should look into the possibility of a dog urinary infection.

Six Symptoms Of Puppy Bladder Infections

All pet owners should be aware of the symptoms of a urinary tract infection in dogs:

• Urine that smells really bad
• Bloody urine
• Lack of energy; seems like she’s lost interest in life
• Straining while urinating
• Tenderness if you touch her lower abdomen
• Having accidents all over the house

How Did My Puppy Get a Dog Bladder Infection?

Puppies often have immature immune systems .  They haven’t had a chance to build up a resistance to common bacteria yet.

Combine this with the fact that female dogs have shorter and broader urethras.  This makes girl dogs more likely to develop a canine bladder infection, since bacteria have a short, clear path straight to her bladder.

As your puppy matures, and goes through puberty, hormonal imbalances often cause changes in her body’s ph levels.  She may become more likely to fall victim to a bladder infection when this happens.

Three Ways To Prevent Puppy Bladder Infections

Make sure your puppy always has a supply of clean, fresh water.  Drinking lots of water will keep her urine diluted.  Plus it helps to flush toxins out of her system quickly, before they can cause problems.

Everyone is looking for ways to save money these days, but buying the cheapest food you can find for your puppy isn’t the answer.  A high-quality diet is the best investment you can make in your puppy’s future health.

Canned food is probably the best choice, but if you feed dry food, read the label.  Chicken or beef should be a the top of the ingredient list.  Avoid dog foods that are mostly grain-based, as grains can cause changes to the ph of the urine. And these changes can lead to dog urinary infection.

You’re probably aware that people have treated urinary problems with herbs for centuries.  What you may not know is that herbal remedies for pets can help to support bladder health in dogs, too.  The same herbs that people use are safe and effective for pets as well.  However, it’s important to use products that have been specially formulated for our canine friends to be sure your pet is getting the correct dosage.

You can learn more about natural pet remedies by clicking on any link in this article.

An Old Friend

Excessive urination in dogs can be an annoying problem.  It seems like you just let her out, and she’s needing to go out again.  Worse yet, she may be having accidents all over the house.

Frequent dog urination isn’t a behavior problem.  There are several health issues that could be causing the problem.

A Canine Urinary Tract Infection Is The Top Reason For Excessive Urination Problems

Dog urinary infections are extremely common, especially among females.  The infection causes bladder inflammation.  And inflammation leads to the need to empty her bladder often.

Why are females more susceptible to canine urinary tract infection?  Because the urethra is shorter and wider in females.  This gives bacteria a super-highway into the bladder, where they can cause problems.

Puppies are prone to dog bladder infections as well, since they haven’t yet built up immunity to this problem.

Canine Bladder Stones

Bladder stones in dogs may be irritating the bladder walls.  They can range in size from pea gravel down to grains of sand.  Not only do the stones cause irritation, but they can partially block the urethra, making it impossible for your pet to empty her bladder completely.  This leads to infections, as well as having to urinate frequently.

Low Estrogen Levels In Spayed Females

Estrogen is a hormone that tones the bladder sphincter in female dogs, which prevents canine incontinence .  Female dogs who have been spayed often have very low estrogen levels.  Raising the estrogen levels may help solve this problem.

Canine Diabetes Causes Excessive Urination In Dogs

Canine diabetes is a serious disease.  A diabetic dog will be drinking lots of water, which leads to her having to urinate more often.  She also may be losing weight, even though she’s ravenously hungry.  If you suspect diabetes, don’t wait.  Get your dog to the vet right away.

Cushing’s Disease In Dogs

The symptoms of Cushing’s Disease in dogs are often mistaken for signs of aging.  This is because it’s usually older dogs who develop this condition.  Hair loss, weight gain, excessive thirst, and frequent urination are signs you should watch for.

You can see that excessive urination in dogs can have several causes.  Some are more serious than others, which is why you should take your canine friend to the vet for a check-up if she seems to be urinating more frequently these days.  You can learn more about these conditions by clicking on any link in this article.

Image via Wikipedia; Struvite crystals found in dog urine sample

Canine bladder stones?  If you’re like most dog owners, you probably didn’t even know they existed.  However, if your pet just can’t seem to get rid of that canine bladder infection, bladder stones in dogs could be the reason why.

How Do I Know If Bladder Stones Are Causing Problems For My Dog?

She may have a canine urinary tract infection that just won’t quit.  You may notice that her urine is bloody, or rust-colored.  This is often caused by the sharp edges of stones irritating the bladder walls.  She may be straining to urinate, and be unable to pass much urine.

If your vet suspects that your dog has stones in her bladder, he or she will probably order x-rays to see what’s going on in there.

Are There Different Types Of Dog Bladder Stones?

Yes.  Struvite and calcium oxalate are the most common types.  Because treatments differ, depending on the type of stone, it’s important to determine which type your dog has.  If your pet should pass a stone, be sure to save it for analysis.

Don’t despair if your pet never passes a stone, though.  A urinalysis and a dog urine culture are useful in identifying which kind of stones are present.  If your dog’s bladder infection is caused by Staphylococci bacteria, it’s almost a sure bet that the stones are made up of struvite.

Also, struvite stones in dogs form in alkaline urine, while calcium oxalate stones form in acid urine.

Which Dogs Are Susceptible To This Problem?

Since 85% of dogs with this problem are female, anyone with a girl dog needs to be alert for this problem.  The breeds at highest risk for developing dog bladder stones are beagles, English cocker spaniels, and miniature schnauzers.

What Treatments Are Available?

Struvite stones will often dissolve on their own, once the canine bladder infection is gone.  So be sure to to give your pet all that antibiotic to be sure the infection is eradicated.

In the event that the stones don’t dissolve on their own, your vet may recommend a special canine diet.  Your dog may not be happy about it, but this diet is all she should eat until the stones are gone, which can take up to six months.  You may also need to give your dog antibiotics during this time.  Bacteria that cause canine urinary tract infections are embedded in the stones.  As the stones dissolve, the bacteria are released into the bladder, where they can cause more infections.

If there is a urinary blockage, your vet may need to operate to remove the stones.

Can Herbal Remedies For Pets Help?

Dog bladder stones usually form only when a canine bladder infection is present, so it makes sense to try to prevent these infections.  Many dog owners use herbal remedies for pets to support urinary health, and to try to prevent infections from occurring.  These remedies don’t interfere with antibiotics, so they can be given right along with the medication the vet prescribes.

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Is an incontinent dog causing headaches for you?

Is canine incontinence becoming a problem with your female dog?  This common  condition can usually be treated very easily, so don’t ignore this problem.

Your Female Dog Leaks Urine

If your pet leaves a puddle or wet spot behind her when she get up from a nap, you’re probably not too happy about it.  Although  incontinence in dogs is a messy, smelly problem, it’s worse for your companion.  Urine is caustic, and will cause irritation quickly if it’s in contact with her skin for very long.

She’ll probably be licking herself more, in an effort to keep the area clean and dry.  Unfortunately, excessive licking can also irritate inflamed tissues.  More urine leakage then burns the area, so it becomes a vicious cycle for your pet.

Dog incontinence can also lead to canine urinary tract infections.  This is because the urinary sphincter is too relaxed, which makes it easier for bacteria to travel up her urethra to her bladder.

Is Your Pet At Risk For Incontinence In Female Dogs?

This problem can happen with just about any breed of dog, although it’s more common in the larger breeds.  Spayed females between the ages of three and five seem to have a higher incidence of urine leakage problems.

Dogs have a muscular valve at the base of the bladder that prevents urine from dripping all over.  In female dogs, estrogen helps to keep these muscles toned.  If your pet’s hormonal balance changes, the result may be a dog that leaks urine.  Older females, and females that have been spayed, are prone to this problem.

How Is Frequent Urination In Dogs Treated?

Vets will often prescribe DES, or diethylstilbestrol, which is a replacement for estrogen.  At first, you’ll need to give it to your pet every day, but eventually the dosage is tapered down to once a week.

Another treatment for dog incontinence is phenylpropanolamine, or PPA.

Your pet will need to be on one or both of these drugs for the rest of her life.

Natural Pet Remedies Can Support Urinary Health In Dogs

Many people these days are turning to alternative health remedies, and dog owners are no exception.  Many folks are finding that herbal remedies for pets are a safe and effective alternative to drug treatments for their companions.  It’s important to use only remedies that have been formulated for pets, not people.  Herbal and homeopathic remedies for pets have no side effects, and are easy to give to your dog.

Don’t put up with finding puddles all over the house any longer.  Click on any link in the article to learn how a natural pet remedy may solve your problem with dog incontinence.

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• Urinary Incontinence – MarVista Vet (marvistavet.com)

Not another dog urinary tract infection!

A dog urinary infection can cause big problems, for you and for your pet.  She’s hurting, while you’re frustrated with the fact that your formerly house-trained buddy is leaving puddles all over the house.  You treated her with the antibiotics the vet prescribed, but the infection came back as soon as the pills were gone. Is there any way to prevent bladder infections in dogs?

What Causes Canine Urinary Tract Infection?

These infections are often caused by bacteria that are already found in your companion’s digestive tract.  These bacteria can often wind up around your pet’s anus.  From there, they can travel up the urethra to your dog’s bladder.  Dog bladder infection is more common in females because their urethras are short and broad.  This provides a nice wide highway for the bacteria to travel on.

Canine bladder stones can also cause dog urinary infection.  But an infection can also cause these stones to form, so sometimes the question is, which came first, the infection or the stones?  Preventing the problems in the first place is often the best answer.

How To Help Your Dog

Many people want to know if home remedies for dogs can prevent dog urinary tract infection.  These tips may not exactly be home remedies, but they are certainly things you can do at home.

Be sure your companiona always has lots of clean, fresh water to drink.  She may need more than you think.  A 60-pound dog can drink up to three quarts of water a day.

A dog that’s drinking plenty of water will need frequent potty breaks.  Avoid accidents by taking her outside every couple of hours.  Holding her urine too long can also aggravate her bladder, which can lead to infections.

Exercise is important to keep her healthy and in good shape.  A long walk every day is essential to her well-being.

Boost her immune system by feeding her a high-quality natural diet. Try to avoid food with artificial colors and preservatives.

Give her a bath regularly to keep bacteria away from her urethra.

Can Herbal Remedies For Pets Help Prevent Canine Urinary Tract Infections?

Many pet owners want to know if herbal remedies for pets can help.  The answer is yes.  Look for a remedy that contains the herbs uva ursi and barberry, along with the homeopathic remedies Cantharis and Staphysagria.  You’ll also want a remedy that’s formulated especially for companion animals, not people.  This is important so that your pet receives the correct dose.

These remedies are safe to use right along with the antibiotic treatment, since they don’t interfere with the drugs in any way. Regular use can help to support bladder health in your dog long after the antibiotic is gone.

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• Urinary Incontinence – MarVista Vet (marvistavet.com)

Are canine urinary tract infections a problem for your dog?

Canine urinary tract infections can be hard to treat, especially when they keep coming back. If bladder infection in dogs is a recurring problem for your pet, your vet may want to run some tests.  You’re probably wondering if all these expensive tests are really needed. Read on to learn why it’s a good idea to have them done.

Your Dog Can’t Tell You When She Has Canine Bladder Infections

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our pets could talk to us and tell us exactly what their problems are?  Unfortunately, that’s not possible.  So it’s up to us, as owners, to figure out what our pets are trying to tell us by their behavior.

Anyone who’s ever had a bladder infection knows about the pain and burning when you urinate. Not to mention the fact that it seems like you have to go again right away.

Well, your dog is just as uncomfortable. She’ll let you know she’s not happy by her restless behavior, which includes pacing around the house and whining. She may ask to go out again almost as soon as you’ve let her back in.

Worst of all, you may be finding puddles of urine around the house. Don’t immediately assume that inappropriate urination is a behavior problem. She just may not be able to hold it long enough to get outside. Before you call a dog trainer, a vet check-up is needed to ensure that urinary tract infection in dogs isn’t what’s causing the problem.

What Tests Does Your Vet Need To Diagnose Canine Urinary Tract Infections?

The three tests your vet should do are a urinalysis, a dog urine culture, and a sensitivity test.

A urinalysis will reveal whether bacteria or canine bladder stones are present in your buddy’s urine. If bacteria are present, a urine culture will let your vet know which bacteria are causing the infection. A sensitivity test will show which antibiotic should be used.

The problem is that these tests are expensive. They can add between $25 and $100 to your vet bill. Some dog owners can’t afford the extra cost. Others just won’t pay the added expense.

The result is that your vet will probably be shooting in the dark as far as using the right antibiotic to clear up your pet’s case of canine cystitis.

Well, Any Antibiotic Will Work, Right?

Wrong. Skipping the sensitivity test can be a false economy, since you can waste a lot of time and money giving your pet an antibiotic that won’t kill the bacteria causing the problem.  Not to mention all the fuss and bother of giving your dog a useless medication for a week to ten days.

The problem of antibiotic resistance is also an issue. More and more bacteria are becoming resistant to the antibiotics that used to wipe them out. Often this is a result of using the wrong antibiotic to try to eradicate an infection.

Can Natural Remedies For Dogs Be The Answer?

Many people are using natural remedies to prevent and treat various health problems.  Now they’re wondering if these herbal and homeopathic remedies can help their pets as well.

The answer is yes, natural pet remedies are safe and effective for treating canine urinary tract infections. You’ll want to use a remedy manufactured especially for pets so that your companion is getting the right dosage. Look for a product that contains the herbs uva ursi and berberis, and the homeopathic remedies Cantharis and Staphysagris.

Now you can understand why your vet wants to run those expensive tests. Once your pet has recovered from a canine bladder infection, you’ll want to prevent it from coming back.

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Canine cystitis is a painful dog urinary tract infection

Canine urinary tract infections are more common among our doggy friends than you would think. If you’re like most dog owners, you have lots of questions about this problem. Here are seven questions and answers about bladder infections in dogs.

1. Is It A Dog Bladder Infection or Canine Cystitis?

“Canine cystitis” is just a fancy term for bladder infections in dogs. You may overhear your vet refer to it as being an “ascending” infection. This means that the infection-causing bacteria start their journey inside your pet’s intestinal tract.  They make a stop on the skin around her anus, and then continue to travel up, or “ascend,” her urethra to end up in her bladder.

2. What Else Causes Canine Bladder Infections?

Canine bladder stones are a common cause of urinary tract infections in dogs. These stones often have sharp edges that irritate the bladder walls and make it easier for an infection to gain a foothold.

Less common causes include bladder tumors, canine diabetes, and Cushing’s disease.  Sometimes your pet is unable to completely empty her bladder due to a physical problem. Certain drugs,including cortisone, or those used in chemotherapy, suppress the immune system, leaving your pet more vulnerable to infections.

3. What Dog Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms Should You Know About?

Straining to pass urine, along with blood in her urine, are warning signs to watch for.

Your pet may have to urinate frequently.  She may be restless, pacing around and asking to go out all the time.

You may also find puddles of urine all over the house. Inappropriate urination isn’t always a behavior problem. It could be a sign of a dog bladder infection.

4. How Does Your Vet Diagnose A Canine Urinary Tract Infection?

A urinalysis will show if bacteria or bladder stones are present in your pet’s urine. If bacteria are found, your vet will probably want to do a urine culture to identify which ones are present. A sensitivity test will help your vet choose the right antibiotic to wipe out the infection.

5. Do I Really Have To Give Her ALL Of That Medicine?

Only if you want to get rid of the infection. The main reason for recurring infections is that the pet owner gets tired of fighting with Fifi, and doesn’t give her all the medicine. Plus not finishing all the antibiotic is the primary cause of antibiotic resistance, which is becoming more and more common.

Sometimes antibiotics can cause side effects. If this happens, call your vet so he or she can prescribe something else. Don’t just stop giving your companion the medication.

6. Why Does This Infection Keep Coming Back?

See number 5.  Also, it’s possible that the antibiotic wasn’t effective against the particular bacteria that’s causing the infection. This can happen if you skipped the dog urine culture or sensitivity test. Your vet will probably want to run these tests before treating your pet again so the right antibiotic can be used the second time around.

Recurring canine urinary tract infections are a symptom of diabetes in dogs, so you may want to have your pet tested for this condition.

7. Do Natural Remedies For Dogs Help?

Research has proven that natural remedies for dogs are very effective for preventing and treating urinary infections in dogs. You do want to use a remedy formulated especially for pets to be sure your buddy is getting the proper dose. These remedies are safe and effective. Plus they’re easy enough to give your dog that you can use them every day to prevent canine bladder infections.

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