Home Remedies for UTI in Dogs

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UTI, or urinary tract infections, are a common health issue our pups experience. According to Merck Veterinary Manual, it is the most common infectious disease that affects dogs of both sexes. As general advice, as soon as you notice something weird going on with your dog, you should call your vet. Mistreating a disease can lead to further complications, and you shouldn’t gamble with your dog’s health. Generally speaking, treating UTI on your own can be successful, but you need to know what you are doing.

Signs of UTI in dogs

Before you start treating your dog’s UTI, you have to be sure your dog actually has it. There are some symptoms you can look for that indicate your dog has a UTI, and here are some things you should look out for;

• Difficult urination
• Frequent urination
• Producing only small amounts of urine
• Bloody urine
• Dogs having “accidents” in the house
• Frequent genital licking
• Fever
• Lethargy

You can read more about UTI and their symptoms here - UTI in dogs.

Treating UTI in dogs at home

Whenever you want to treat your dog at home, we would strongly advise you to call and talk to your vet. They can give you the best possible advice and let you know what might work for your dog. Some UTI home remedies dog owners use for their dogs, and some seem to have a decent effect. Here are some of the most popular natural remedies for UTI in dogs;

Cranberries

Cranberries are one of the most popular natural human UTI remedies. They have a soothing effect on UTI because they lower the urine’s pH levels and prevent bacteria development inside the bladder. However, you have to be careful when feeding cranberries and cranberry juice to your dog. Some juices can contain high sugar levels, and that is not safe for your dog. You can read more about this delicious fruit here - Can dogs eat cranberries?

Vitamin C

Some online sources claim dog owners can use vitamin C to acidify their dog’s urine and prevent bacteria from reproducing. The premise is straightforward - the dog will ingest vitamin C, and the bacteria will have a harder time grabbing onto the bladder walls. Their reproduction will be blocked, and UTI will pass. However, acidic urine is an excellent environment for bladder stone formation, so you must be sure you give your dog the correct dosage. Read more about vitamins and dogs here - Vitamins for dogs.

Apple cider vinegar

Using apple cider vinegar as a home UTI remedy is popular amongst humans. The goal is the same as for using the previous two remedies. This UTI home remedy should lower the pH levels of the dog’s urine and prevent bad bacteria from reproducing. You can give this home UTI remedy to your dog twice a day, depending on how severe the infection is. You can simply add it to their kibble, but don’t do anything without talking to your vet first.

Water

This is general advice for all dogs with UTI - have your dog drink more water. You can place more bowls around your home and make sure they are always filled with fresh, clean water. You can add a few of your dog’s kibbles to make the water more appealing. The water will dilute your dog’s urine and cause them to urinate more often. Frequent urination will flush a certain amount of bacteria as it exits the body.

Citrus juice

Some owners recommend you give your dog natural citrus juice. The natural acidity should affect the overall urine acidity and prevent the bad bacteria from spreading and causing further harm.

Should you treat dog UTI at home?

In general, treating any kind of infection, in humans or dogs, without consulting your doctor or vet is not the best idea. Many health issues cause UTI-like symptoms, but they cannot be treated with home UTI remedies.

If you are adamant about trying and treating your dog with home remedies for UTI, you should at least call your vet and ask for their advice. Make sure you are not giving your dog an improper dosage of home remedies, and proceed as safely as possible.

World Dog Finder team