Home Remedies for Bladder Infection in Dogs

Bacteria, which enters the dog's bladder through the urethra, is the cause of most bladder infections in dogs. Because the urethra of female dogs is so close to the ground, bladder infections are more common in females. Other causes of bladder infections are feeding your dog poor-quality dog food, containing, chemicals and additives; lack of clean drinking water; and holding urine too long. If your dog gets a bladder infection, there are home remedies that are safe and effective to use.

  1. Bearberry (Uva Ursi)

    • Glycoside arbutin is a main constituent in Bearberry (Uva Ursi). This ingredient is a strong anti-bacterial agent, with beneficial effects for treating bladder infections, suggests NutraSanus.com. The herb bearberry is safe and effective, when used as a urinary antiseptic. The combination of arbutin and methylarbutin are transformed into hydroquinone once in the intestine. The hydroquinone is absorbed by the intestine and then binds to other compounds in the urine. If the urine is alkaline, it forms two additional chemicals that kill or prevent bacteria in the urinary tract. Bearberry is available in capsules, tablets, tea, and tinctures, at most health food stores. If you get the leaves, make sure they contain six percent arbutin, for effectiveness. Check with your veterinarian for dosages, as that will depend on the severity of your dog’s bladder infection, as well as your dog's weight.

    Cranberry

    • Cranberry is effective in keeping bacteria from binding to the lining of the bladder and the urethra. You can give a half ounce of non-sweetened cranberry juice to your dog, as a preventive against bladder infections. To treat a bladder infection, it may be more beneficial to purchase cranberry powder, in capsule form, and mix one-fourth of a teaspoon of the powder into your dog's food.

    Clean Water

    • Keeping your dog hydrated is essential in fighting bladder infections. The cleaner the water, the more your dog will urinate. If your dog does not drink enough water, the bacteria will fester in its bladder, worsening the bladder infection.