Urinary tract infections are quite common in dogs, and range from very mild to quite severe. Symptoms include blood-tinged or foul-smelling urine, difficulty urinating and urinating around the house. If you suspect your dog has a urinary tract infection, consult your vet as soon as possible; an untreated infection can spread to the kidneys, resulting in a much more serious illness. In addition to veterinary care, there are some things you can do at home to help speed the healing process.
Things You'll Need
- Vet
- Prescribed medication
- Water
- Chicken or beef broth
- Citrus juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- Shampoo
- Towel
Instructions
Take your dog to the vet. The vet will analyze a sample of the dog's urine to verify the presence of bacteria. Some vets will culture the urine to find out exactly what kind of bacteria it is and what drugs it may be sensitive to. The vet will likely prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic to start.
Administer all medications as prescribed, usually once or twice daily for one or two weeks. Skipping one or more doses can allow the bacteria to regain a foothold and increase the severity of the infection.
Encourage your dog to drink water. As the antibiotics begin to work, neutralized bacteria will need to be flushed from the system. If your dog shows little interest in water, try adding a little chicken or beef broth to it. The smell may entice him to drink more. Remember to walk your dog more often during this time, as increased water consumption leads to increased urination.
Give your dog citrus juices, if he'll drink it. Citrus is thought to help neutralize the bacteria and may lead to a faster recovery. If he doesn't like the taste, try diluting it in water.
Mix a teaspoon or so of apple cider vinegar into your dog's food once per day. Not only is it thought to discourage bacterial growth, but apple cider vinegar can also help reduce the discomfort associated with urinary tract infections.
Keep your dog clean and dry. Bathe him at least once per week, and dry him thoroughly after bathing or swimming to discourage the growth of bacteria around the urethral opening. If bacteria is allowed to form, it can easily enter the urinary tract and add to the infection.
Keep all recheck appointments with your vet. Just because the medication is gone does not mean the infection is gone. Your vet will need to see your dog several times to be sure that medications are working, and will likely analyze your dog's urine each time until there are no signs of bacteria. If your vet cultured your dog's urine on the first visit, she may switch him to a more targeted antibiotic, depending upon what kind of bacteria was isolated.