If you've ever had a urinary tract infection, the symptoms and the way you felt are similar to what your dog experiences with the same illness. You can try treating the infection at home, but if your dog doesn't respond to the treatment or begins straining to urinate, you'll want to get her to a veterinarian immediately. The infection can travel to her kidneys and cause a serious illness if it is not treated. Your veterinarian will likely prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection.
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Recognizing Symptoms
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To treat your dog's urinary tract infection at home, you'll need to know the signs that your pet is suffering from the illness. Common symptoms include blood in the dog's urine, a dog who cries when urinating, urine with a bad smell, a dog who needs to go out more and a dog who is having accidents in the house.
Bathroom Breaks
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If your dog has a urinary tract infection, he's going to need to go outside more often. The more often he urinates, the more likely it is the infection will resolve itself. The longer he holds urine in his bladder, the longer bacteria remains there.
Cleaning
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Cleaning your dog will often prevent and help heal urinary tract infections, especially in females. The urethra in female dogs is short, and bacteria can move into the bladder quickly, causing infection. Clean her genitals and bottom with a paper towel or wipe after she urinates.
Fluids
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Encourage your dog to drink a lot. Not only does this cause him to urinate more often, but also it decreases the likelihood he'll become dehydrated. Ensure a constant supply of clean water is available. Offer him chicken broth to encourage him to take in more fluids. Feed moist food, rather than dry, because it contains more water.
Cranberry
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Just like cranberry juice can help a person with a urinary tract infection, it can help a dog with the same illness. Cranberry keeps bacteria from sticking to the bladder, and it also acidifies the urine to create an inhospitable environment for bacteria. It will likely be difficult to convince your dog to drink cranberry juice, but you can add an extract capsule to his food, about 20mg per pound of body weight.
Cantharis
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Cantharis is a homeopathic remedy made from the Spanish fly and used for treating urinary tract disorders. It is said to provide comfort from the pain and burning that accompanies such conditions. The cantharis pellets can be given to the dog inside peanut butter or another treat to encourage him to swallow them.
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