Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs are common. Symptoms of UTIs include frequent urination, urinating indoors, blood in urine, foul-smelling urine and whimpering while urinating. If you suspect that your dog has a UTI, immediate treatment is essential, because it can be a very painful experience.
Things You'll Need
- Veterinarian
- Prescription antibiotics
- Housebreaking pads
- Fresh water
- Bathtub or small pool
- Dog shampoo
Instructions
Take your dog to the veterinarian for an examination. Your dog may have a more serious underlying health problem such as diabetes, so a visit to the vet is necessary.
Follow instructions for treating the UTI. A prescribed antibiotic is the most common treatment for canine UTIs. Administer the medication exactly as prescribed.
Allow your dog frequent access to the outdoors. Dogs that do not get sufficient opportunities to urinate outside can experience UTIs as a result of holding their urine too long. This causes a buildup of bacteria, leading to the UTI. If you are not at home throughout the day to allow your dog to go outside, consider hiring someone to do it, or you may purchase housebreaking pads for indoor use.
Ensure your dog has free access to fresh water from a clean bowl. If your dog is urinating on a frequent basis, he or she may become dehydrated. Drinking water will also help to cleanse the dog's body and allow the UTI to go away more quickly.
Bathe your dog in the bathtub or a small pool on a regular basis, using dog shampoo. The cleaner your dog is in the genital area, the less likely a UTI will occur in the future.
Consider visiting a holistic veterinarian. These vets use herbal medicine. This choice may be ideal if you have a preference for more natural treatments. Herbal medicine is also ideal to consider if the UTI reoccurs or if the antibiotics prescribed by a traditional veterinarian don't work.