Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs

If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection then you will know how annoying and painful they can be, and they are just as annoying and painful for a dog or cat.

Dogs actually have urinary tract infections much more than humans do and the pain involved for them can often be excruciating.

The big problem with dogs too is that they can’t tell you that they are in pain or where their pain is. Older female dogs are especially susceptible to recurring or chronic UTI as they age further.

A urinary tract infection in a dog can become quite serious if it isn’t treated early. A UTI infection usually starts from the urethra and bladder but if not treated it can travel upwards and cause an infection in other organs.

UTI can also be associated with canine urinary incontinence and urine accumulation. If a dog has abnormal urine accumulation this can lead to kidney damage, and possibly even kidney failure and death.

Young puppies will have problems with wetting and it can be caused by over excitement. If it is caused by over excitement it can be ignored but if it is a continued problem then it could possibly be a sign of a urinary tract infection. If a puppy has a UTI infection then it could make it difficult to toilet train the puppy.

The signs of a urinary tract infection in a dog can be observed easily and a check using urine culture will determine whether the dog has an infection.

Prostatitis is common in male dogs with a urinary tract infection as the infection causes the prostate gland to enlarge which then blocks the flow of urine. When this happens, bacteria from the urinary tract infection can begin to move through the bloodstream toward other organs.

If the infection remains within the area of the prostate gland it can form an abscess which can cause problems itself so it is important that a diagnosis is made and treatment is given.

When bacteria enter the bloodstream it can develop into septicemia. Bacteria can multiply and can affect any organ within the body. Infection can even affect the heart valves and the lining of the heart and also the intervertebral disks.

There is often an underlying reason that causes urinary tract infection and that underlying cause needs to be dealt with otherwise the urinary tract infections will recur. Bladder stones, bladder tumors, diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome are all common causes of UTI in dogs.

There are also some medications used to treat diseases that can cause urinary tract infections as a side effect. Selecting natural remedies is a better alternative medicine to initially treat your dog or cat with before you consider medicating your pet with prescription drugs.

There are studies being conducted on dogs with endocrinal disease, diabetes and urinary tract infections. The results have shown that dogs with endocrinal diseases have a high occurrence of UTI and as such urinalysis is necessary for dogs with endocrinal problems.

Urine culture needs to be done for a correct evaluation as clinical symptoms of urinary tract infection are vague and often laboratory tests return a normal result. Urine cultures will also give the specific bacteria that are causing the infection.

If urinary tract infection is diagnosed and treated early it can stop the spread of the infection to other organs in the body.

PetAlive UTI-Free for Pet Bladder and Urinary Tract Health (20g)

Product Features

* Naturally maintains urinary tract and bladder health
* Supports the body's natural ability to fend off urinary tract infection in pets
* 100 percent natural safe and proven herbal and homeopathic remedy for pets
* Treatment for causes and symptoms of bladder infections that keeps pets UTI free without antibiotics as antibiotics weakens immune system

Customer Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Works for my dog",

By M. Leonard "scubacuba2" (Orange Park, FL)

This review is from: PetAlive UTI-Free for Pet Bladder and Urinary Tract Health (20g) (Health and Beauty)
I've been having quite a time with recurring UTI's with my mini rat terrier. poor fella has had 3 over the course of a year.

Truly astronomical vet bills, stained carpets and I know the little guy must be hurting pretty bad. Then I found UTI-Free by PetAlive.

I ordered a bottle and set-up for the recurring delivery to save money. I figure if the stuff works, it's well worth the money spent. Note: we also changed his food to a brand that has no corn in it which was a recommendation to us by a dog trainer we used.

We also started adding about a few tablespoons of warm water to the kibble to make a gravy. Don't know if any of this has helped too. We sprinkle a little bit of the UTI-Free on his food each day and have not had a UTI recurrence yet.

Plus the 1st bottle lasted 2 months, so we slowed delivery down from 1 to 2 months. I highly reommend after 2 month's daily use.

Probiotic Miracle Dog Probiotics for Dogs (360 servings)

Product Features
* Up to 360 doses per container - 2 Billion CFU of probiotics per serving!
* The #1 Selling Probiotics for Dogs, Made in the USA.
* 100% Natural - Vegetarian - No Wheat - No Dairy - No Eggs - No Soy - No Fillers - No Flavorings
* 100% Money Back Guarantee
* Formulated specifically for the dietary and health needs of your dog or cat. This formula contains only the strains of probiotics that have been proven and researched for animals which is why it is the #1 trusted brand in America.

Customer Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Really seems to work!"
By A. Purvis "chinsbob" (Florida)

I've been using this product for a couple of weeks and really think I see a difference in my dogs. One of my dogs was a "parvo puppy"...abandoned at my vet's office, extremely ill with parvo virus, which required intensive antibiotic and other drug therapy to save his little life at the age of about six weeks old.

After I adopted him I always thought there was something not quite right about his system...as he grew up he always had a finicky apetite for a big dog, and seemed to get diarrhea very easily.

Since I've been giving them this both my dogs seem to have more energy, and I've not had a finicky appetite episode with my "parvo puppy". Only time will tell about the diarrhea, but so far so good.

Another thing I've noticed is a decreased desire of my other dog to consume cat feces. We have a lot of cats in my neighborhood (I have a few, myself), so this disgusting habit has pretty much driven me crazy since I adopted him.

There's been a marked drop-off in his interest since I started with the probiotics. He's not cured, but I'm delighted with how he's doing so far. With how they're both doing.

Safe, Natural Treatments for Your Pet's Bladder & Urinary Tract Health

Urinary tract infections are among the most common health problems that veterinarians see on a daily basis. About 14% of all dogs will have a UTI at some point in their lives.

It's less commonly seen in cats, only seen in about 1% of the population. But, urologic problems tend to be more serious in cats, even life-threatening.

Whether you have a dog or a cat, early diagnosis and treatment will help to ensure that the condition does not become more serious. If left untreated, the condition can spread, affecting the bladder and damaging the kidneys. Scar tissue can form, making urination constantly painful and/or difficult.

Pain is the first sign to look for. It is sometimes more difficult to recognize that your cat is in pain, since they tend to deal with it on their own. One sign would be excessive grooming of the genitals or urinating outside of the litter box.

You see, your cat would think that the pain is associated with the box itself. So to her, urinating elsewhere may be less painful. If she "goes" on a light colored surface, you may see slight traces of blood. In that case, you should contact your vet right away.

Dogs have more UTIs, because we keep them inside, restricting their access to a "bathroom", so to speak, and requiring them to "hold" their bladders for sometimes long periods of time.

Dogs are more likely to whine or cry when the pain begins. They may run away after urinating and tuck their tails between their legs.

Treatment

Vets usually prescribe antibiotics, but the side effects can create other health problems, including loss of appetite, lethargy and vomiting.

The loss of appetite may be temporary, but if your pet refuses to eat, you should talk to the vet about changing the medication or consider other treatment options.

A homeopathic veterinarian may prescribe uva ursi, berberis, cantharis, staphysagris or a combination of the herbs and botanical extracts. All of these are well known tonics for treating and preventing urinary tract infections.

Prevention & Maintenance

First of all, you should make sure that your pet has easy access to clean, fresh water. Filtered or bottled is preferable to chlorinated or fluorinated water.

If you have a dog, you should consider installing a pet door, so that she can go outside when she needs to. If that's impossible and you work outside the home, try to find someone that can take her for a walk in the middle of the day.

An eight or ten hour day is a long time to make her wait. Think about how many times you use the bathroom every day. For small dogs, absorbent pads are available and it is relatively easy to train them to "go" there. When you come home, you simply pick them up and throw them away.

Moist food is better than dry. If you have been feeding dry, you may notice some changes in their bowel movements. These usually clear up in a short time, but if things have not improved after two weeks, try a different brand. Consider organic and raw, unprocessed foods and never give your pet anything that contains sugar.

Avoid the use of commercial flea collars, powders and sprays. When walking your dog, avoid areas that have been sprayed with weed or bug killer. All of these things are toxic and the smaller your pet, the more likely he or she will have a negative reaction.

Make sure that your animals get regular exercise and minimize the stress in their lives. If you are currently using a regular veterinarian, consider switching to a holistic vet. They are normally more aware of the stress that a vet visit causes an animal. They avoid over-immunizations and help you learn to support your pets' immune system function.

Supplements

UTI-Free is an over the counter product that supports the function of the bladder and urinary tract.

It can be used by both dogs and cats, for both prevention and treatment as a natural remedy for urinary tract infection. It contains the active ingredients mentioned above that are normally suggested by homeopathic vet.

Immunity & Liver Support is a natural herbal tonic with Echinacea, Indian ginseng, milk thistle and dandelion. All of these herbs are known to support healthy immune system function.

Both of these products and other natural products for your pet's health are available from Pet Alive, a branch of Native Remedies. Visit the site to learn more about how you can protect your pets' health and ensure that they live long and healthy lives.

Renal Essentials - Kidney Support for Dogs - 90 count

Product Features

* Kidney Support
* Maintain proper kidney function
* Balance urine levels
* Normalizes circulation
* Strengthens immune system

Customer Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Really helped my dog's BUN levels,"
By MH -
My dog had BUN levels in the higher end of the normal range from the time I adopted her.

I have her blood tested twice a year because of the many health issues my last dog had -- I always wish I had known about her problems sooner so I could have taken some preventative measures rather than wait until the problem was major.

When my current dog's BUN levels finally went above the normal range, I searched for something that could help before permanent kidney problems occurred (my last dog had kidney failure among other things, and I could not go through that again, especially with a dog so young).

I give her these Renal Essentials daily, and her BUN level is lower than it was when I first adopted her.

I will continue to give this to her daily unless the vet says or the blood work shows that it could cause problems.

PetAlive UTI-Free and Immunity & Liver Support ComboPack

Product Features

* A special pet combopack of PetAlive UTI-Free to treat urinary tract and bladder infections and PetAlive Immunity & Liver Support to support liver health with both products in one convenient package at savings of 10%
* Native Remedies ComboPacks consist of multiple remedies that work well together to provide increased support for your condition at a discounted price
* Native Remedies products are specially formulated by an expert team of homeopaths and naturopaths using wild crafted organically grown herbs and following a Full Spectrum Approach to guarantee products of the highest quality potency and effectiveness

Customer Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars "Worked for us!!!"
By RobinB

This review is from: PetAlive UTI-Free and Immunity & Liver Support ComboPack (Health and Beauty)

We tried this route as we had a hard time curing my dogs UTI with antibiotics last time (28 days and Clavamox for a dog her size was $8.00/day) She was doing better in 72 hours, and I am keeping her on a maintenance dose.

I did miss one day of using it and she started getting uncomfortable again, so I won't miss again. Very happy with the product.

Homeopathy is a Safe Alternative Therapy for your Pets

Homeopathy is popular amongst many pet owners, since it is a non invasive natural form of treatment which has no side effects.

The treatment modality known as homeopathy has been around for many years, and was first identified in 1796. The person who first "discovered" homeopathy was Samuel Hahnemann, a German scientist.

It was very popular - in the early 1900's, there were 22 medical schools in America, where people could learn homeopathy. If a disease or illness can be treated with conventional medication, homeopathy may also help.

Hahnemann discussed the use of homeopathy in animals at the same time he was learning the effects of his remedies on people, so veterinary homeopathy has been around as long as human homeopathy.

Homeopathy takes the view that a disturbance in the body's vital force is the cause of disease and illness.

Disease is initially seen in the energy levels of the body, but then it shows up as a physical symptom that you can identify. Because of this, you can't cure an animal of disease by just taking care of the physical symptoms, they must also be treated at the energy level.

Practitioners of homeopathy believe that by giving small amounts of the substances that cause the disease, the symptoms can be cured. This is often described as "like cures like".

The emotional well being, as well as all other aspects of an animal's health, are taken into consideration when creating a homeopathic remedy. Because of this, each homeopathic remedy is unique, and is prescribed especially for an individual animal.

This means that even if an animal has the same symptoms as another, they may need completely different remedies. People who study homeopathy say that disease symptoms shouldn't be suppressed, since it is the body's way of trying to heal itself.

Synthetic, plant, and animal ingredients are used to create the homeopathic remedies . These ingredients are diluted many times in distilled water or alcohol, and thoroughly shaken between dilutions . Although there are no active ingredients left in the remedy after the dilutions, the shaking is thought to activate the energy of the ingredients, and it is this energy that helps the body heal.

Homotoxicology is a slightly different branch of homeopathy. This treatment modality believes that diseases are caused by toxins, and treatment involves the use small amounts of remedies to remove these toxins from the body.

According to homeopaths, there are three things that can happen as a result of treatment. Firstly, the disease is suppressed, and will come back once the remedy is not taken any more. This is called palliation.

The second possibility is that the first condition is suppressed, but a different and completely separate problem develops. The third possibility is that the condition is cured, and will never come back. The same can be said for most conventional treatments.

Pets can be treated using homeopathy for many conditions, including bruises, bites and stings, abscesses, and problems giving birth. However, because it works on an animal's energy levels, many people find it particularly helpful in cases of emotional upset, such as separation anxiety or storm phobia.

There are many veterinarians that do not believe in homeopathic remedies, and it is a controversial subject for vets as well as pet owners. Because it is completely non toxic, you can try it on your pet without any fear of harming them.

For conditions that are potentially dangerous and life threatening, such as preventing heartworm disease, it is important that more conventional medications are used.

Synergy Labs Richard's Organics Pet Calm for Dogs

Product Description

Synergy Labs Richard's Organics Pet Calm is used to settle nerves and reduce hyperactivity prior to travel, grooming, introduction to new environments or at any other time when stress can be anticipated.

Ingredients
Valerian, Chamomile, Hops, Passion Flower, Scull Cap Inert: Deionized Water, Fructose, Sodium Benzoate

Customer Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars "for fretting felines and canines,"
By Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) -
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)
This review is from: Synergy Labs Richard's Organics Pet Calm for Dogs (Misc.)
This 100% natural product for cats and dogs going through stressful times includes the same active ingredients as those for the relief of tension in some natural human formulas, like valerian and chamomile, and also apparently has a good taste, as a dropper full of the liquid in food is devoured with relish; it also includes passion flower and fructose, which is probably why it has a sweet aroma, and adds to the palatability.

Other ingredients are hops, scull cap, and inert ingredients include deionized water and sodium benzoate.

I've found it very useful on two occasions, once when trying to catch a young feral kitty, and secondly, to relieve the anxiety of my devoted eight year old Liddy when introducing the young cat into the household.

Also good for pets that are nervous travelers, and those few animals that get upset when being groomed.
Richard's Organics Pet Calm claims that it "Treats short-term stress", and in my situations, it has worked beautifully.

Depending on the size of the dog or cat (1 dropper = 1 ml. / Up to 40 lbs., 1-4 ml. / Over 40 lbs., 3-6 ml.), there are a lot of doses in this 2 oz. bottle, and I think it's an excellent value.

Liddy, Maggie and I are very satisfied customers of this product, which has made our lives easier and more peaceful.

PetAlive AmazaPet for healthy clear breathing in Pets (125 Tablets)

PetAlive AmazaPet is a 100% natural blend of herbal and homeopathic ingredients specially selected for the treatment of asthma in pets.

PetAlive AmazaPet reduces the frequency and severity of pet asthma attacks; improves respiratory functioning; reduces allergic reactions in pets; reduces respiratory problems and asthma linked to stress and anxiety and relaxes bronchioles and prevents bronchospasm in pets.

Product Features

* Decreases wheezing and tight chests for easy breathing in dogs and cats
* Promotes healthy respiratory functioning
* Supports the lungs and entire respiratory system
* Maintains nervous system health and harmony

Customer Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars "This Product Really Worked!"
By Anne Duthers
I rescued a kitten off cold, busy streets. While he only weighed 3 pounds, the vet thought he was at least six months old.

He had a severe upper respiratory (lung) and sinus infection which we treated with antibiotics. But he also wheezed and didn't sleep peacefully at night due to it. It was scary just listening to him!

I did some research to see if there was a natural remedy for feline asthma and found AmazaPet from PetAlive.com. Within a few days of using the product, he was breathing much better and sleeping soundly at night!

I continued giving him the medication for awhile past the time his symptoms subsided and eventually stopped giving it to him as they never returned. My guess is his asthma was illness-induced. Asthma is in my family so I am very familiar with it.

I believe this product helped to strengthen his lungs and help him breathe (and sleep better!) while his infections fully cleared (that took a good bit of time and two different antibiotics, several rounds).

Once he was off the antibiotics completely, this product seemed to help him even more and for the first time I knew he slept peacefully through the night (he sleeps with me).

I highly recommend trying this product for cats with asthma and/or asthmatic symptoms. It had no side effects and worked quickly--especially for a homeopathic remedy.

Video | What is Homeopathy?

Listen to our audio article video about Homeopathy

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