Dog Food For Bladder Infections

Diagnosing A Uti In Dogs

A urine sample needs to be collected and tested. If the dog shows symptoms indicative of an infection, a urinalysis and a urine culture can be performed simultaneously.

• Urinalysis : Common UA findings for a dog with a urinary tract infection may include:

• An excess of white blood cells

• Presence of bacteria when the sediment is checked under the microscope

• Excess protein in the urine

Urinary tract infections can be classified as uncomplicated or complicated:

Recurrent UTIs that develop three or more times during a 12-month period may be considered a reinfection or relapse.

Health Benefits And Nutritional Value

Your dog will get all the vitamins in the fruits and its a delicious and sweet treat for him. Cranberries are very helpful with UTIs. Cranberries are used as a home remedy to prevent UTIs. They have an abundance of vitamins A , B1 and B2, C , phosphorus, manganese, and antioxidants like polyphenols. Greek yogurt provides a lot of healthy probiotics for a healthy gut.

Causes Of Uti In Dogs

Its no secret that there are trillions of bacteria that are present in view in the environment. When bacteria come in contact with your furry friend, and if they enter a dogs urethra and make a contact with the bladder, it results in a urinary tract infection when the defense system fails to crush the bacteria causing inflammation and pain.

Chronic UTIs are the result of the following causes:

• The dogs bladder, urethra, or urinary tract is infected by bacteria, fungi, and parasites, in the worst scenario, the virus.
• Formation of struvite stones, and calcium oxalate crystals in the bladder or urethra.
• Kidneys wont work at full tilt when it comes to remove the waste substances from the bloodstream and your dog may scream with pain as it finds it difficult to excrete urine.
• When theres an upside-down change in diet and it results in excessive stress that can bring the UTIs into the equation.
• If your dogs water intake is increased by leaps and bounds and in that scenario, the urethra wont accommodate the urine thanks to excessive water drinking which attracts UTIs.
• As the dogs suffer from Diabetes mellitus drinking more water and which in turn grants bacteria the right to make a contact with the bladder causes UTIs in dogs.
• The enlargement of the prostate gland compresses the urethra making the urination difficult and uncomfortable and your dog is likely to strain while urinating.
• Theres an aggrandizement of non-cancerous tumors in the urinary tract.

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A Note About Antibiotics For Bladder Infections

Antibiotics are standard treatment for UTIs. The problem with this is that antibiotics dont just kill the bacteria causing the UTI they also destroy the healthy bacteria in your dogs gut. Remember that many holistic vets say that urinary tract problems in dogs are actually inflammation, not an infection. So using antibiotics will damage your dogs microbiome without effectively treating the real cause of your dogs UTI. Thats why UTIs become chronic recurrent infections in many dogs. Urinary concentration of antibiotics is also a factor. The drugs are less effective if they dont achieve high antimicrobial concentrations. In fact, a 2014 review of antibiotics for UTIs at University of Copehagen concluded: there is little published evidence relating to antibiotic treatment of UTIs in dogs and cats. Well-designed clinical trials focusing on the duration of treatment are warranted to create evidence-based treatment protocols.

Antibiotic resistance is also a concern. The more your dog takes antibiotics, the less effective they are. So save them for when theyre truly necessary and avoid antimicrobial resistance thats becoming a problem for all of us!

Naturvet Cranberry Relief Plus Echinacea Soft Chew

NaturVet provides a treat that contains ingredients that are fantastic in preventing and treating urinary tract problems, such as cranberry. Cranberry prevents bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract, so it can be a saving grace for a dog experiencing urinary pain. The other main ingredient in this soft chew is echinacea, which boosts overall immune health. All of the natural ingredients in this treat are sure to leave your dog feeling happy and healthy.

If you suspect your dog have a UTI, make sure to take them to the vet and considering switching their diet to these good dog foods.

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What Foods Should A Dog With A Uti Avoid

Does your dog ask you to go outside more frequently? Is he attempting to relieve himself more often than usual? Chances are, your dog might be suffering from a urinary tract infection or UTI. It can be hard to tell if your dog is in pain because he may not show any signs at all. However, if you see bloody, cloudy, or their urine has a strong smell, your dog may have a UTI.

In today’s article, we will focus our attention on UTIs in dogs, their causes and symptoms, and the ways we can approach UTIs in dogs with a proper diet. Unfortunately, certain everyday dog foods can exacerbate an existent UTI, which is why putting together a list of foods to avoid for dogs with UTIs will be helpful for all dog parents!

Royal Canin Canine Urinary So Small Dog Dry Dog Food

Small dogs can struggle with urinary tract problems, and the sooner you find the solution for them, the better. One diet that alleviates your dog from urinary system issues is this one from Royal Canin.

So why is this recipe the best dog food for urinary tract health? First, this recipe uses a Low relative supersaturation methodology to help lower ion concentration which can contribute to kidney or bladder stones.

Again this dog food for urinary tract health encourages your dog to drink lots of water, leading to dilution of mineral that crystallizes to form kidney stones.

Overall this urinary SO dog food from Royal Canin creates an environment hostile for crystals to form in your dogs kidney or bladder.

After putting your dog on this urinary care dog food, you are sure that your dogs recurring urinary issues will be a thing of the past.

Pros

• The best dog food for small dogs with urinary health problems
• Lower risk of crystal formation using RSS methodology
• With added multivitamins and minerals for whole-body health

Cons

• Some dog parents find this dog food expensive

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What Can I Feed My Dog With Urinary Problems

Besides medication, the best way to control urinary tract health problems in dogs is through dietary changes.

And working with your vet on which food to give your dog comes a long way in dealing with urinary issues.

So, what is the ideal food for a dog with urinary tract problems?

A raw diet with high protein content from animal-based sources can help treat or prevent urinary tract health problems in dogs. A diet with high protein content creates an acidic environment hard for bacteria that cause infections to thrive.

While still at that, avoid a diet with plenty of vegetables like asparagus or spinach. These vegetables create a suitable alkaline environment for bacteria to thrive.

Wet dog food is the best for those dogs who find it hard to drink water. The reason being water dissolves any minerals that may crystallize in the dogs bladder and urinary tract to form stones.

Also, the more your dog hydrates, the more he will urinate, helping clean the entire urinary system.

Besides that, you can look for dog food for urinary health fortified with cranberry, as this ingredient helps prevent urinary infections.

How To Make This Homemade Food For Dogs:

Cook the white rice in a bowl the usual way. In the meantime, brown the ground beef. After you have prepped the rice and the ground beef, mix all of the ingredients together. You can store this in a sealed box for at least 3 months or keep the leftovers in the refrigerator for three to five days. You can also make the food in bulk and feed it to your dog for months.

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How Do I Know If My Female Dog Has A Uti

Even though female dogs are more likely to develop a UTI, their symptoms should be no different from those of a male dog with the same infection. We already went over the common signs of UTIs, but well recap them here as well.

• Excessively licking the genitals

So, how can you tell if your female dog is in heat or has a UTI? First, it depends on whether or not your dog is spayed. Dogs who have been spayed do not go into heat, so if your spayed dog shows the above signs, it means they have a UTI or similar condition.

If your dog has not been spayed, she will go into heat about twice a year. This typically happens every 6 months, so you can keep track of your dogs estrous cycle and know when they will likely go into heat.

While the physical signs of heat and UTIs can be similar, the behavioral signs are very different. Dogs in heat want to mate, so they will actively seek partners. When you visit the dog park, youll probably notice your girl making a beeline for the male dogs. However, if your dog has a UTI, shell behave in the opposite way. Dogs in pain tend to act fearful and may hide. They are likely to show signs of fatigue and distress, not the energetic enthusiasm of a dog in heat.

What Is The Best Dog Food For Dogs With Crystals In Their Urine

Ingredients play a key part in preventing urine crystals and UTIs in dogs. Dog food for dogs with crystals in urine should avoid certain ingredients that raise the Ph of a dogs urine, which puts them at risk of infection. Pure offer grain-free dog food and these recipes contain carefully selected, fresh vegetables that will provide your dog with plenty of vitamins and minerals but make sure their Ph balance is, well… balanced.

Another factor in UTI prevention dog food is that it will help to hydrate your dog. Increased water consumption helps to flush existing crystals out and prevent new crystals from forming. Proper hydration will also lower the risk of UTIs and developing bladder and kidney stones.

Kibble has very little water content, and if your dog hasnt got a huge thirst drive, it will leave less water to flush out those pesky crystals and put them at higher risk of a UTI.

Pure is perfect for helping to keep your pup hydrated and their urinary tract in good condition. You can add more water to their food to encourage your dog to take in more fluids while eating their dinner, which is certainly more appetising than a bowl of plain water.

Suave schnauzers Lulu and Sooty have had great success starting a Pure diet, which is proving to be a fantastic UTI prevention dog food. They both suffered from other conditions like allergies and pancreatitis, and prescription diets werent meeting their needs.

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Standard Treatment Includes Feeding A Special Kidney Diet And Giving Medications

Treatment is designed to target the underlying cause of PLN, if the underlying cause is determined. Because its important to reduce the amount of protein being lost in urine, decreasing the amount of protein consumed plays an important role in managing dogs with PLN. A specific class of medications is also typically given to reduce proteinuria.

Jericho was started on benazepril twice a day and Welactin once a day, Kayla reports. He was also switched to another brand of a therapeutic kidney disease food. But Jericho continued to lose weight on the kidney diet and still acted hungry. He even snatched loaves of bread off the kitchen table!

Purina Canine Ur Urinary Ox/st Dog Food

Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Whole Grain Corn, 2. Brewers Rice, 3. Chicken By-Product Meal, 4. Corn Gluten Meal, 5. Animal Fat

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St is another highly recommended prescription formula for dogs with urinary tract issues. It is formulated to prevent the formulation of various types of stones and crystals, including sterile struvite stones, calcium oxalate stones, or idiopathic cystitis. The amount of calcium and phosphorus is lower than most dog foods out there. Yet, a perfect balance of nutrition eliminates the risk of malnutrition, which is a concern with many prescription diets for dogs.

This selection is one of the best bets for dogs with a history of urinary tract infections and stones. It is available in dry as well as wet form, the latter being a better option for dogs who dont drink a lot of water. This product is only available by prescription.

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What Are The Signs Of Utis In Dogs

Urinary tract disease can include kidney, ureters, urethra and bladder infection.

While were using a female dog example below remember that male dogs can get UTIs too! Typical symptoms of UTIs in dogs of either gender include:

• Frequent urination or urging.
• Bloody urine. Sometimes you may see a little blood at the very end. Other times there might be a blood clot. Sometimes its hardly noticeable. Get your dog to pee on a paper towel to see if theres blood present.
• Licking before or after she urinates.
• Inappropriate urination or accidents in the house.
• General restlessness.
• Needing to go out during the night.
• Trying to pee again right after shes peed. You may see her try a few times and appear to squat or strain a few different ways. This is due to difficult flow of urine.
• Signs of painful urination.

When untreated, UTIs can lead to bigger problems, including stones, dysfunction, infertility, kidney infection, and even kidney failure.

Natural Urinary Tract Infection Remedies Prevention In Dogs

A healthy diet and access to water is critical for your dog’s overall health. Urination is the best way for your dog to clean out their urinary tract naturally, so allow your dog to eliminate as necessary. Holding in urine can cause UTIs and bladder inflammation.

Feeding your dog a healthy and balanced diet with whole foods, including fruits and vegetables, can improve their urinary tract health. Adding fresh blueberries to your dog’s food can decrease the risk of developing urinary tract infections. You can also add cranberries or cranberry pills to their diet to help prevent future infections.

Vets often recommend prescription diets for dogs who suffer from ongoing urinary tract issues. These diets can make a significant difference to your dog’s urinary tract health. Additionally, bladder supplements containing ingredients such as N-Acetyl D-Glucosamine can help coat the bladder and prevent cystitis.

Hygiene is essential to a dog’s health. Escherichia coli, found in a dog’s feces, commonly causes UTIs. Clip any long fur and clean away urinary or fecal matter regularly.

Your dog needs healthy bacteria, so consider sprinkling probiotics over their food to improve the number of healthy bacteria in your dog’s gut.

There are many ways to prevent urinary tract infections. Pay attention to your dog’s bathroom schedule and know the signs when they’re not feeling well. If your dog seems in great discomfort and their symptoms don’t clear up, contact a vet as soon as possible.

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Signs Of Urinary Tract Infection In Dogs

Even when your dog starts eating food designed to treat and prevent UTIs, you need to be aware of the most common signs of a canine UTI.

You might see your dog:

• Have sudden or frequent accidents even when housetrained
• Shake while peeing
• Drink more water or stop drinking water
• Pee cloudy or bloody urine

If your dog shows any of these symptoms or other behavior you consider unusual, take them to the vet right away for testing.

An untreated UTI could cause a kidney infection or even worse, kidney failure.

Urinary Health Questions To Ask Your Veterinarian

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