Treatment for Dog Bladder Infections
- Ask your veterinarian to conduct a urinalysis to determine the type of bacteria causing the infection. Your vet can then prescribe an antibiotic that targets that specific bacteria. Dispense the antibiotic as directed and continue until all the pills are gone. Even if your dog shows signs of improvement, do not stop the medication. An incomplete series of antibiotics could cause the bacteria to become resistant to the drug.
Antibiotics often taste bad, and your dog will do anything to avoid taking them. You can buy special treats that are designed to conceal the pill and trick your dog, but if those don't work--and if your dog has a keen sense of smell, they won't--you will have to force your dog to swallow the pill.
Put your dog in a sit and stand over it, with its head between your knees. With your left hand, pry your dog's mouth open and, with your right hand, drop the pill into the back of its throat. Clamp your dog's mouth shut with your left hand and, with your right hand, massage your dog's throat until you are sure the pill has been swallowed. - Antibiotics are often overused or erroneously prescribed, causing the number of resistant bacteria to rise. For this reason, many people choose to treat their dogs with homeopathic medicine. Herbs that promote canine urinary tract health are garlic, echinacea, rose hips, alfalfa and uva ursi. While you may have some garlic in your kitchen, mixing a few cloves with your dog's food won't cure a bladder infection.
Like prescription drugs, natural remedies should be professionally prepared and approved by the Homeopathic Pharmacopia. UTI-Free is an example of a homeopathic remedy available for preventing and treating bladder infections. Ask your veterinarian if UTI-Free or another natural remedy might be right for your dog. - If bladder infections are a recurring problem for your dog, assess the dog's environment and daily routine to find the cause of infection. Make sure your dog gets out every few hours to urinate and cleanse bacteria from the urethra. Your dog's water supply should be clean; don't let it drink from stagnant water sources. You can also add a little cranberry juice to your dog's water. Juice will raise the acidity in your dog's bladder, creating an unfriendly environment for bacteria. Feed your dog high-quality food. The label should list a protein as the main ingredient, any grains should be whole and it should list a balanced amount of magnesium, phosphate and aluminum. And make sure your dog gets enough exercise to keep its immune system strong and healthy. A dog that gets to run at least twice a day is a happy and healthy dog.
