5 Best Home Remedies for UTI in Dogs (+ Causes & Symptoms)

This quick guide I will cover the causes, symptoms, signs, and best home remedies for UTI in dogs.

UTI or Urinary Tract Infection is a bacterial infection (common in female dogs) that causes inflammation and discomfort in your dog’s urinary tract. The common symptoms of UTIs include increased, frequent, painful, or difficult urination, licking the genitals, reddish or cloudy urine, changes in appetite, urinating in inappropriate places, and increased consumption of water.

This article is meant to be a quick reference guide for the treatment of urinary tract infections in dogs with home remedies. However, If your dog is suffering from an infection, always consult your local veterinarian for treatment.

Knowing dog UTI treatment options could help you minimize the problems that would prevail over simply observing the preliminary symptoms.

So, let’s have a look at possible causes of urinary tract infections in dogs.

Causes of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Dogs

1. Bacterial Infections

The major cause of UTI in dogs is bacteria, most importantly E. coli. These opportunistic bacteria enter the bladder from outside via the urethra, where they bring about inflammation. Medically, this condition is known as cystitis. 

2. Lack of Frequent Pee Breaks 

According to researchers, a dog with the least pee breaks is more prone to get urinary tract infections. This is because there is much time to migrate to their desired site and initiate multiplications. Therefore, it is essential to ensure frequent pee breaks.

If you want to know the secrets to having a fully potty trained dog that will let you know whenever he/she needs to go out, don’t worry I got you! Take a look at this downloadable guide to housetrain your dog:

3. Breed Predisposition

However, certain breeds of dogs have a genetic predisposition to develop urinary tract infections, including Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, and Yorkshire Terriers. These breeds have greater chances of stones formation that is one of the major causes of UTI.

4. Dietary Issues 

Diet is also an essential factor in predicting UTI in your furry fellow. You know that the pH of the diet directly influences the pH of the urine. Moreover, bacteria love to grow in an alkaline environment compared to an acidic one. 

Therefore, it is mandatory to attain the optimum pH range to depreciate bacterial growth in your dog’s urinary tract.

Avoid these unpleasant situations by choosing the best quality food, check my favorite website for dog food, they are all-natural and formulated just for your dog!

5. Urinary Crystals 

Urinary crystals are also another leading cause of urinary tract infections in dogs. Moreover, an important component of a dog’s urine termed struvite results in crystal formation. It is a normal urine component that precipitates out of the urine at an alkaline pH.

However, struvite does nothing to your best friend’s urinary tract until the urine pH remains slightly acidic.  

6. Tumors and Cancers

Cancers that result from malignant tumors like invasive transitional cell carcinoma or TCC play a role in developing UTIs in your fido. TCC is a type of urothelial carcinoma that acts like a malignant tumor and imposes several inflammatory reactions. 

Furthermore, there are several other potential causes of UTI in dogs that have mild to severe correlations. These include:

• Viral infections
• Weak bladder
• Kidney diseases
• Prostate disease
• Fungal infections
• Bladder inflammation
• Urinary stones
• Spinal cord diseases
• Trauma
• Stress
• Diabetic dogs 

Signs and Symptoms of UTI in Dogs

It is not easy at the beginning to tell if your dog has a complaint of urinary tract infection or some other issues related to the urinary tract. 

Sometimes, having a UTI home remedy in hand does nothing as the condition has become worse. Therefore, seeking medical assistance from a veterinarian is the only option you have left behind.

Moreover, the knowledge of UTI symptoms is mandatory to follow an appropriate dog UTI treatment plan. 

Here I’ve compiled some possible signs regarding dog UTI that will help you catch the progressing condition timely for prompt treatments. 

• Frequent urination
• Weak bladder with lack of control
• Licking of urinary opening constantly
• Whining or straining during urination
• Changes in appetite
• Increased consumption of water
• Lethargic behavior 

Moreover, some symptoms are evident in a severe condition of UTI:

• Severe pain
• Vomiting
• Discoloration of urine
• Blood in the urine
• Inability to urinate properly

Urinary issues might become serious at times; therefore, be sure to monitor your dog regularly and provide the best home remedy for UTI in dogs to avoid such incidents.

Moreover, if the symptoms get worse and persist for a considerable duration, see your local vet ASAP.   

Best Natural Home Remedies to Treat a Dog’s UTI at Home

Up till now, you have the major causes of UTI in your dogs and possible symptoms that permit you to diagnose the condition in early stages. 

Now, it’s time to acknowledge the best home remedy for UTI in dogs so that you would be able to ensure the well-being of your furry fellow. 

Moreover, herbal remedy is known for its excellence to treat urinary tract infections in dogs.

Here I choose some important and easy home remedies for dog UTI treatment. 

1. Cranberry

The mechanism with which cranberry helps with UTI in your dog is still misunderstood. Most people assume that cranberry tends to change the dog’s urine pH, which ultimately declines bacterial activity. 

On the contrary, it is the D-mannose (a sugar in cranberry) that retards bacterial growth (E. coli) inside the urinary tract of your best friend. 

Moreover, according to recent studies, D-mannose works to alleviate symptoms associated with UTI. It is something marvelous that shows excellent results than ordinary antibiotics for a dog’s UTI treatment. 

Furthermore, another important component of cranberry is termed flavonoids that are evident to trigger the innate immune system. In this way, the innate immune system helps to combat bacterial infections.        

Therefore, the use of cranberry supplements is beneficial to promote the urinary health of dogs. However, you can use cranberry along with methionine as a powerful antibiotic home remedy against UTI in dogs.

How to Offer Methionine to Treat Your Dog’s UTI

• For medium dogs — 100mg (twice daily)
• For larger dogs — 200mg (twice daily)

Veterinarians recommend constantly checking the pH of your dog’s urine using litmus paper strips. If it is above 6-6.5, then ensure the provision of methionine thrice a day.

How to Offer Cranberry to Treat Your Dog’s UTI

• For small dogs — 100mg (thrice daily)
• For medium dogs — 200mg (thrice daily)
• For large dogs — 300mg (thrice daily)
• For giant breeds — 400mg (thrice daily)

2. Couch Grass

Couch grass acts as an outstanding herb and is sometimes called quack grass. According to herbs experts, this weed is a go-to for UTI and urinary tract problems in dogs. 

Couch grass earns its name because of extraordinary properties like antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Moreover, a dog suffering severe pain from UTI is also seen to get calmness after taking its doses.

Furthermore, couch grass also serves as a diuretic that aids in eliminating wastes from the urinary tract of your dog. In this way, you can treat your dog with urinary tract infections.

How to Offer Couch Grass to Treat Your Dog’s UTI

• Take 8 oz of water in a pan, add dried chopped roots of about one teaspoon, and boil.
• After that, cool it and strain. 
• Offer a half teaspoon of this liquid to your dog, either using a dropper or a teaspoon.
• You can also serve it by adding the same quantity to your dog’s water bowl.
• Always choose an organic grass couch free of pesticides.

3. Horsetail

Horsetail serves as a potent antimicrobial remedy to fight off infections in the urinary tract. Moreover, it is also helpful against urinary tract infections along with minor bleeding. 

Furthermore, the use of horsetail in combination with marshmallow root shows synergistic effects. However, this home remedy for dog UTI treatment is not healthy for prolonged use. 

The long-term use of horsetail may bring about mild side effects like irritation and itching. 

How to Offer Horsetail to Treat Your Dog’s UTI

• Take some water (enough to cover the herb) in a pot and add a handful of dried horsetail herb.
• Simmer and wait (for 20 minutes) until the water turns dark green.
• Stain and cool the liquid preparation
• Mix one tablespoon of this preparation in your dog’s food for every twenty pounds of body weight.

4. Parsley Leaf

Parsley imparts its services as a diuretic along with its antiseptic properties to help your dog with UTI. Moreover, its use is simple and makes its famous dogs UTI home remedy. Likewise, it is proficient in alleviating puppy UTI symptoms. 

How to Offer Parsley Leaf to Treat Your Dog’s UTI

• The most recommended method is parsley leaf juice that you can make using a vegetable juicer.
• Serve parsley juice to your best friend at the rate of one tablespoon for every twenty pounds of body weight.
• The oral route of administration is the best and always try to offer it on an empty stomach.
• Moreover, for your stubborn furry fellow, you can add the same quantity in the water bowl.

5. Marshmallow Root

Marshmallow is a highly potent remedy that acts as a demulcent to protect inflamed and irritated tissues and impart a soothing effect. Moreover, marshmallow is a versatile herb that makes it a perfect remedy to treat UTI in dogs.

Likewise, it creates a barrier between the lining of the urinary tract and the harmful bacteria to reduce the incidences of inflammation. 

How to Offer Marshmallow to Treat Your Dog’s UTI

• Convert dried marshmallow root into a powder form 
• Sprinkle this powder on the food of your dog
• A half teaspoon is enough for every pound of the food

Natural Products for Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs

1. Foods That Contain Prebiotics and Probiotics

Probiotics help to crowd out bad bacteria by promoting and encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria. These healthy bacteria, in turn, assist in the formation of short-chain fatty acids or SCFAs. 

These SCFAs are known to boost your dog’s overall health, thus reducing the risk of UTI in dogs by preventing harmful bacterial growth.

You can either use supplements based on probiotics and prebiotics or fermented veggies to ensure the constant supply of these components. I highly recommend you these ones that I tried myself for my little friend!

2. Foods That Contain Antioxidants

Certain natural foods ensure the optimum supply of antioxidants to your dog that helps to boost up immunity. The consequence of which tends to your dog’s stronger body to fend off urinary tract infections. 

Moreover, the stronger immune system helps reduce inflammation – a major source of UTI in dogs.   

Fruits and vegetables are a great source of antioxidants, so you must try them to keep your dog from UTI. You can try:

• Broccoli
• Cranberry
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Green beans
• Carrots
• Squash

3. Avoid Unhealthy Carbs

Excessive use of starchy carbohydrates such as grains, beans, corn, rice, and peas may prove unhealthy for your fido. These unhealthy carbs bring about the risk of increased inflammation that ultimately leads to developing UTI in dogs. 

Starch serves as a source of food for harmful bacteria that then crowd off beneficial flora.

According to an estimate, dry kibbles are full of unhealthy carbs that contain starch from 30% to 60%. Therefore, avoid the consumption of unnecessary carbs to your dog to avoid UTIs.

4. Choose Raw

Veterinarians recommend a species-appropriate diet based on raw sources for dogs with UTI. The raw diet is full of essential vitamins and minerals that work together to enhance the immunity of dogs. Moreover, a raw diet doesn’t support any inflammatory response because of its low concentration of carbohydrates. 

Read more about how to start raw feeding your dog here.

I would also recommend you my favourite raw animal food website, it has everything you need to start feeding raw food for you pet, in particular I suggest you this particular Blend Complete Beef:

When to See a Vet in Case of UTI in Your Dog?

I recommend you to see your veterinarian in case of observing symptoms like severe pain and bloody urine. This is because, at this stage, things may get worse if you further delay your visit. 

Moreover, you must chew over having your dog’s urine test pointing out preliminary symptoms of UTI. This practice will help to rule out the deadly underlying conditions that anyhow complicate the condition.

Furthermore, having an exact diagnosis in your hands will let you go for specific treatment options regardless of symptomatic treatments.

For instance, symptoms only warn you of some bacterial infections, but there might be the occurrence of kidney disease or some crystals and stones formation that your vet will only diagnose.

Therefore, a veterinarian examination is mandatory in order to diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment for your dog and according to his specific case.     

How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infection in Dogs?

Urinary tract infection is highly preventable in dogs; you need to follow these steps to keep your dog from contracting UTI.

1. Freshwater – The provision of fresh and clean water throughout the day will help to flush out the waste materials along with infectious bacteria from the urinary tract of your dog.
2. Routine grooming – Don’t forget to have proper grooming sessions with your dog to prevent the infectious agents from migrating to the urinary tract. Make sure the area around your dog’s urinary opening (the genital area) is always clean.
3. Frequent pee breaks – Allow your dog to go outside for frequent pee breaks.
4. Healthy diet – Feed your dog a healthy and balanced diet not containing many carbs.
5. Regular veterinary visits – Arrange regular veterinary visits to avoid incidences of UTI.   
6. Vitamin C – Choose a fresh diet containing considerable vitamin C to boost up your best friend’s immunity. Try to avoid acid ingredients.

FAQ

Summary

In dogs, urinary tract infections result from minor issues like unhealthy carbs, lack of frequent pee breaks, and bacterial infections to major problems such as tumors and cancers.

You need to get your best friend to a nearby veterinarian for a proper diagnosis to know the major reason behind such an unpleasant condition. 

Moreover, you can think over dogs’ UTI home remedies based on cranberry, couch grass, horsetail, marshmallow root, and parsley leaf that impart inflammatory, diuretic, and antioxidants properties to your dog’s body to combat infectious agents.    

In the end, you must flush your dog’s body with fresh and clean water to wipe out the harmful bacteria from the urinary tract.

That being said, there is nothing left but to thank you for your attention up to this point.

I hope I have been helpful, and I wish you many moments of joy and satisfaction in the company of your beloved puppy.

Of course, if you have any questions or concerns along the way don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for reading and have a great day!

Until next time!

A big hug.

Read also:

• How to tell if a dog is sick
• How do dogs get tapeworms
• How to tell if a dog is happy
• How to tell if a dog is in heat
• What causes fever in dogs
• Why is my puppy pooping blood