TCVM Vets Recommend Natural Remedies for UTI in Dogs

Did you know bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections in dogs?

UTIs are painful and potentially dangerous. In fact, some symptoms of UTIs may indicate something worse, like bladder or kidney disease. 

What Are Dog UTI Symptoms?

Dogs suffering UTIs generally attempt to urinate frequently every time they go outside.

They often strain to urinate or whine/cry out while they try.

Other common symptoms include:

• accidents in the house
• blood in urine
• cloudy urine
• fever
• licking around the urinary opening
• needing to go outside more

Luckily, there are several things you can do at home to help treat and prevent urinary tract infections.

Keep Your Pet Hydrated

The first and most important step is keeping your pet hydrated.

Drinking a lot of water will help flush harmful bacteria out of your pet's system via frequent urination.

Make sure there is plenty of water around for your pet to drink.

If you have trouble getting your pet to drink enough, try adding some sodium-free chicken or beef broth to the water. Often, the flavor will encourage your pet to drink more.

Switch to Wet Food

In addition, switching from kibble to a wet diet makes a huge difference in overall hydration.

Because kibble is condensed, dry, and hard, it draws moisture from your pet's body during digestion.

Switching to wet food is easier to digest and doesn't dehydrate your pet.

Our vets also recommend feeding an energetic-appropriate diet and even created slow-cooker recipes you can make at home. 

If you prefer not to switch from kibble to wet food, try crushing the kibble up and adding warm water to it before serving.

Supplement With Probiotics

Probiotics are the "good bacteria" in your pet's gut microbiome. And, they are powerful tools for fighting UTIs.

In fact, specific probiotic bacteria are able to inhibit the growth of the bad bacteria which cause UTIs.

Probiotics also help restore and maintain a healthy balance of different types of bacteria in your pet's body. Good bacterial balance gives bad bacteria less of an opportunity to survive, grow and potentially cause infection.

You can easily add probiotics to your pet's diet by adding some plain, non-fat yogurt to each meal. Just add a teaspoon per meal for small pets and a tablespoon per meal for large pets.

To be even more proactive, you can promote your pet's overall gut health. To promote overall gut health, our veterinarians recommend PET | TAO Harmonize GI. Harmonize GI contains prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes to support the gut microbiome and overall GI health.

Learn More About PET | TAO Harmonize GI

Supplement with Vitamin C

Vitamin C increases the acidity of urine when metabolized by the body.

The increased acidity creates an environment that inhibits the growth and proliferation of bacteria in the urinary tract.

Bacteria typically prefer a more alkaline environment, so increasing the acidity makes it less favorable for them to thrive.

In addition, Vitamin C is an antioxidant and supports the immune system's function.

Having a healthy immune system helps fight off infections, including UTIs. 

Our founding vets recommend sodium ascorbate, a flavorless powdered form of vitamin C you can easily mix into your dog's food. 

The recommended amount to supplement is 1/8 tsp per 10 pounds of body weight, mixed in food twice daily.

Use Herbs & Vitamins To Boost Urinary Tract Health

• Cranberry - reduces the risk of UTIs
• Juniper berry - helps the body flush out uric acid and excess crystals
• Marshmallow root - soothes inflamed tissues and protects tissues while passing stones
• Uva ursi - eases swelling of the bladder and urinary tract
• Kochia - soothes inflammation and promotes urination
• Poria - promotes urination
• Polyporus - promotes urination and detoxifies

Learn more about PET| TAO Soothe Bladder

Try A TCVM Herbal Formula

Most people are unfamiliar with TCVM (Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine).

TCVM, with its specialized herbal formulas, is an amazing tool for helping pets with chronic conditions like dog UTIs.

The reason TCVM works so well is its philosophy of treating the pet as a "whole" and working on the root causes of the health condition.

TCVM offers herbal formulas specifically to help dogs suffering from UTIs.

A couple of examples of TCVM herbs that help UTIs are Ba Zheng San and Zhu Ling San. 

Ba Zheng San clears heat, promotes urination, and unblocks painful urinary dysfunction. It helps painful, difficult urination due to Lower Jiao Damp-Heat.

Zhu Ling San promotes urination, clears heat, and nourishes the yin.

The herbs mentioned above are just an example of the many TCVM herbs available to help.

Of course, you need a TCVM veterinarian to help you choose the best formula for your pet.

Need Extra Help for Your Special Needs Dog?

If you ever feel like you need extra help in managing your dog's UTI naturally, we can help. 

TCVM Pet Supply co-founding veterinarians, Dr. Marc Smith and Dr. Casey Damron offer TCVM telemedicine consultations.

If you get a TCVM telemedicine consultation ($125), you'll get personalized TCVM recommendations specific to your cat, including:

• Food Therapy Recommendations 
• TCVM Evaluation
• TCVM Herb Recommendations & Veterinary Authorization
• Supplement Recommendations
• Alternative Medicine Recommendations

If you reside in the Middle Tennessee area or would like to commute, you may choose an in-clinic appointment instead.

You can learn more about each vet and contact the clinic you prefer directly:

• Casey Damron, DVM - White Oak Animal Hospital
• Marc Smith, DVM - Natchez Trace Veterinary Services

We hope this information helps you, and wish you the best in helping your dog feel better. 

If you have any other questions or if we can help you in any way, just let us know!

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