Home Remedies for UTIs in Dogs

Alaina Bradenberger
Alaina Bradenberger
September 13, 2023
2
min read
Technically reviewed by: 
Adele Morris
Home Remedies for UTIs in Dogs

Urinary tract infections (or UTIs for short) are quite common among dogs, especially older dogs aged 7 and up. In this condition, pathogens may infect your dog's urinary tract, resulting in a variety of symptoms.

All dog breeds can get UTIs, but female dogs are more likely to be affected as they have shorter urethras than male dogs. Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to treat your dog’s UTI at home, some natural remedies and over-the-counter UTI meds for dogs, and more.

What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Dog UTIs?

Dog UTIs are usually caused by bacteria like Escherichia Coli, which enter through the urethra (pee) opening and cause inflammation or infection. If your dog is older, has weakened immunity, or is malnourished, these bacteria may develop fast and proliferate quickly [1].

E. coli enters through the urethra, causing UTIs in dogs by triggering inflammation and infection in the bladder.
E. coli enters through the urethra, causing UTIs in dogs by triggering inflammation and infection in the bladder.

Other less common but much more severe causes of UTIs include kidney or bladder disease, diabetes, stones or other blockages, spinal cord issues, reproductive system abnormalities (like prostate issues in male dogs), and cancer [1].

If you’re wondering how to tell whether your dog may have a UTI, here’s a list of some of the most common symptoms to watch out for [1]:

If you suspect a urinary tract infection, over-the-counter UTI test strips for dogs are readily available for use at home. If your dog's urine test strip confirms a UTI, you can consider the next step, i.e., treatment.

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How To Treat Dog UTIs at Home

Home remedies for UTI in dogs include several possibilities, as follows.

Natural remedies like cranberry, parsley leaf, couch grass, and apple cider vinegar may help with UTIs.
Natural remedies like cranberry, parsley leaf, couch grass, and apple cider vinegar may help with UTIs. These supplements can also boost the effect of prescription medicines. Always consult a vet before proceeding.

Dietary Changes

The most popular natural remedies for UTI in dogs are [2]:

  • Cranberry The flavonoids in cranberries can stimulate your dog’s immune system. Cranberry supplements also contain D-mannose, which keeps bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract and bladder.
  • Parsley leaf. It has antiseptic properties and promotes urinary production.
  • Marshmallow root. It soothes inflammation and acts as a barrier between the urinary tract lining and bacteria.
  • Couch grass. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, so it can relieve UTI symptoms.
  • Apple cider vinegar. Raw, organic apple cider vinegar can lower your dog’s urinary pH, which helps to kill pathogenic organisms in the urinary tract.

Introduce more fruits and vegetables into your dog’s diet, but avoid spinach, asparagus, tomatoes, raw carrots, and dairy products, as they can worsen UTI symptoms [3].

You can also start your dog on commercially available UTI-specific dog foods.

Medications

Dog UTI treatment over the counter usually involves antibiotics, which can cure bacterial infections. You can get antibiotics without a vet prescription; however, they may not be readily available in all countries due to regulations. It is essential to consult a vet before administering any antibiotic to your pet. The vet will identify the severity of the disease and the type of bacteria causing the infection. Based on these findings, an antibiotic specific to your dog's condition will be prescribed.

You may also give your dog vitamin B supplements, which can relieve UTI symptoms [3].

Increased Water Consumption

Drinking more water can flush out the bacteria in your dog’s urinary system. It will also keep them more hydrated, which can minimize the health concerns related to dehydration and prevent the development of stones [3].

Finally, your dog needs to get sufficient rest and avoid stressful stimuli in order to recover quickly.

Some tips on how to prevent UTI in dogs include:

  • encouraging them to drink more water,
  • giving them probiotics and other nutritional supplements,
  • letting them out to pee regularly, and maintaining your dog’s hygiene [4].

Try Petnox for Detecting Dog UTIs

If you’re looking for a dog UTI test at home, we recommend Petnox-10, which are specially designed urinary test strips for veterinary use. These dog UTI test strips come with detailed instructions and are simple and effective to use.

For more helpful information on how to effectively monitor and care for your furry friends, visit our blog section on pet health.

Petnox-10 testing strips are specially designed for at-home health assessment of pets.
Petnox-10 testing strips are specially designed for at-home health assessment of pets. These are the same strips veterinarians use to check health issues like urinary tract infections, kidney and liver diseases.
References
  1. American Kennel Club Staff, “Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in Dogs,” American Kennel Club. [Online]. Available online here [Accessed August 3, 2023].
  2. Dogs Naturally Staff, “5 Home Remedies For UTI In Dogs,” Dogs Naturally, [Online]. Available online here [Accessed August 3, 2023].
  3. Veterinarians Staff, “Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs: Dog UTI Treatment & 5 Remedies,” Veterinarians. [Online]. Available online here  [Accessed August 3, 2023].
  4. American Trust Staff, “Dog Urinary Tract Infections,” Animal Trust. [Online]. Available online here [Accessed  August 3, 2023].
About the Author
Alaina Bradenberger

Alaina Brandenburger has been creating content for clients since 2009. She holds an MS in Marketing from the University of Colorado Denver, and an MA in Fashion Journalism from Academy of Art University. Her areas of specialty include marketing and small business operations, health and wellness, art, and design.

About the Reviewer
This blog was
Technically reviewed by: 
Adele Morris

Adele Morris served as the editor and proofreader of this blog, displaying her exceptional editorial skills and expertise in the field.

The blog was also reviewed by the Diagnox content team. Diagnox Staff consists of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, content writers, and healthcare professionals with an expertise to create and review high-quality, informative, accurate, and easy-to-understand content for both professionals and everyday readers. Our staff follows strict guidelines to ensure the credibility and authenticity of the information, reviewing them independently and verifying them by various scientific and technical sources to ensure accuracy. Our review team believes in delivering knowledge free from bias to improve public health and well-being.

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