Article by R.D. Hawkins
You have decided to take your dog Daisy down to the park for an afternoon of fun in the sun with a few other like minded pet owners. You and daisy are having a great time when you see an friend who wants to talk about old times. You take your eye off of daisy for a moment only to look up and find she is eating some old dog food some careless pet owner had left weeks earlier.
You think nothing of it but a couple of weeks later Daisy starts to act odd. Her urine smells odd and seems somewhat cloudy. For the first time since she was puppy she is urinating in inappropriate places and seems to be in some pain during the act.
After procrastinating for a couple of days you decide that a trip to your vet in order to find out why your Daisy is behaving oddly. After running a few urine tests your vet breaks the bad news; Daisy has a dog urinary tract infection.
Your vet explains that these types of infections can be picked up from ingesting old food or water, or externally when bacteria gains access to the urinary tract through the urethra. He explains it is a good thing that you recognized there was a problem before the bacteria had had a chance to do some real damage to the urinary tract. He then hands you an eight step checklist for preventing future infection along with a prescription for amoxicillin.
The eight steps for avoid a do urinary tract infection are:
*Provide plenty of clean fresh water: Unclean water can harbor bacteria, and failure to consume enough water can allow bacteria to gain a foothold in the urinary tract rather than being flushed out.
*Plenty of bathroom breaks: Take your dog out every few hours to prevent the possibility of bacteria buildup in the bladder
*Regular bathing: A dirty backside can create a fertile breeding ground for bacteria which will eventually find its way into the urinary tract through the urethra.
*Walk your dog everyday: Daily walking will stimulate the bladder to produce more urine. It also bolsters your pets natural defenses against disease including urinary tract infections.
*Add citrus to your dogs water: Both cranberry and blueberry juice are effective in deterring the E.coli bacteria infection responsible for most dog urinary tract infections.
*Age appropriate nutrition: Dogs of different ages have different nutritional needs as well as different urine ph needs. Most pet food labels will clearly state what age group they are suggested for.
*Reduce stress especially in older dogs: Stress and the aging process both weaken your pets immune defenses. This spells double trouble, and is statically supported by the fact that the majority of instances of UTI occur in dogs over the age of 7.
*Establish a habit of regular veterinary visits: Early identification and treatment of a dog urinary tract infection can be the difference between successful treatment or the condition becoming chronic or recurring.
What else? Many dog owners have found homeopathic dog UTI remedies to be an extra preventative step. These types of supplements work naturally to promote urinary tract and bladder health while supporting healthy immune system function.
R.D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of natural health products and natural living with over 10 years experience in the field.Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at Purchase Remedies.com
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