Five Tips on How to Prevent UTI in Dogs
Urinary tract infection is a disease very common to dogs. There are 14% chances that your dog would suffer from UTI in its entire lifetime. But being your pet's doting master, you can very well prevent this disease from infecting your dog. Here are five tips that could help you out:
1. Make sure that your dog gets toilet breaks frequently.
When your dog has to go, let it out. Urine contains bacteria and the bladder holds urine until it goes out.
If urine stays there longer than necessary, bacteria may propagate and find its way into other internal organs. Don't let your dog wait for toilet breaks too long. Schedule it every few hours, if necessary. Better yet, provide your dog with free access to the garden so it can heed nature's call anytime it wants.
2. Provide your dog with adequate water.
Water cleanses the dog's urinary tract. It replenishes the body's fluids while washing away bacteria.
Give your dog enough water throughout the day to encourage urination. Urination is the body's natural way of clearing away harmful microorganisms. Give your dog open access to water and make sure that his water bowl doesn't go dry.
3. Prepare citrus drinks for your dog.
Citrus drinks like orange juice and limejuice would make your dog's urine acidic. And in that state, the number of bacteria present in the urine is lessened. Citrus juices can also reduce the pain associated with urination, if ever your dog already suffers from it. Dogs may not like acidic juices. To give your pet the necessary dose of fruit drinks, start giving it some during the day, preferably at breakfast.
Let your dog finish a glass of fruit juice for three consecutive days given during the first meal of the day if your dog can't take it straight up.
4. Subject your dog to regular veterinary checkups.
Just like humans, dogs need medical attention too.
Don't let a month pass by without taking your dog to the vet to check for the most common signs of diseases, ensure its hygiene, and maintain proper grooming. This is a rule all pet owners must follow, regardless if their dogs are physically active or not.
5. Give your dog proper food and nutrition.
To ensure that your dog won't acquire UTI at any point of its life, make sure that it eats only the right type of foods and at the correct amount. Take away uneaten portion of your dog's meal immediately so no bacteria would get into it. It's going to be harmful for your pet if it accidentally eats contaminated food. Throw away excess food and give your dog fresh meals all the time.
Next>>Diagnose Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs