My dog has a UTI. What OTC supplements can help and prevent it?

Hi there and thanks for your post on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The best thing to do for a suspected urinary tract infection is to have Twinkles see her veterinarian for a urine test to confirm the infection and antibiotics. There are no home treatments or over the counter medications or supplements that can help treat a urinary tract infection. A supplement that can help prevent future urinary tract infections, however, is a cranberry extract supplement called Crananidin that you can purchase OTC at your local pet supplies store. Best of luck and thanks again for your question.

I'm so sorry Belle is having urinary tract infection problems. I have not used Might Petz Max Cranberry, but am unsure why it has cranberry seed oil instead of dried cranberry extract in it. There is evidence to suggest that dried cranberry extract is of benefit in preventing urinary tract infections caused from E. coli bacteria, but it does not seem to be because of the pH. Most often, the bacteria increase the pH of the urine and getting rid of the infection will decrease the pH back to normal. However, I do recommend urinary tract supplements for dogs with recurrent urinary tract infections, so I would ask your vet for a recommendation for a cranberry supplement. If they don't have a favorite supplement, I often recommend the following https://www.vetriscience.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=900505090 She is not too young to have such a supplement. Good luck with Belle! Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Taffy is predisposed to urinary problems / crystals, I would recommend considering a prescription diet such as Hills C/D or Royal Canin Urinary SO. I would also consider a cranberry supplement such as Paxon, which can be found online quite easily. Increasing water intake is also key. A recirculating water fountain and feeding a canned diet can help with this. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be happy to help you further!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Bella. You are absolutely correct, you need to make sure they are safe before giving them to her. Without knowing the type and brand of supplement, I can't say if they are safe to give to her or not. Speak to her vet about the supplements you want to give her, and they can advise you on the safety and efficacy of them. I hope this helps!

In dogs, recurrent urinary tract infections are often caused by persistent bacterial infections that can alter the pH of the urine. Sometimes the result of this can be the formation of urinary crystals, and ultimately larger urinary bladder stones. If Ashlynn hasn't had an x-ray ever, I would recommend getting at least one just to make sure nothing has formed or is in the process of forming. As to your question regarding prevention of future UTIs, it would depend upon what bacteria is the culprit in her previous infections (as this would likely be the culprit in future ones as well). There is some evidence both scientific and anecdotal that indicates that cranberry juice or cranberry supplements can help prevent certain strains of e. coli bacteria from sticking to the bladder's wall. There are many different supplements available, I do not have a preference as to one in particular. If the kidneys and bladder are producing / storing urine at an inappropriate pH, there are special diets that can be fed (both long term or short term) that chance the bladder's pH back to the appropriate level. To confirm if this is a problem, a urinalysis can be ran by your primary veterinarian. With regards to the HW and flea medications, it is unlikely that one of these predisposed her to a UTI. This is not a typical side effect of most medications in that class, and they are not known to lower the immune system enough to cause a secondary urinary tract infection. Hope this makes sense.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Buddy. Cosequin and Duralactin are typically safe supplements. It is unusual though for a male dog to have recurrent urinary tract infections. He should have a sterile urine sample submitted for a urine culture after finishing his most recent round of antibiotics. This will ensure the infection has actually resolved. X-rays of his belly are useful to look for bladder stones as these can predispose a dog to infections. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for using PetCoach. If Juna has a true urinary tract infection she may need antibiotics. It is ideal to have her see a vet for diagnosis and approriate treatment. Some UTI can result from or cause bladder stones as well. This supplement may have some benefit if she just has a mild irriatation to her urinary tract https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSLGAJF?tag=lazhnetw-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1 But if her signs continue she needs to see a vet. If she is current at a vet clinic, some clinics may allow you to drop off a urine sample for analysis without requiring an exam. I hope this helps.