Did you know that puppy bladder infections are very common? It’s easy to miss a puppy urinary tract infection, simply because puppies do tend to piddle a lot. But if you’re having trouble housetraining your puppy, and she can’t seem to hold her urine for more than a few minutes, you should investigate this possibility further.
Symptoms Of Bladder Infections In Puppies
We all know our dogs are super-smart, but even the smartest pup can’t talk to you and tell you what’s bothering her. It’s up to us as responsible dog owners to keep our eyes open for the symptoms of canine urinary tract infections:
- Bloody urine
- Urine that smells really bad
- Straining while urinating
- No energy; just lays around a lot
- Lower abdomen is tender to the touch
- Urinating all over the house
This last symptom is the one you’ll want to watch for with a puppy.
What Can Cause A Puppy Urinary Tract Infection?
There are several reasons why your little buddy develops a puppy bladder infection. Female dogs are more prone to this problem because their urethras are shorter and broader than a male dog’s urethra. It’s easier for bacteria to get into her bladder and cause a canine bladder infection.
It’s also important that your puppy is drinking enough water. A young dog whose urine is too concentrated may be at risk for a puppy urinary tract infection.
Your puppy will mature surprisingly quickly. When she goes through puberty, her hormone balance will be disrupted. When this happens, her body’s ph balance changes. Just like in humans, this can make her more prone to a canine urinary tract infection. You can avoid this whole scenario by having her spayed before her first heat.
We all want to save money, but cutting corners on your puppy’s diet isn’t the way to do it. Making the investment in the highest-quality dog food possible will pay itself back many times by avoiding health problems and high vet bills later on in your dog’s life.
A good quality canned food is probably the best, but if you feed dry dog food, look for one that has lots of meat or chicken in it. Avoid dry dog food that’s mostly grain. Grain-based dog food changes the urine ph, which can lead to recurring urinary tract infection in dogs.
Natural Remedies For Pets With Puppy Bladder Infections
There are many natural ways to treat bladder infections in puppies. You can try giving her 1000 mg of vitamin C every day for a couple of days. Drinking lots of water is essential for her. Adding a broth with salt in it to her food will make her thirsty and encourage her to drink more water and flush her system.
Herbs and homeopathic remedies have been used to treat human bladder infections for many years. You’ll be happy to know that there is now a safe, effective herbal pet remedy that you can give your puppy every day to support bladder health and prevent bladder infections in dogs. If your young dog is already having problems with puppy bladder infections, click any link in this article to see how this remedy can help.