You can’t protect your dog from everything. Even with regular exercise and a proper diet, your dog may run into some health complications along the way.
And for many dogs, one condition that a lot of them struggle with is UTI. Urinary Tract Infections are a common occurrence in dogs since it’s fairly easy for bacteria to enter their urinary tract, which can cause pain and other complications.
Since we want to make our dogs’ lives as happy and comfortable as possible, seeing them in pain caused by UTI is very troubling. So, you may be wondering if your dog can eat cranberries to aid with the symptoms.
After all, there are numerous articles and guides online that state that cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities when they have a UTI.
Keep reading to learn how cranberries are actually effective for dogs with UTI, and what kind of cranberry products you can give your dog to aid with their symptoms.
Can Cranberries Help My Dog With UTI?
In the dog community, cranberry juice and cranberries are common home treatment for dogs with UTI. In fact, the reason many dog owners started introducing cranberries to their dog’s diet is to aid with these infections and alleviate the symptoms. So, if your dog is struggling with UTI, you can give them natural cranberries or cranberry juice to aid with their symptoms.
The reason this works is that cranberries, particular cranberry juice, is a natural diuretic. That means it can raise the acidity levels in your dog’s urine. This makes it harder for bacteria to thrive in their urinary tract, which can reduce the pain and discomfort that comes with a UTI.
On top of that, since the higher acidity can significantly lessen the bacteria in the urinary tract, you can even eliminate the infection altogether.
With that said, we always recommend following your vet’s recommendations. If your vet prescribed medicine for your dog with UTI, then make sure to follow their instructions. Then, you can use cranberries as a supplemental treatment after getting your vet’s go-signal.
What Causes UTI In Dogs?
UTI stands for urinary tract infection. Like all infections, this is caused when bacteria enters a certain area., and in this case, it’s the urinary tract. Bacteria will usually enter your dog’s urinary tract through the urethra, which can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.
That’s why it’s always recommended to practice proper hygiene with your pet. That way, you can lessen the risk of them developing a UTI and having to go through all the discomfort that comes along with UTI.
What Cranberry Products Can I Feed My Dog With UTI?
So, now that you know that cranberries have properties that can help with your dog’s UTI symptoms, you may be wondering how to feed them to your dog. The common rule of thumb in the community is to always feed your dog natural food.
That means you want to stay away from commercially processed cranberry products. Instead, you can feed them cranberry products like;
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is a natural diuretic. That means it can be a huge help to dogs struggling with UTI. So, if you want to aid with your dog’s symptoms and make things more comfortable for them, you can consider letting them drink a little bit of cranberry juice.
When doing this, make sure there’s no added sugar or other ingredients, as this can be toxic for your dog. Additionally, this is not a substitute for water and you should never feed your dog too much cranberry juice.
Natural Cranberries
If your dog isn’t a fan of cranberry juice, then you can feed them simple cranberries instead. You can give your dog a couple a day as a treat or mix some in with their regular dog food. But just like cranberry juice, cranberries have a high level of sugar. So, to keep your dog healthy and safe, don’t feed them too many cranberries as that can result in a range of other complications.
How Many Cranberries Can a Dog Eat?
Ideally, you don’t want to give your dog too many cranberries. While they are high in antioxidants and vitamins, cranberries are also high in sugar. So, if your dog eats too much, it can develop problems such as obesity and diabetes.
Too much of anything can be bad for your pet. So, even if you want them to have an easier time with their UTI, remember that moderation is key.
Conclusion
Urinary Tract Infections can be hard on your pet. Not only does this cause a lot of pain and discomfort, but it can also lead to other problems down the line. And if you want to help your dog with the symptoms, you can try feeding them cranberries or cranberry juice.
With that said, this is not a substitute for your doctor’s recommendation. Additionally, moderation is key when feeding your dog cranberries. So, before giving them to your dog, ask your vet whether or not it’s safe for your pet and how big of a dose they need.
