Pawsitive Wellness Center
  • Home
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Pet Energy Healing
    • Pet Healing
    • Animal Communication
    • Music >
      • Free Music download page minute music file
    • Essential Oils
    • Behavior Modification
    • Dog Training
    • Pet Transition
  • Health
    • Recipes
    • Pet Safety
    • Energy Healing Videos
    • Nutrition Videos
    • Vaccination Videos
    • Deworming
    • Spay & Neuter Information
  • Product
    • Product Store Weebly
    • Music
    • Essential Oil Products
  • Events
    • Classes & Events
  • About PWC
    • Mission Statement
    • Contact PWC
    • About Mary
    • Mary's Background
    • Testimonials
  • Product

How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections

9/17/2016

0 Comments

 
My holistic vet used this extract with my 8 week old puppy 5 years ago to stabilize the urinary track and it worked great.  Of course the Raw Diet is also a plus in preventing so many other health problems in our pets.  This is just another reason to feed our pets a raw species appropriate diet. I am a firm believer in feeding a raw diet.
​By Dr. Becker
Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) are fairly common in dogs, and similar to humans, females are more often affected. E. coli bacteria is responsible for about half of all canine UTIs.
The development of a urinary tract infection is the result of a change in a dog’s immune defenses that allows pathogenic bacteria to proliferate. This can be the result of a disease process, the dog’s individual anatomy, the use of catheters, and certain drugs.
For example, dogs with diabetes or Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism), dogs who are treated repeatedly with steroids (e.g., prednisone), and hospitalized dogs who are catheterized have more E. coli-related bacterial UTIs than other dogs.
Unfortunately, adding antibiotics to the mix can further increase the risk, as does the increasing age of the dog.
Risks Associated With Chronic Urinary Tract InfectionsUrinary tract infections are treated with antibiotics. For treatment to be successful, it’s important that the appropriate drug is selected (which requires a culture and sensitivity test), and the length of therapy is adequate.
There are many side effects of antibiotic use, including gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms that can lead to the dog’s owner not giving the drug as prescribed, the dog refusing the drug, and/or decreased absorption leading to inadequate levels of antibiotic in the blood or urine.
These issues can interfere with the elimination of the bacteria that is causing the UTI, and can also contribute to antibiotic resistance. When a dog has recurring UTIs, it can be the result of a too-short course of antibiotic therapy, or the inability of the drug to reach the location of the bacteria.
Sometimes, relapses occur very quickly after a course of antibiotics is finished; other times, the infection reappears after some time has passed, in which case it can be mistaken for a new infection.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem in both human and veterinary medicine. A 2008 study revealed that bacterial resistance is highest in dogs with recurrent E. coli-related urinary tract infections.1
An earlier study identified E. coli bacteria in two dogs that proved resistant to 12 different antibiotics over the span of two weeks.2
Study Shows Cranberry Extract May Prevent UTIsRecently, a team of researchers from the College of Veterinary Medicine at National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan conducted a study to determine the effects of cranberry extract on the development of urinary tract infections in dogs.3
They also wanted to measure the adherence of E. coli bacteria to canine kidney cells.
The team studied 12 pet dogs in one experiment, and six additional dogs in a second experiment. In the first experiment, the 12 dogs all had a history of recurrent UTIs (at least three infections in the previous year).
Six of the 12 received an antibiotic for two weeks, while the remaining dogs received cranberry extract for six months. Over the course of the six-month study, none of the 12 dogs developed a UTI.
In the second experiment, six dogs received cranberry extract for 60 days. In urine samples taken at 30 and 60 days, E. coli adhesion to kidney cells was significantly reduced compared to samples taken before the dogs began the extract. The researchers concluded that:
“Oral administration of cranberry extract prevented development of a UTI and prevented E. coli adherence to MDCK [canine kidney] cells, which may indicate it has benefit for preventing UTIs in dogs.”4
Translation: Cranberry extract appears to be as or more effective in preventing E. coli-related urinary tract infections in dogs as short-term antimicrobial treatment — without the side effects. In addition, cranberry extract can help fight multi-drug resistant bacteria in dogs with recurrent E. coli UTIs.
I recommend choosing an organic cranberry extract with D-mannose, which is a simple sugar closely related to glucose that occurs naturally in cranberries, peaches, apples, other berries and some plants.
D-mannose is fully absorbed (but does not prompt an insulin release or rock blood glucose levels, so there’s no negative systemic side effects) and quickly travels to the kidneys, then the bladder, and is excreted in urine.
D-mannose goes to work in your dog’s bladder, where it adheres to E. coli lectins. Almost all the D-mannose winds up in urine, which in turn coats the E. coli bacteria so it can’t stick to the walls of the bladder, and is rinsed out of the body when your dog urinates.
Symptoms of a Urinary Tract InfectionSome signs your dog may have a urinary tract infection include:
Suddenly urinating in the house
Constant licking of urinary openings

Visible blood in the urine; dark or cloudy urine
Loss of bladder control; urine dribbling

Inability to pass urine; passing very little urine
Vomiting, lethargy and lack of appetite

Straining to urinate; crying out in pain
Drinking more water than usual
These are all signals that may indicate a potentially serious issue with your dog's urinary tract or bladder. It's important to get your canine companion, along with a urine sample, to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
A urinalysis will provide valuable information about why your dog is having urinary problems. In addition to providing information about the presence of blood, protein, glucose, ketones and bilirubin, a urinalysis will also determine how well your dog can concentrate his urine, which is an indicator of kidney health.
The urinalysis will also detect white blood cells, which means there is inflammation or infection, and a urine culture and sensitivity can determine if bacteria is present, and what type, to help devise a treatment plan. If an infection is present, medication will be needed to treat the problem.
However, sometimes pets experience inflammation or crystals without any infection present. In this latter case, a different set of medications may initially be needed, but ultimately, in both situations, this is often a sign that it may be time to change your dog’s diet (more about that shortly).

The Importance of Urine pH in Urinary Tract Health

Dogs are carnivores and should have a slightly acidic urine pH of between 6 and 6.5. (The higher the urine pH, the more alkaline it is.) Vegetarian mammals like rabbits and horses naturally have a very alkaline urine pH (above 8.0). Human urine is slightly more alkaline (between 6.5 and 7), and many pet owners wrongly assume their dog’s body functions in the same manner as their own.
It’s important to keep your healthy dog’s urine pH slightly acidic (below 7), because urine maintains its natural defenses when kept in the appropriate 6 to 6.5 range. When the pH creeps up toward the alkaline side, the urine loses its natural defenses and creates a more hospitable environment for bacterial growth and the development of struvite crystals.
The flip side of the coin is a urine pH below 6, which can cause your dog to develop a different type of problem -- calcium oxalate stones. If your dog has had one or more infections or other problems with the urinary tract, I recommend buying pH strips from your veterinarian or at the local drug store, to check her urine pH at home so you know when it’s in or outside the desired range.
You should collect urine samples in the morning before you feed your dog. You can either hold the pH tape in the stream of urine while your dog is voiding, or you can catch a urine sample in a container and dip the tape into the sample to check the pH. This should be done immediately with a fresh sample to insure accuracy.

The Right Diet for a Healthy Urinary Tract

​
In my experience, poor or improper diet is the culprit in the vast majority of cases of dogs with chronic urinary tract problems. A prescription diet, which many conventional veterinarians recommend, typically combines high-carb foods with medications to lower your dog’s urine pH. This is never my approach. Instead, I transition dogs to a diet that does not contain pro-inflammatory alkalizing carbohydrates.
When we feed carnivores a cereal-based diet, their urine becomes alkaline as a result. Meat-based diets are naturally acidic, whereas alkalizing starch-based diets are frequently the cause of chronic UTIs, because lack of acidity removes the antimicrobial activity in urine.
Alkaline urine can also create cystitis (irritation of the lining of the bladder), crystals, and even uroliths, or stones, that require surgery.

Often, a dog’s urine pH can be maintained naturally between 6 and 6.5 by feeding a species-appropriate diet. To reduce urine pH, you must feed a low-carb, starch-free, potato/tapioca/lentil-free (so no “grain free” dry foods), and preferably fresh or at least canned food diet for the increased moisture content.

There are products on the market to reduce urine pH that contain the acidifying amino acid DL-methionine. This is a safe addition to your dog’s diet, but a more logical approach is to simply stop feeding grains and alkalizing foods.
new blog posts on developing site www.pawsitivewellnesscenter.com
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Blog Creator

    Mary DeRoche
    My love for animals is why I created Pawsitive Wellness Center.  My mission is to help keep our beloved pets healthy, and stress free so I am continually researching new information to do just that.  I post information on what I discover along with who wrote it to keep you informed. The PWC blog is here to inform you on how to keep your pets balanced, happy & healthy.
      
    © 2017 Pawsitive Wellness Center.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    June 2022
    March 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    Categories​

    All
    Allergies
    Behavioral Issues
    Cancer
    Cats
    Dogs
    Energy Healing
    Essential Oils
    First Aid
    Fleas
    Heartworm
    Human Health
    Nutrition
    Parasites
    Pet Age
    Pet Fear & Anxiety
    Pet Food & Nutrition
    Pet Health
    Pet Safety
    Poisons
    Skin Issues
    Spay & Neuter
    Ticks
    Training
    Vaccinations
    Yeast Infection

DISCLAIMER: I, Mary DeRoche, am not a veterinarian and do not practice medicine.  I do not diagnose, cure, heal, treat disease or otherwise prescribe medication.  I assist people in working with their animals in correcting energetic imbalances in their pet’s bio-field that assists the body to release its innate healing ability.  When the energy of the body is balanced and moving correctly, the body’s innate natural energy heals itself.  All healing is self-healing.  Animals are affected by their environment so I also include the pet owners in my work.  Animals do pick up energy from their owners.   I only recommend the use of therapeutic grade essential oils for your pets because therapeutic grade  essential oils have been tested to guarantee that they are free of synthetics, additives, toxins and any other impurities, which can result in side effects and/or inconsistent results. Essential oils and supplements are recommendations to help boost the pet’s immune system.
I recommend that clients continue to see their pet’s regular veterinarian and follow their advice and my work is a complement to regular allopathic medicine.  My spiritual energy work is not a substitute for conventional medical diagnosis or treatment for any medical or psychological condition.  For such issues, you should seek the proper licensed veterinarian.  I am a Healing Touch for Animals Practitioner and a Subtle Energy Practitioner and my work is spiritually and energetically based and I believe all healing is spiritual in nature. I do not make any promises, warranties or guarantees about results of my work, or of the energy sessions.  The energy sessions help many animals but like any energy work  it might not work for everyone.  The use of essential oils, herbs and supplements is to assist the pet with balancing chakra centers for proper energy flow or chi.

© 2013~2023 Pawsitive Wellness Center  All Rights Reserved.
​
  • Home
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Pet Energy Healing
    • Pet Healing
    • Animal Communication
    • Music >
      • Free Music download page minute music file
    • Essential Oils
    • Behavior Modification
    • Dog Training
    • Pet Transition
  • Health
    • Recipes
    • Pet Safety
    • Energy Healing Videos
    • Nutrition Videos
    • Vaccination Videos
    • Deworming
    • Spay & Neuter Information
  • Product
    • Product Store Weebly
    • Music
    • Essential Oil Products
  • Events
    • Classes & Events
  • About PWC
    • Mission Statement
    • Contact PWC
    • About Mary
    • Mary's Background
    • Testimonials
  • Product