Thursday, January 8, 2009

Canine Urinary Infections And What Your Dog Wants You To Know

It's unbelievable, but some dog owners don't worry much about canine urinary tract infections.  All you need to do is give your dog an antibiotic for a couple of weeks, and the problem's solved, right?

Wrong.It can be difficult to tell whether or not a dog even has canine cystitis.

Does My Dog Have A Canine Urinary Tract Infection?

As smart as dogs are, they can't talk and tell us what their problem is.Their behavior is the only way they have to communicate with us.  If your dog has canine cystitis, she'll try to tell you by her actions.

If you've ever had a bladder infection, you know that the main symptom is pain and burning when you urinate.If your dog is showing restless behavior, like whining and pacing around the house, she's telling you she may have a problem.  She may want to go out again right away, even though she just came in.

Worse, she may urinate on the floor, your bed, or in other inappropriate areas.  Many dog owners mistakenly think this is a behavior problem.  Before you start looking for a dog trainer, rule out bladder infections in dogs first.

Tests Your Vet Should Do To Diagnose Canine Cystitis

A canine urinary tract infection is diagnosed with a urinalysis, a dog urine culture, and a sensitivity test. 

A urinalysis should be done to see if bacteria or stones are present in your dog's urine.  If bacteria are found, a urine culture needs to be done to find out exactly which bacteria they are.  The sensitivity test will tell your vet the correct antibiotic to use.

The problem arises because urine culturing and sensitivity testing increases your vet bill by $25 to $100.  Some dog owners can't afford the extra money, and others just won't pay for it even it they can afford it. 

So what happens?  Your vet ends up prescribing an antibiotic that may or may not kill the bacteria causing your dog's bladder infection.

Why Using The Wrong Antibiotic Is A Bad Idea

First, treating a dog with the wrong antibiotic uses valuable time and wastes money.  Giving a dog an expensive antibiotic for two or three weeks is no picnic, so you don't want to waste time with the wrong drug.

Secondly, if you skip the sensitivity test, you may be treating your dog with a drug that won't kill the bacteria causing the infection.  This can lead to a life-threatening bacterial infection that's very hard to treat. 

An even more important reason to use the right drug is the problem of antibiotic resistance.

Can Natural Remedies For Pets Prevent Bladder Infection In Dogs

Wouldn't it be great if there was a safe, effective, natural remedy you could give your buddy every day to prevent bladder problems in dogs?  Well, you'll be happy to know that there is.  This remedy is manufactured specifically for pets, not humans, which is very important.  And it's made by a company with a great reputation for producing the highest-quality products for pets. 

Now that you have this information, you can use natural remedies for pets to protect your dog from the pain and stress of canine urinary tract infections.

Darlene Norris has combined her long-time interest in natural healing with her experience working at a vet clinic to bring you her new website, Natural Pet Urinary Health. Here you can discover how herbal and homeopathic remedies can help prevent and treat painful canine urinary tract infections.  Find the best place to buy these remedies at http://naturalpeturinaryhealth.com

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