Dog urinary tract infections are common among 14% of the dog population in the entire world. The culprits behind dog urinary problems are bacteria which have infiltrated the dog's body. Bacteria enter the dog's internal system through the food it eats and the water it drinks everyday.

In some instances, bacteria gain access to the dog's urinary system through its external urinary openings. This is most common in female dogs because they have shorter urethra than their male counterparts, making it easier for bacteria to penetrate.

There are several ways to tell if your dog is suffering from urinary tract infection. It is important that as a dog owner, you be alert and knowledgeable enough to know the telltale signs of urinary tract infection in your dog. Some symptoms may include blood in the dog's urine, a foul smell in the dog's urine, a change in its urinating pattern, and an abrupt change in its behavior. If you notice any of these symptoms, consult a veterinarian so your dog would immediately be given proper medication.

If you are hesitant to bring your dog to a veterinarian for financial or whatever reasons, you may use natural remedies to try to minimize your dog's infection or better yet, cure it. There is a very effective natural remedy for urinary tract infection in dogs.

How can your dog contract UTI?  Dog urinary tract infection could arise when any of these types of bacteria get into your dog's body and overcome its immune system: proteus mirabilis, escherichia coli, pseudomonas, coagulase positive straphylococcus, esterococcus, or klebsiella. These types of bacteria could get into your dog?s system through the food they eat and the water they drink everyday. Likewise, dogs can develop UTI through an instance called "ascending UTI", a condition which occurs when the bacteria had gained access into the dog's internal system through its external urinary openings.

Another way to tell if your dog is showing signs of dog urinary problems in their early stages is to observe your dog while taking it out for a walk. Any sign of irregularity, such as cringing in pain, may be a sign that your dog has urinary problems. Foul-smelling urine, blood in the urine, tender bladder, and a reduction of the amount of the dog?s urine are signs that you should bring your dog to the veterinarian immediately. If left untreated, your dog could suffer from a more severe case of infection and eventually die.

Although dogs are bound to suffer dog urinary problems in any given time of their life, it is still important that owners know how to at least minimize the possibilities of their dog contracting such a disease. Some of the ways to prevent this from happening are the following: giving the dog enough clean water to drink everyday, giving the dog a regular bath and shampoo, giving the dog proper nutrition and diet, bringing the dog to the vet regularly for check-up, and giving the dog citrus juices and vitamin C.

Other than the herbal methods mentioned above, another natural remedy for urinary tract infection in dogs is to give your dog ample amount of clean water to drink everyday. Water flushes out bacteria and prevents them from staying and causing further damage to the gall bladder. Also, give your dog a regular bath. This will prevent the bacteria from spreading into the dog's urethra and thus minimizes the spread of infection. Giving your dog dietary supplements which could boost its overall health and well-being is also a great way to help reduce the risk of spreading the infection. Dietary supplements rich in vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids could help improve your dog's immune system. Examples of these are apple cider vinegar and citrus juices such as lime juice and orange juice. Cider vinegar and citrus juices neutralize bacteria in the urine and in the process, prevent them from causing more harm.

Indeed, UTI is a rising health problem for dogs in our modern society. However, there are ways to prevent this condition from occurring in your dogs. One way is to give your dog enough water to drink everyday. Water helps to flush bacteria out of your dog's system. Another way is to bathe your dog regularly. Regular bathing helps to ward off bacteria from entering your dog's body. As the famous saying goes, "prevention is always better than cure".