What to Do About Your Dog's Weak Bladder Problems

When a perfectly housetrained dog begins to show clear signs of incontinence and lack of bladder control, it can be cause for worry for a pet owner. Dog's weak bladder problems can arise from a number of problems related to the bladder and urinary tract. A dog with weak bladder might just be showing natural signs of aging or suffering from urinary tract infections, they could also be suffering from some other disorder like diabetes or loss of sphincter muscle control.

The likelihood of the occurrence of dog's weak bladder control issues is usually slightly higher in female dogs than in male ones, and unless handled at an early stage, such problems need veterinary intervention. As a supplement to drugs, or as an alternative course of treatment, natural treatment options might be sought. However, if the problem is acute, it is best to visit a vet, and sometimes surgical intervention might be called for as well.

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Even if the dog with weak bladder is an outdoor dog, and messy indoors are not a problem as a result, it is still essential to notice and treat these dog weak bladder issues. In the long run, if untreated, this condition can lead to a number of complications like long term damage to the bladder or an inflammation of the kidneys.

As a general rule, dog's weak bladder problems are more common in females, especially spayed females, than in males. The condition usually begins within a year from spaying, when the dog loses control of the muscles surrounding the urethra and is unable to cut off the flow of urine. Statistically, older dogs are more likely than younger ones to develop this condition and medium to large breeds are more at risk than smaller ones.

The symptoms associated with dog's weak bladder problems can include accidental urination indoors, dribbling, or urination at night. When the symptoms set in, the dog should be taken to see the vet as soon as possible. Remember that the loss of control over bladder function might be the tip of the iceberg, an indication of other serious health problems such as diabetes or kidney failure.

Veterinary treatment of dog's weak bladder problems includes a number of medications, such as estrogen for female dogs and testosterone for males, along with agonists like sympathicomimetics or estriol. However, the medications would have to be administered often for the entire life of the dog. One of the other options is to consider a natural or homeopathic remedy. These remedies are formulated not just to provide temporary pain relief to your pet, but also to support more conventional treatments, and strengthen your pet.

What to Do About Your Dog's Weak Bladder Problems

Puneet Aggarwal has been researching pet health for many years now, looking for healthy, natural alternatives to conventional medications. To find out more about safe treatments for urinary tract infection in pets, visit his site: pet-urinary-health.com

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Dog Bladder Problems - Information You Can Use to Help Your Dog

Dog bladder problems can obviously be painful to the dog in question, but they can also be disturbing to dog owners. Dog bladder control issues often involve things like inappropriate urination or incontinence, and as an owner, you can quickly become frustrated. You should know, though, that any change in your dog's urination habits can signal a medical problem that needs addressing. Before getting mad at your dog, consider a visit to the vet, since the problem can have multiple causes, most of which are not the fault of your dog.

Symptoms of Dog Bladder Problems and Poor Dog Bladder Control

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Symptoms of dog bladder problems include increased frequency of urination, inappropriate urination (your housebroken dog may suddenly begin having "accidents" in the house), blood in the urine, painful urination, and leaking or dribbling urine, either constantly or intermittently. Dog bladder control may seem poor.  You may notice a bad odor that is due to urine getting into your dog's coat.

If your dog seems unable to urinate at all, this is a sign of a very serious problem and you need to take him to the vet immediately to avoid severe illness.

There may be other signs that your dog is unwell, such as loss of appetite, sleeping more than usual, and depression.

Diagnosing Dog Bladder Problems

To diagnose dog bladder problems, you vet will need to perform a thorough physical examination of your dog. He or she will look for other symptoms in addition to problems with urination that can give a clue as to the root cause of the problem.

Your vet will also take a thorough history from you. The vet will want to know how much water your dog is drinking, how frequently your dog is urinating, and about any other signs of illness you may have noticed. Tests needed include a urinalysis to check for infection, x-rays to look for bladder stones or other problems in the urinary system, and maybe some blood tests.

Treating Dog Bladder Problems

Bladder infections are common problems in dogs, especially in females (that's because the urethra - the tube that leads from the bladder to the outside - is shorter in females than in males). Bladder infections can cause increased frequency of urination and sudden, strong urges to urinate, which may cause housebroken dogs to have "accidents" in the house. Infection causes the urinary system to become inflamed, narrowing the urinary passages.  This constricts or makes it difficult for the urine to flow correctly.  These infections are easily treated with antibiotics and prevented with a natural supplement.

Female dogs also suffer from USMI, where the muscle that shuts off the flow of urine through the urethra cannot completely close.  It happens after spaying and is believed to be a function of reduced estrogen production.  Medications can be given to your dog to compensate and correct the condition.

Bladder stones are another common problem causing dog bladder control issues. The can also result from infection, since stones can accumulate when the urine isn't flowing normally.  Stones can cause bladder infections, and they can also block the opening to the urethra. If the opening to the urethra is partially blocked, some urine may leak around the blockage and the dog may dribble urine. If the opening is totally blocked, the dog is unable to urinate at all, and this is a very dangerous condition. Bladder stones can sometimes be treated with medication, but most often surgery is needed to remove the stones.  Some stones (struvite) can be dissolved by changing to a Prescription Diet.  This type of diet may also prevent the future formation of stones.

Dog bladder control often diminishes with age, so older dogs are more likely to have problems like incontinence. This is because the muscles of the urinary sphincter may weaken. This condition can often, but not always, be treated with medication. If medication is not successful at treating the condition, "doggy diapers" may be an option to avoid messes around the house.

Dog Bladder Problems - Information You Can Use to Help Your Dog

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Dog Health Guide and has written on many canine health problems. See this site for more information on treatment options for dog bladder problems.

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Special Dog Food For Bladder Stones Will Quickly Get Your Dog Back on the Road to Health

Most pet owners aren't aware that dog food for bladder stones can be quite effective as long as you know how to select the best possible kibble. In this article, you'll learn what to look for and how following three simple steps (one of which is a healthy diet) can help prevent bladder crystals and infections and boost your dog's immunity as part of the process.

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The reason that special dog food for dogs with bladder stones is important is that the ingredients in most commercial brands can alter the pH of the bladder, encouraging the formation of bladder crystals and urinary tract infections. What most pet owners do not realize is that the kibble that they buy in grocery stores is nothing more than junk food for dogs. It does not provide good nutrition and can set the stage for infection, disease and even cancer.

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This junk food kibble contains pesticides, additives and other chemicals as well as fillers that provide no nutrients and byproducts instead of the meat that dogs need. When considering what to feed your pet, remember that food is our medicine and our first line of defense against disease. The same holds true for our pets, which is why you should feed your dog food for bladder stones that is organic and has been specifically formulated with lean meat and nutrients.

Of course this food is more expensive, but it is well worth the cost. First of all, your dog will eat less because the nutrient-dense food will make him feel full faster and more satisfied. Second of all, your vet bills will be lower because your dog will not have diseases and infections caused by poor nutrition. Third, the biggest benefit of all is that your dog will live a longer and happier life.

Read the list of ingredients when selecting organic kibble. You should see real meat, healthy oils, whole grains and vegetables listed. There should be no chemicals or long words that you cannot pronounce.

Although special dog food is important, it is also essential to give your dog a supplement that has been formulated to dissolve bladder crystals. While finding the right supplement may take a little bit of research, it is worth it because these supplements will accelerate the effects of good food and eliminate bladder crystals while healing the bladder and soothing inflamed and painful tissues. Look for a supplement that contains proven herbs like Cantharis and Uva Ursi. This is the best combination of herbs that when given along with special dog food for bladder stones will help your dog to recover much more quickly without any of the side effects caused by prescription drugs. For dogs that are prone to urinary problems, these supplements are gentle enough to use every day. They also prevent urinary tract infections.

In addition to providing special dog food for dogs with bladder stones and a good supplement, be sure to give your dog lots of fresh, filtered water. Water keeps your dog hydrated and flushes toxins from the bladder and kidneys. Also make sure your dog gets daily exercise and lots of love and attention from the person he loves most: you!

Special Dog Food For Bladder Stones Will Quickly Get Your Dog Back on the Road to Health

Laura Ramirez is a passionate researcher of natural remedies which heal disorders and keep pets vibrant and healthy. Find out more about safe, effective ways to maintain your pet's urinary tract health at http://www.pet-ut-health.com.

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Natural Home Remedies For Dog Bladder Infections

A bladder infection whether occurring in us or our pets is not a pleasant ordeal! The frequent pressure and horrible tugging sensation that you must "go" and nothing or very little coming out is not something anyone wants to go through, especially our pets who just don't understand the pain.

Unfortunately, once a bladder infection has taken hold on our pets, they are likely to keep getting them. There might be something in their diet that is causing the ph balance to get out of whack in which bacteria can take hold more easily, or perhaps a abnormality in their urinary tract is causing the infections.

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What can you do? There are quite a few things you can do to prevent another infection that are quite simple. If your dog is not eating, not urinating or has blood in the urine you need to take him to the veterinarian as anytime blood is present, it should be checked out. If it is an infection, antibiotics are the first medicine prescribed.

If your dog is getting recurrent infections you must make sure he is receiving a healthy diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals, clean water and opportunity to go to the toilet often (this will flush out bacteria). He must have ample exercise on a daily basis in order for to be the healthiest he can be; in turn this can help to prevent future infections. Good plant based home remedies for dog bladder infection can help. Natural remedies help reduce inflammation, boost his immune system to fight off bacteria (the usual cause of bladder infections) causing his body to heal and feel better, and in general, helping overall health.

Natural Home Remedies For Dog Bladder Infections

Discover natural home remedies for dog bladder infection. I have researched the best homeopathic remedies which can prevent and keep your dog or cat healthy.

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