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Our dog has had a mess of illness problems over the past year, culminating in around $2500 in bills. First a staff infection, pancreatitis, anal gland infections, and then two UI's. It seems the staff infection and anal glands were allergy driven and the pancreatitis was because my sister-in-law decided to give our dog a "thanksgiving meal" without telling us. The UI's came out of nowhere however, but we think it might be an issue of summertime heat and our dog not drinking much water.
She's now beaten the second UI. We used antibiotics on the first one, she got better, but then it came back relatively quickly (a week or so). Did the same antibiotics for the second one (we had extra on had, from previous anal gland infection that weren't needed) so I gave them to her using the same schedule and length of time but combined it with a cranberry vitamin pill, half in the morning half at night, as well as a vitamin C pill (also half/half). Also "forced" her to drink water after every walk.
It's now been 3 months and no more UI! Yay! Now my question is, long term, are there problems with giving a cranberry and vitamin C vitamin to our 60# dog? I can't find any reference as far as general guidelines for amount (ie g's/pound). Now we just give her 1 cranberry pill after she eats either in the morning or night time when we can remember. My wife has a problem with UI's and drinks cranberry juice which keeps them away, but I'm concerned about possible side effects in our dog.
Here's what I found on the ASPCA's poison control website. It basically says that they don't think it's toxic, but it's always best to discuss these things with your vet first. Is your vet open to supplementing with not so traditional approaches?
I agree you should talk to your vet about it, I did and mine thought it would be just fine. I have her on Solid Gold Berry Balance powder. It has cranberry and blueberry along with vitamine C. I just sprinkle a tsp full on her food. She's been on it for about a year now.
I don't give my dog vitamins...I give him the Missing Link, it's all natural and you give it to them everyday according to their weight. I wouldn't give him anything with out first checking it out with my vet, and also, finding out exactly how much to give him.
I agree you should talk to your vet about it, I did and mine thought it would be just fine. I have her on Solid Gold Berry Balance powder. It has cranberry and blueberry along with vitamine C. I just sprinkle a tsp full on her food. She's been on it for about a year now.
Interesting, I'm going to look at the recommended dosage levels of that product.
I had heard you can monitor their PH levels in their urine which would give you an indication of how much to use.
As far as asking our vet, certainly ours won't have a clue and would discourage it. They wanted to remove our dogs anal glands until we insisted they infuse them with antibiotics. They also prescribed Hills anti-allergy food ($70/bag for 25(?) pounds) that has to be the worst food ever made.
Unfortunately like most things in life we are relying on our own research more and more.
Would it be possible to find a vet who is more aligned with your viewpoint? Different vets have different opinions on this sort of thing, but there is a reason they go through all that schooling...
I don't give my dog vitamins...I give him the Missing Link, it's all natural and you give it to them everyday according to their weight. I wouldn't give him anything with out first checking it out with my vet, and also, finding out exactly how much to give him.
Would it be possible to find a vet who is more aligned with your viewpoint? Different vets have different opinions on this sort of thing, but there is a reason they go through all that schooling...
Yeah, we are searching for a holistic vet. My issue with them however is it seems the info they have is typically what you can find online as well.
Some quick research online shows that vitamin C has the same effect as acidifying the urine, however IMO might be safer to use as it's a completely benign form of supplement with practically zero side effects (in moderation). Also dogs produce it naturally.
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