Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Dog

[Linda Sherman]

Tammy asked: I'm wondering what I might be able to do for my almost 16-year-old Lhasa Apso dog. He is being treated for a urinary tract infection but is not responding to antibiotics well. I'd like to treat the infection and also try to keep him calm. He's blind, and when he is ill he gets very confused and nervous. My poor little friend! I have Lavender, Peppermint, Oregano, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, and other blends like Pain X and Muscle Relax. Advice? Thanks in advance!

Linda wrote: There is some basic information about using essential oils with dogs on this Forum. Type "dog" into the search field.

I didn't find anything about UTI with a dog in Shelton's book, but she does have this information about kidney function. For UTI information in general, you may want to follow this link and adapt the information for the dog: UTI Health Issue

Kidney Function
From the Animal Desk Reference by Melissa Shelton DVM (p. 428)
Citrus Blessing in drinking water (you can use any citrus oil in my opinion)

Apply over the kidney area:
Juniperberry
Helichrysum (or the Blend)

Oral: Helichrysum (Blend)

Single oils:
Grapefruit
Helichrysum (Blend)
Juniperberry
Ledum
Lemongrass
Tusga Spruce

Blends:
Citrus Blessing
Liver/Gallbladder
Rejuvenate
HEO has a Kidney/Bladder blend that might be helpful.

Tammy wrote a week later: I made up a blend of Lavender and Helichrysum Blend in coconut oil and have been rubbing it on my dog's tummy. He is doing so much better! His appetite and attitude have returned, he's staying awake more during the day and sleeping better at night. He's almost back to his old self! Thanks all for the advice!

Crystal wrote: What we have done with our dogs when they had an UTI, was mix powdered cranberry in with plain yogurt/keifer which seemed to help. Some cranberry pills come in gelatin capsules, they are most ideal to mix into plain yogurt/keifer. Just break open the capsule and pour the powder into the plain yogurt/keifer. If you can only find capsules, then just crush them and mix them into plain yogurt/keifer. Plain is key, so that you are not giving the dog any sugar that would feed the infection. Our dogs never had any problem consuming this concoction, they thought they were getting something special :-) 

At the time we were not aware of the vast uses of essential oils, so we used a product we picked up at our local health food store called oil of oregano which is not as strong/"hot" as the essential oil of oregano. I'm trying to remember if we put it in water or food, probably food. We would probably use the eo now, or even try one of the other ones in the search engine on HEO website that is good for an UTI (kidney/bladder & cedar seemed to help my mom). Regardless, it would need to be diluted greatly with another oil (with a dog I would probably use olive oil). If your dog will take a capsule you could try putting it diluted in an empty capsule and give it to him. If not, try putting a drop, of the diluted oil on a small piece of bread/in his food. If the case is severe you might want to administer the diluted eo every two hours (waking).

If you are trying to decide dosages, go by the weight of the dog and look at a children's chart.

To help calm him you might want to rub a drop of lavender on his head and speak words of comfort to him as you do this.

Hope this is helpful!

In Christ,

Crystal