UTI infections

[DonMarie and Picco]

A friend of mine has a sweet yellow lab that frequently has urinary tract infections.  We were discussing cranberry pills since it works for humans.  When I Google it I'm finding some sites it is okay but also finding that in larger dosages (who know what that is) that cranberries can be toxic to dogs.  These aren't necessarily referring to the pills but dried or fresh fruit.  I can't imagine a dog eating the fruit or juice, that's why we thought of the pills! 

So anyway I figured I'd pose this question here.  Does anyone know or can clarify if cranberry pills can be helpful or harmful to dogs and can actually help UTIs?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I gave Calla cranberry pills years ago when she had a UTI. I am sure you can find information about the pills per se for dogs. I also used to give the dogs craisins before I switched to a less sticky treat.

[DonMarie and Picco]

Did they eat the craisins straight or did you mix them with something?  Just curious, I couldn't imagine them liking the taste. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Straight and the loved them.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think the sites you found that say that dried cranberries are toxic to dogs are not giving reliable information. Dried cranberries are fine for dogs, and many of us give them to our dogs, usually mixed with yogurt for a nice dessert. (Fresh cranberries are not toxic to dogs either, but they aren't really edible, lol.) Lots of high quality treats for dogs contain cranberries, too. Raisins and grapes are toxic to dogs, so maybe someone interpreted that to mean that all dried fruit is, but that's flat out wrong. If you have reliable information to the contrary, I'd be interested to see it. 

I think your friend should try the cranberry supplements that are made specifically for dogs. Nutramax is a reliable company, and chewy.com carries them at a good price.  https://www.chewy.com/nutramax-crananidin-chewable-tablets/dp/10897...

[DonMarie and Picco]

Thanks, I never thought to look if there were any dog products. For me I usually go straight to the original source - no unnecessary ingredients.

This is the site that got me concerned.  It is the AKC which really doesn't mean it's reliable ;-)   http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/can-dogs-eat-cranberries/

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There's nothing there that says that cranberries are toxic to dogs, lol. In fact, the opposite. 

From the AKC article:

"Cranberries are not toxic for dogs. When fed in moderation, they are generally safe and may even have some health benefits."

Here they again say that cranberries are safe, but warn about grapes and raisins, and about giving too many cranberries, or cranberries mixed with other ingredients:

"Both cranberries and dried cranberries are safe to feed to dogs in small quantities. Whether your dog will like this tart treat is another question. Either way, moderation is important when feeding cranberries to dogs, as with any treat, as too many cranberries can lead to an upset stomach. Dried cranberries sometimes come mixed with other dried fruits, like raisins. Raisins are very toxic to dogs, and even a few can cause problems for small dog breeds. Prepared cranberry dishes and juices are also risky. Juices that contain grape juice are potentially dangerous, as are cranberry dishes that contain large amounts of sugar, alcohol, or other ingredients."

[DonMarie and Picco]

I should know better than to read anything first thing in the morning before my coffee!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Regarding supplements made especially for dogs versus those made for humans, sometimes the dosages are different. In many cases, the human supplements are fine, but I think if you aren't sure, going with the products made for dogs is generally safer. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks for posting this timely discussion.  I have someone I want to share it with.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

As a human with frequent UTIs I should add that cranberry supplements may help to ward off new infections (although it didn't work that way for me), but I'd caution that if there is a confirmed actual infection it will take more than a cranberry supplement to get rid of it.