Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common ailment in dogs, but they're usually nothing to be concerned about. Keeping up with your dog's urinary health is important, especially if he frequently suffers from urinary tract issues. One of the easiest ways to do this is by providing homemade dog treats for urinary health.
You may not even realize your dog has a UTI until he starts going to the bathroom very frequently or begins having accidents in the house. It's important that you consult your veterinarian at the first sign of a UTI or any issues with urinating.
If it's not treated in a timely manner, a urinary infection could spread to your dog's bladder or kidneys. Watch out for the following signs of a canine UTI:
- excessive thirst
- uncontrollable bladder
- frequent urination
- bloody urine
- strong-smelling urine
- cloudy and/or dark urine
- excessive licking of genitals
- painful or strained urination
If you notice your dog's symptoms getting more severe or your dog starts showing signs unrelated to a UTI (like fever, vomiting, or lethargy), be sure to seek veterinary care immediately.
Because urinary tract infections put additional strain on your dog’s bladder and kidneys, it’s best to feed him a low-protein diet until the infection has cleared up. This recipe also includes cranberries, which have natural antiseptic properties, and coconut oil, which has natural antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Homemade Dog Treats for Urinary Health Recipe
As I mentioned, these are low protein dog treats. This means they're not just great for urinary tract health. They would also be a good option for dogs with kidney disease or liver disease. You could also add ingredients or make ingredient substitutions to meet your dog's unique nutritional needs.
Recipe: Homemade Dog Treats for Urinary Health
These homemade dog treats for urinary health are made with cranberries, which are well-known for their health benefits. They are also made with coconut oil, which is packed with nutritional benefits including anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: about 72 cookies 1x
- Category: Baked Treats
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Dog Treats
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 egg
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- ¾ cup unsweetened dried cranberries
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix together well until it forms a ball of dough.
You can roll the dough out on a floured surface and use cookie cutters or a pizza cutter to make shapes. However, as you can see in my video guide above, I just roll the dough into small balls and drop them on the parchment paper lined cookie sheet. I use about 1 tablespoon of dough per cookie.
Keep in mind that these treats will add calories to your dog's regular diet, so you don't want to make them too big.
Bake the cookies for about 15 minutes or until they turn golden brown.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 treat
- Calories: 26
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 9 mg
- Fat: .5 g
- Carbohydrates: 5.1 g
- Fiber: .2 g
- Protein: .3 g
- Cholesterol: 2 mg
How to store: Store leftover treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 12-14 days. Remember that homemade treats do not have the preservatives that store-bought products do. They will not last as long. If you'd like, you can freeze these treats in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
For More Information
We publish many homemade dog food and treat recipes every month. For more recipes, pet food cooking tips, and advice, see our “Recipes” section. If you're new to home-cooked dog food subject, I recommend you read more about “How Much To Feed” to understand serving sizes, “What Supplements To Use” to create well-balanced meals, and “How To Store” for tips on simple and easy homemade dog food storing in a fridge or a freezer.
