Sunday, August 20, 2017

The benefits of Raw Cider Vinegar for Pets with Urinary Tract Infections

Sydney is an 12 year old, intact Blue Heeler. He has enjoyed perfect health his entire life save the fact that he kept breaking his front dew claws. It happened so frequently, I finally made the decision to have them removed, Think twice if you decide to do that to an active dog, because they will tear the stitches every day. But I digress.
About 2 years ago, when I moved from a single family home into an apartment complex, he was getting really sick, every couple of months. It initially started as nausea and diarrhea, that he could not control. People in communal living, really don't think about the half sandwich they drop. So I thought he has a GI issue like his Mom. I work retail and I get home late. I do try to keep a close eye, but sometimes it is too dark to see what he ingests.

Since I have moved back to South Carolina, all three of my dogs urine went from a normal PH, to an elevated basic PH. They thought it was the food, that I was feeding my dogs fish. So after Macy passed, I put them back on a high protein lamb diet. No difference. High protein Bison, no difference. High protein duck, no difference. I asked my vet what I was doing wrong and they said maybe it is environmental! Maybe is not a word in my vocabulary!

It turned out that every time Sydney got sick, he had a UTI, Urinary Tract Infection, Bailey and Macy too. It took me a while to put two and two together to get four. It took me this long, because one day, I had to work 11 to 9:30. Sydney vomited his entire breakfast, just as I was leaving. So I stayed, cleaned up, gave him a nausea pill and prayed that would do the trick.

I cannot describe what I came home to. He had not pooped in the house or vomited. But he did not greet me at the door. I called and found him standing stoically. He would not sit, he tried. He was shaking and had a fever. I immediately took him to the emergency vet, just hating myself for leaving him when better voices said I should have called out of work. Massive UTI that took 8 weeks of antibiotics. They also gave him fluids. So much that he looked like a camel and had to pee while I slept.

Once he recovered, my vet suggested a UTI formula. He gave me samples of Hills UTI formula.
I balked because it was corn and salt with some meds. Would love to say I was gracious but bullshit came to mind.

So if you know me at all, I did research. I tried water fountains, Syd wanted nothing to do with that.The idea that if they are not hydrated enough, their urine becomes more acidic.

I have major GI issues. Let's just say from the second it enters my mouth, It's going south! Raw Cider Vinegar has changed my life, so just out of curiosity I wondered.

I put Sydney on raw cider vinegar a year ago. I use a capful, every meal, mix it with some salt free broth.. He has blossomed, I have not had one infection. The thought process is that it acidifies the urine, so the bacteria cannot grow. His PH is normal and He acts like a six year old!