Dog infections are caused by bacteria that develop and grow in a certain part of your pet's body. Most often, these bacteria will grow in or around a sore or open wound on your pet's skin. However, they may also develop in a number of other places either internally (such as the bladder) or externally (such as the ears). Infections can range from a minor nuisance that seems to cause your pet some discomfort up to a severe and potentially fatal condition that affects his vital organs. It's important to know the symptoms and diagnostic methods for identifying and treating infections throughout your pet's body, because infections do have the tendency to spread to other parts of your pet. Therefore, prompt treatment is necessary to maintain the best health. While it's always advisable to speak with a vet for more information or for a proper diagnosis, there are a few good home remedies for certain types of dog infections that you may wish to try.
Antibiotic Ointments
If your pet has an infected open sore or cut, or if you're worried that a sore or cut may become infected, consider using antibiotic ointment on the area. These ointments, like Neosporin and others used in human medicine, contain mild ingredients which help to kill bacteria in the area. This prevents the bacteria from being able to lodge in your pet's skin and reproduce, and therefore prevents infection on the skin.
Vinegar Treatments
For dogs that develop ear infections, a mixture of white vinegar and water can help to flush out any bacteria in his ears and to reduce or prevent infection. Mix about half water and half white vinegar in a small cup and use a cotton swab or a rubber applicator to inject the mixture into the outside of your dog's ears. Be very careful to not inject the mixture into the deeper part of his ear; this may cause permanent hearing problems and can actually lead to further, more serious infections. Rather, simply flush out the outside portion of your pet's ears with the mixture. For the best results while your dog has an ear infection, repeat this process about every 4 hours, three to five times per day.
Citric Acid Treatments
If your dog has a urinary tract infection or a bladder infection, one of the best ways of helping to eliminate it is to increase the citric acid that goes through his urine. Mix lemon juice, orange juice or the juice of some other citrus fruit into his water and ensure that he drinks lots of water throughout. This will not only serve to encourage your pet to urinate more frequently, which can itself help to flush out bad bacteria and reduce infection, but it can also help to deliver the acid through the infected areas. This can kill the bad bacteria that caused the infection in the first place.