Best Vegan Dog Food for UTIs

Best Non-Prescription Food for Dogs with UTI

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in dogs are a common issue that can cause significant discomfort and health problems. Preventing UTIs involves a combination of good hygiene, adequate hydration, and proper diet. Bonza Superfood and Ancient Grains, a 100% plant-based vegan dog food, has been formulated specifically to support urinary health. This article explores the ingredients in Bonza that contribute to its effectiveness in preventing UTIs, highlighting which ingredients are alkalising and which are acidifying, and explaining their mechanisms of impact.

Alkalising Ingredients in Bonza

1. Peas: Peas are a highly nutritious legume that provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre. They help maintain an optimal urine pH by being mildly alkaline, which can prevent the formation of struvite stones that thrive in alkaline urine.

2. Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin A, which supports immune function. They are alkalising and help balance the urine pH, making it less hospitable for bacteria that can cause UTIs.

3. Herbs (Sage, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Basil): These herbs, amongst the best for dogs, are packed with antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. They are also alkalising, contributing to a balanced urinary pH and providing antimicrobial benefits that can help prevent bacterial infections.

4. Mushrooms: Mushrooms, such as reishi, shiitake or maitake, have immune-boosting properties. They are alkalising and support overall health, which helps in preventing UTIs by enhancing the body’s natural defence mechanisms.

5. Carrot: Carrots are alkalising and provide beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body. This nutrient supports immune function and helps maintain a healthy urinary tract lining.

6. Seaweed: Seaweed is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is alkalising and helps balance the body’s pH levels. Additionally, it supports detoxification, which can contribute to preventing urinary infections.

7. Spinach: Spinach is a leafy green that is highly alkalising. It provides a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, supporting overall health and helping maintain a balanced urinary pH.

Acidifying Ingredients in Bonza

1. Oats: Oats are a whole grain that provides a good source of fibre and essential nutrients. They are mildly acidifying, helping to balance the urine pH to prevent the formation of calcium oxalate stones that can develop in overly acidic urine.

2. Chickpeas: Chickpeas are a protein-rich legume that is mildly acidifying. They provide essential nutrients and help maintain a balanced pH in the urinary tract, which is crucial in preventing stone formation and bacterial growth.

3. Quinoa: Quinoa is a complete protein that provides all essential amino acids. It is slightly acidifying and helps maintain a balanced urinary pH, supporting overall urinary health.

4. Fava Beans: Fava beans are a nutritious legume that is slightly acidifying. They support urinary health by providing essential nutrients and maintaining a balanced urine pH.

5. Rapeseed Oil: Rapeseed oil provides essential fatty acids and has a neutral to slightly acidifying effect on the body. It supports overall health and helps maintain a balanced urinary environment.

6. Olive Oil: Olive oil is a healthy fat that is slightly acidifying. It supports overall health and helps in maintaining a balanced urinary pH, preventing the formation of harmful stones.

Additional Ingredients for UTI Prevention

1. Cranberries: Cranberries contain compounds that prevent bacteria, particularly E. coli, from adhering to the bladder walls. This helps in reducing the risk of UTIs by promoting a cleaner urinary tract.

2. Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics

• Prebiotics: These fibres feed beneficial gut bacteria, helping to maintain a healthy gut microbiome, which supports immune function and urinary health.
• Probiotics: Live beneficial bacteria that help maintain a healthy balance of gut flora, supporting the immune system and urinary tract health.
• Postbiotics: By-products of probiotic bacteria that enhance immune response and provide additional antimicrobial properties to prevent UTIs.

Mechanism of Impact on UTIs

The ingredients in Bonza work synergistically to maintain an optimal urine pH balance, which is crucial in preventing the formation of urinary stones and reducing bacterial growth. By including a balance of both alkalising and acidifying ingredients, Bonza ensures that the urine pH remains in the ideal range (6.5-7.5). This balanced environment is less favourable for the formation of struvite and calcium oxalate stones, both of which can cause UTIs.

Many of the ingredients in the Superfoods and Ancient Grains, vegan dog food formula, also contain antimicrobial properties – ginger, cranberries, rosemary, sage, basil, oregano and echinacea. Foods and herbs with antimicrobial properties have shown significant promise in treating Urinary Tract Infections in dogs (1, 2). Not only do these ingredients provide a natural and holistic therapeutic prevention, and treatment option for UTI’s, they also support a reduction in the threat of antimicrobial resistance caused by overuse of antibiotics.

Furthermore, the inclusion of cranberries, prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics in Bonza’s formulation helps prevent the adhesion of bacteria to the bladder walls and supports a healthy immune system, providing a comprehensive approach to urinary health.

Conclusion

Bonza Superfood and Ancient Grains stands out as the best vegan dog food, and an excellent non-prescription dog food for dogs with UTI’s, supporting a prevention of UTIs due to its carefully selected blend of ingredients that promote a balanced urinary pH and support overall urinary health. By combining alkalising and acidifying ingredients with additional UTI-preventative components like cranberries and probiotics and postbiotics, Bonza offers a holistic approach to maintaining your dog’s urinary tract health.

Regular feeding of Bonza can help reduce the risk for dogs prone to UTIs, ensuring your dog stays healthy and comfortable.