How do you treat a bacterial infection in a dog naturally

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Bacterial skin infections in dogs often result from an underlying immune disorder. The most common predisposing causes include allergies (inhalant/contact, food, and/or flea bite). Hormonal conditions such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's Disease of the adrenal gland, and diseases such as liver disease, kidney disease, and even cancer may predispose many dogs to bacterial skin infections. Symptoms of skin infections (also known as pyoderma) include scaling, crustiness, hair loss, and the development of papules, pustules, and pus/discharge on the skin. Your veterinarian can diagnosis pyoderma by visual exam; however, definitive diagnosis may require examination of hair and discharge, and skin cultures of the lesions. Follow the steps below to treat your dog's bacterial skin infection:

Clean the infection or woundMost dogs with bacterial skin infections should have the affected areas flushed and cleaned as often as possible. In cases where the hair is matted, it may be necessary to have the hair clipped in order to allow air to access to the areas and give the infection ample opportunity to heal. Topical antibacterial soaps and shampoos can help such as KetoChlor Shampoo or Malapet Shampoo. It is often necessary to shampoo pets once to twice a week, while also using any prescribed antibiotic therapy for maximal chances of recovery.

Kill bacteria and provide itch reliefMany excellent topical antibacterial products can be used with antibiotic and shampoo therapy. An excellent product, Be Soothed Tea Tree Oil Skin Relief contains natural tea tree oil, which is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal compound. It can be applied up to 2-3 times daily on affected areas of the skin. Betagen Topical Spray is another effective product that contains the antibiotic gentamycin and the anti-inflammatory betamethasone, and is particularly useful in localized areas of infection as well as hot spots in dogs.

Consult your veterinarianBacterial skin infections often occur in dogs secondarily to underlying skin allergies, hormonal (endocrine) disorders, or other internal disease. Through a combination of shampoo therapy and antibiotics, the prognosis for your dog's recovery from a bacterial skin infection is excellent.

Natural Antibiotic For Dogs (8 Effective Home Remedies)

Key Takeaways

• Some of the most effective natural antibiotic for dogs include oregano oil, apple cider vinegar, and coconut oil.
• If your dog is diabetic, has allergic reactions, taking certain medication, or is having a more serious infection, avoid giving natural antibiotic.
• If in doubt, seek veterinary advice to find out the specific needs of your dog.

Despite common belief among pet owners, prescription antibiotics arent the only way to treat infections in dogs. I myself am a big fan of natural antibiotic for dogs which are actually a really great alternative to prescription antibiotics. Have you heard of them?

Do you know the best natural antibiotics for your pup? The best alternative antibiotics for your dog that I recommend is definitely oregano oil, but there are also many more great natural remedies for infection including apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and manuka honey. When it comes to natural antibiotics for dogs, here is everything pet parents need to know.

What Are Natural Antibiotics For Dogs?

Put simply, natural antibiotics are excellent alternatives to prescription antibiotics. These alternative antibiotics are often recommended for infections and conditions that arent too serious.

Before giving your pup alternative antibiotics, you may want to talk with a vet. A vet may be able to recommend the right alternative antibiotics for your pup.

The Best Natural Antibiotics For Dogs

Many pet owners want to know the best alternative antibiotics for canines. The following are some of the top alternative antibiotics for dogs.

Oregano Oil

One of the best natural antibiotics for dogs is oregano oil. Other essential oils can actually be toxic to dogs, but oregano oil is one thats really beneficial. Since its a great source of thymol and carvacrol, this oil has been shown to successfully treat bacterial, parasitic, viral, and fungal infections. This oil can also promote optimal oral health among dogs. The reason why this natural antibiotic works is because it can effectively get rid of the harmful bacteria in your canine friends body.

If you want to use this oil, you can place a couple of drops in your dogs water bowl, apply it topically on an affected area of your dogs body, or add it to toothpaste for dogs. For anyone who is thinking about using the herb, its better to use the oil as it isnt too strong.

Apple Cider Vinegar

The second best natural antibiotic for dogs is apple cider vinegar. The product is most known for its extremely potent antibacterial and antioxidant properties. As a result, this great natural antibiotic can successfully heal dog ear infection, skin infections, gut inflammation, and wounds.

The most effective way to use apple cider vinegar is to place it in your canine friends water bowl. This also helps alleviate urinary tract infections (UTI). If you notice that your best pal doesnt like the taste of apple cider vinegar, you can mix it in plain yogurt. When you combine apple cider vinegar with plain yogurt, theres a really good chance that your dog wont even be able to taste this natural antibiotic.

If you are using this natural antibiotic to heal your dogs ear infection, you should gently flush your best pals ear with an apple cider vinegar and water solution. When you use this mixture to flush your best pals ear, youll be getting rid of harmful bacteria. Of course, youll also be getting rid of the ear infections.

Coconut Oil

Many studies suggest that coconut oil is also a great natural antibiotic. When you purchase coconut oil at the grocery store, youre actually buying a natural antibiotic with lots of antifungal and antibiotic properties. With that being said, this natural antibiotic can improve certain skin conditions, digestive problems, treat wounds, and infections (See our article: Dog Tooth Infection Home Treatment).

A great way to use this alternative antibiotic is to place a small amount in your pups dog food. If your canine pal is suffering from a skin condition, you can massage some coconut oil directly on the affected area. The alternative antibiotic has been shown to heal skin conditions such as hot spots, dry skin, rashes, and many more.

Not only will you appreciate that this alternative antibiotic treats an extensive array of conditions, youll also love that coconut oil smells really great.

Manuka Honey

Over the past several years, honey has been used as an alternative antibiotic by a wide variety of people around the world [1]. Often referred to as an excellent superfood because of its many health benefits, manuka honey is great for improving your best pals itchy throat, teeth, asthma, wounds, stomach problems, inflammation, and allergies. Thanks to its antiseptic, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, this natural antibiotic is the preferred choice among many pet owners.

Since this alternative antibiotic has a sweet taste, you really shouldnt have any problems serving manuka honey to your dog. Most canines actually love eating manuka honey, so you can even give it to your best pal as a yummy treat. If your canine pal is diabetic, you may want to talk with a vet about giving it this natural antibiotic orally.

To treat a skin condition with this natural antibiotic, all you have to do is apply manuka honey to your best pals affected areas.

Olive Leaf Extract

According to much research, olive leaf extract has been shown to be an excellent natural antibiotic for pups. If youre wondering why this product works, just take a look at its incredible antibacterial, antimicrobial antiviral, and antifungal properties. Because olive oil extract has many great antibiotic properties, the product can successfully treat bacterial infections, certain skin conditions, inflammation, high blood pressure, flu, and much more.

If you would like to give natural canine antibiotics like olive oil extract a try, simply mix it into your dogs food. You can also apply this as a natural topical antibiotic to your best pals affected areas.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a wonderful natural antibiotic for pups too. Boasting several really great properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant, this excellent natural antibiotic can benefit your best pal in many ways. For starters, turmeric can drastically improve your best pals immune system. The natural antibiotic can also play a major role in getting rid of infections, healing wounds, relieving arthritis pain, supporting the gastrointestinal system, and treating liver disease.

Similar to many of the previously discussed natural antibiotics, turmeric can be mixed with your dogs food. Turmeric is also available as a supplement, making it even easier to give your dog this antibiotic. You can find these turmeric supplements at major pet stores and online.

Do you want to use turmeric to treat your dogs skin condition? You should mix turmeric with aloe vera, and then rub the mixture on your best pals affected skin.

When using turmeric as an antibiotic, you shouldnt give your dog too much. If your dog consumes too much turmeric, it may experience severe stomach problems.

Calendula

Also known as pot marigolds, calendulas are beautiful flowers that youve probably seen outside. Aside from being really pretty, calendulas also have many incredible healing benefits for pups. With great anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-fungal properties, natural antibiotics like calendulas can significantly improve your pups severe discomfort, wounds, and skin infections.

The easiest way to use calendulas as excellent alternative antibiotics is to combine some dried herbs into your best pals food. You can also create a lotion. The mixture should include key ingredients such as table salt, water, and calendula tincture. After creating this mixture, place the lotion on a cloth, and then carefully dab it on your canine friends wound.

Yarrow

While yarrow isnt a common alternative antibiotic for dogs, it actually contains some incredible antibacterial properties. This excellent alternative antibiotic can treat a condition known asstaphylococcus. In addition, this great alternative antibiotic can heal wounds, inflamed skin, and even severe burns.

Do you want to use yarrow as an alternative antibiotic? If so, youll need to create yarrow tea. After boiling a pot of water, throw in some yarrow. Let the mixture steep for about five minutes. As soon as the mixture cools, pour some of it onto a cloth and then use it to treat your dogs skin conditions.

When Should You Avoid Giving Your Pup Alternative Probiotics?

• If your dog is diabetic
• If your pup had a bad reaction to alternative probiotics
• If your canine friend is taking certain medication
• If your pup has a severe condition or infection

As a general rule, you should talk with a vet before giving alternative probiotics to your pup. By doing so, youll protect your pup from severe complications.

Related article: How To Stop Dog Nail Bleeding

FAQ

What is the strongest natural antibiotic for dogs?

Many experts would say that the strongest natural antibiotic for dogs is oregano oil. A safe alternative antibiotic for pups, this oil has been shown to successfully treat viral infections, bacterial infections, colds, parasites, and much more. If you want, you can also use this oil to significantly improve your pups oral health.

According to many experts and pet owners, olive leaf extract and apple cider vinegar are tied for the second strongest alternative antibiotics for pups. You can talk with a vet to get more recommendation regarding the strongest alternative antibiotics for your dog.

How can I treat my dogs bacterial infection naturally?

Pet owners have many options for treating their dogs bacterial infection naturally. The top natural antibiotics for effectively treating a dogs bacterial infection include manuka honey, turmeric, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar.

If you want an extremely easy way to treat your best pals bacterial infection, consider giving it turmeric supplements.

What can I give my dog for bacterial infection?

If your dog is suffering from a bacterial infection, the best thing that you do is give it natural antibiotics such as oregano oil. Much research has shown that oregano oil is one of the most effective natural antibiotics.

In order to get rid of your dogs bacterial infection as soon as possible, place one to two drops of this potent oil into your dogs water bowl.

If you want to drastically improve your best pals oral health, brush its teeth with toothpaste and oregano oil.

Once you give your dog this oil, you may even notice that your dogs immune system is improving.

How can I get antibiotics for my dog without going to the vet?

If you want antibiotics for your pup, you should first ask yourself if natural antibiotics are okay. A great benefit of natural antibiotics is that you can get them from the local grocery in most cases.

A few natural antibiotics such as turmeric supplements are also available over the counter at major pet stores and even online pet stores. There are also several over the counter antibiotics available too. You can call a vet to get great over the counter antibiotics recommendations.