Are Cranberry Products Safe For Dogs And Cats?

Are Cranberry Products Safe For Dogs And Cats?

You’ll see cranberry-containing products praised and sold with terminology like “urinary health” or “urinary care” on many prominent pet blogs and pet supply stores these days. But what is the truth about cranberry? Is it truly a “cure-all” for your cat or dog’s urinary problems? Are Cranberry Products Safe For Dogs And Cats?

Now let us break through the hype and get to the bottom of the cranberry’s advantages for urinary tract health in cats and dogs. If you’re serious about giving your pet cranberry supplements, keep reading to find out if Cranberry Products are Safe for dogs and cats.

The Truth About Cranberry Products For Dogs And Cats

If you’re a dog or cat owner, you’ve probably heard plenty of warnings about the dangers of cranberries, cranberry juice, and cranberry products. The fact is that cranberries are a highly concentrated source of power-packed antioxidants but only in their whole, unprocessed form. When you consume cranberries in their whole form, they can pose a risk to your pet if you don’t supervise them.

Putting whole cranberries in your cat’s mouth could result in a very painful mouth injury while giving your dog the same treatment could cause internal issues. This is because the cranberries are so potent. The majority of the nutrients are concentrated in the outer layer of the berry, which is why your pet has a greater risk of getting sick from consuming cranberries. You should also be aware that cranberries and cranberry products can trigger urinary tract infections in some dogs, especially those that are susceptible to these diseases.

What’s The Deal With Cranberry Products And dogs?

Cranberries are an edible, red berry that is native to the United States. The berry is harvested in the wild and can be purchased canned, dried, or frozen. The various forms of cranberries are used in many different products, including health and beauty products, cocktails, pies, and sherbet.

Cranberries have been consumed for their health benefits for thousands of years. The Aztecs, for example, used cranberries as a remedy for urinary tract infections and other medical conditions.

Modern research has also shown that cranberries contain powerful antioxidants, including vitamin C and vitamin A, proanthocyanidins (antioxidants that are found in cranberries), and flavonols (chemicals that have anti-inflammatory properties).

Is Cranberry For Dogs Safe?

There have been numerous warnings about the dangers of cranberries and cranberry products, mostly because they are so concentrated. While consuming cranberries in their whole form poses no risk to your pet if you supervise them, giving your pet any type of cranberry treat should be avoided. Your pet could end up with an intestinal blockage or a urinary tract infection as a result of consuming whole cranberries. The same goes for cranberry tablets, capsules, or extracts.

Is Cranberry For Dogs Healthy?

Cranberries are a very healthy berry, which is why they are often used in health and beauty products. They are high in vitamin C, which is essential for your pet’s immune system. Vitamin C is also known to strengthen your pet’s teeth and bones. Cranberries also contain vitamin A, which is important for healthy skin and vision.

Is Cranberry For Dogs Effective?

The benefits of cranberries for your pet are well documented. What’s not well documented is how effective cranberries are compared to other commonly used remedies. Many pet parents use cranberries to treat their pet’s urinary tract infections, but there is not a lot of scientific evidence to suggest that cranberries are more effective than antibiotics or other commonly used treatments.

Is Cranberry For Cats Safe?

Although consuming cranberries in their whole form poses no risk to your pet if you supervise them, putting whole cranberries in your cat’s mouth can result in a very painful mouth injury. The question still needs to be asked, “Are Cranberry Products Safe For Dogs And Cats?”

Cats are very selective when it comes to what they eat, and whole cranberries are a very intense flavor for them. Your kitty may spit out the treat in an attempt to avoid the strong taste. If they do swallow the treat, they may end up with a mouth injury as a result of chewing on the cranberry too vigorously or getting the treat stuck in their throat.

Is Cranberry For Cats Healthy?

Cranberries are a very healthy berry, which is why they are often used in health and beauty products. They are high in vitamin C, which is essential for your pet’s immune system. Vitamin C is also known to strengthen your pet’s teeth and bones. Cranberries also contain vitamin A, which is important for healthy skin and vision.

Is Cranberry For Cats Effective?

The benefits of cranberries for your pet are well documented. What’s not well documented is how effective cranberries are compared to other commonly used remedies. Many pet parents use cranberries to treat their pet’s urinary tract infections, but there is not a lot of scientific evidence to suggest that cranberries are more effective than antibiotics or other commonly used treatments.

Now, let me provide you with more information on whether or not Canberry products are safe for dogs and cats:

How Can Cranberries Aid In The Treatment Of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)?

Doctors have advised women with urinary tract infections (UTIs) to consume cranberry juice for decades. Initially, it was thought that adding cranberry juice to the urine would make it more acidic (lower PH) and hence less friendly to germs, preventing and curing illnesses. However, this was not the case, since cranberry juice only modestly decreases urine PH, to a clinically negligible proportion.

Why Cranberries May Be Beneficial For UTIs

In 1984, research was done to determine why cranberries may be beneficial for UTIs. The urine of individuals (and later mice) who drank cranberry juice cocktails was shown to be capable of preventing E. coli bacteria from clinging to the lining of (adhering to) cells, and therefore colonizing and causing an infection.

In 2007, a study found that proanthocyanidins (PACs), a group of compounds found in cranberries (and other berries, including blueberries), are responsible for cranberries’ “anti-adhesion” properties and that they can specifically prevent adhesion of certain types of E. coli bacteria to the urothelium, the lining of the kidneys, bladder, and other tissues that compensate the urinary system.

So there you have it, cranberries are excellent in both preventing and treating urinary tract infections. But wait a minute, it turns out that it’s not so simple. Not according to the neutral and well-respected Cochrane organization.

The Cochrane Collaboration

The Cochrane Collaboration is a “global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, caregivers, and anyone interested in health.” They perform extensive assessments of the scientific literature regularly to assist in guaranteeing that healthcare decisions based on the scientific literature are as good as they can be. Cochrane updated their analysis of the scientific evidence for the advantages of cranberries to UTIs in 2012. They examined a total of 24 papers on the issue.

Their findings are as follows:

✔️ Cranberry juice seemed to be less helpful than previously assumed at reducing the number of symptomatic UTIs.

✔️ Cranberry products are not statistically superior to antibiotics in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Despite a large number of study dropouts or withdrawals (due primarily to the acceptability of consuming cranberry products, particularly juice, over long periods), the evidence that the benefit for preventing UTIs is small, cranberry juice cannot currently be recommended for the prevention of UTIs. Other preparations (such as powders) must be measured using established procedures to guarantee potency and sufficient active component content before they can be assessed in clinical research or approved for usage.

A spoonful Of Cranberries For Your Pet’s Health

Now, can cranberry aid in the prevention and/or treatment of urinary tract infections in humans or animals? The quick answer is maybe. However, we don’t know to what extent. It’s infuriating, but I’d want to highlight a couple of key “takeaways” from this.

Cranberries’ proanthocyanidins can inhibit particular strains of E. coli bacteria from adhering to urinary tract tissues.

Although cranberry products were not statistically superior to antibiotics for treating UTIs, they were also not statistically inferior to antibiotics for treating UTIs. That is, “cranberry products” may be as beneficial as antibiotics in curing UTIs. That said, it’s critical to remember that this impact has only been examined and demonstrated in urinary tract infections caused by certain strains of a specific type of bacterium, Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Are Cranberry Products Safe For Dogs And Cats?

Even though E. coli is the most prevalent form of bacteria that causes UTIs in cats and dogs, it is far from the only type of bacteria that causes UTIs in cats and dogs! That is why bacterial cultures are so crucial for treating UTIs in pets, especially if the pet has frequent or chronic UTIs. That is why we veterinarians frequently prescribe and demand urine testing for cats and dogs that have “urinary disorders.”

Not all “cranberry products” are the same, and no standardized dose has yet been developed, as well as true scientific, clinical research.

Pet Cranberry Supplements

Despite all, I’ve said in this post if you want to try a cranberry supplement for your pet who has urinary troubles, but genuine scientific data to support their usage is lacking, many individuals claim positive success with the three brands indicated below:

• Crananidin Pet Supplement (for Dogs): This product is a chewable tablet manufactured by Nutramax Laboratories.
• Cranberry Comfort (suitable for cats and dogs): This soft chew is manufactured by Vet Classics.
• The Cranberry Bladder Bites (dogs): These chewable are available in two flavors: bacon and chicken.

Cranberry supplement pills

Risks of using cranberries for your pet’s UTIs
If you or your veterinarian wish to try a cranberry supplement for your pet’s UTIs, it may be beneficial. And, while it is unlikely to cause harm, there may be some dangers involved. This is mostly because many “urinary tract health” products for cats contain additional substances in addition to cranberry. Some of these “additional components” can be harmful to cats and dogs; here are three examples.

Vitamin C

Numerous urinary tract health products contain vitamin C, which is given to increase the acidity of the urine. While this may make the urinary environment less conducive to bacterial growth and infection, it may also raise the likelihood of calcium oxalate crystal and stone development. Furthermore, when vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is broken down in the body, oxalates are formed, increasing the risk of oxalate crystal and stone development in the urinary system. This study found that persons with high amounts of vitamin C supplementation had higher levels of oxalates in their urine and a higher risk of oxalate kidney stones.

Oxalates

 Because cranberries contain oxalates, there is a risk that giving cranberry supplements to cats or dogs, particularly those who have already had oxalate crystals/stones or are predisposed to developing oxalate urinary crystals and/or stones in their bladder (called “cystoliths”) or kidneys (called “nephroliths”), will increase their risk of developing oxalate urinary crystals and/or Cranberry supplements have been examined and proved to increase urinary oxalate levels in humans.

Xylitol

Although I’m not aware of any cranberry urinary health products that also include xylitol, it’s quite feasible that they exist or will soon. Admittedly, xylitol is now found in almost everything—check out our list of over 700 goods. Some even claim that xylitol is an excellent therapy for UTIs. While it is harmless for humans, xylitol is severely toxic to dogs.

Bear in mind that it’s not just the extra substances in cranberry supplements that can create difficulties for cats and dogs. There’s also the risk of “trying” them for too long and in the wrong settings and not getting your pet the care and treatment they need.

If your pet is vomiting, has a decreased appetite, has lower energy, or other troubling indicators in addition to their “urinary troubles,” forgo the cranberry pills and take them to the vet. Similarly, if their “urinary troubles” don’t resolve within a week, or if they’re growing worse despite taking a “urinary health” supplement, please take them to the vet. It might be anything other than a UTI, or it could be more serious.

Cat On The Bed

Most owners who bring their cat or dog to the clinic with worries about urinating outside the litter box, leaking urine in their bed, needing to go out more frequently, blood in the urine, or other similar symptoms feel that their pet has a urinary tract infection (UTI). And, while this is occasionally the case, it isn’t always, and in fact, it isn’t very often. As an example:

Is Your Cat Peeing Outside The Litter Box?

• It might be a UTI
• Behavioral / stress
• Inflammation of the bladder (cystitis)
• Stones or crystals for the bladder
• Stones in the kidney
  
• Diabetic kidney disease
• Diabetes \sHyperthyroidism
• Inadequate litter box numbers, placement, or cleaning

Significantly, especially in male cats, this can be an indication of a growing urethral/urinary blockage (which is excruciatingly painful and can be deadly).

Is Your Dog Peeing On Their Bed?

• It might be a urinary tract infection (UTI)
  
• Stones in the bladder
  
• Bladder cancer
  
• Tumors of the brain
  
• Control of the urinary sphincter has been lost.
  
• Canine cognitive impairment (sometimes known as “Doggie Dementia”)
  
• Failure of the kidneys
  
• Diabetes Cushing’s syndrome
  
• Failure of the liver
  
• Dysfunction of the nervous system
  
• An anatomical defect that is present at birth (e.g., a patent urachus or ectopic ureter)

Is Your Dog Requesting More Walks?

• It might be a urinary tract infection (UTI), but it could also be…
  
• Stones or crystals for the bladder
  
• Cognitive impairment in dogs
  
• Failure of the kidneys
  
• Failure of the liver
  
• Cushing’s syndrome
  
• Addison’s disease
  Diabetes, or even diarrhea, with all of its possible causes

Have You Seen Blood In Your Dog’s Or Cat’s Urine?

It might be a urinary tract infection (UTI), but it could also be:
✔️ Bladder cancer
✔️ Blood pressure is too high (hypertension)
✔️ Stones in the bladder or kidneys
✔️ Non-infectious bladder inflammation (sterile cystitis)
✔️ Coagulopathy (problem with the blood clotting system)
✔️ Trauma
✔️ A foxtail/grass seed awn, for example, or another “foreign body”

Conclusion – Are Cranberry Products Safe For Dogs And Cats?

Cranberries are a highly nutritious fruit, but consuming whole cranberries can pose a risk to your pet if you don’t supervise them. The majority of the nutrients are concentrated in the outer layer of the berry, which is why your pet has a greater risk of getting sick from consuming cranberries. You should also be aware that cranberries and cranberry products can trigger urinary tract infections in some dogs, especially those that are susceptible to these diseases.

Unfortunately, there is no simple solution. As you can see, it is dependent on the precise “urinary condition” your pet is experiencing, the cause(s) of that issue, their baseline risk of forming urinary crystals and stones, and the concentration of proanthocyanidins and “other substances” in the supplement you want to use.

I know that I couldn’t offer you a straightforward response, but as you can see, the question isn’t simple. At the very least, you now have all of the facts and aspects to consider as to whether or not Cranberry Products are Safe for Dogs and Cats.

Visit this website to go through the best 10 cranberry supplements for dogs from well-known manufacturers.