ANOTHER UTI...next move???

This forum is for dog lovers seeking everyday advice and suggestions on health-related issues. Remember, however, that advice on a public forum simply can't be a substitute for proper medical attention. Only your vet can say assuredly what is best for your dog.

Toto, CD,- RN, CGC

We don't do- doodles!!!

Barked: Mon Feb 18, '13 5:57pm PST


	Toto (8 years old next Saturday) went for a dental today, they didn't do one because he didn't need it, yay! BUT, they did do another sterile urinalysis and, it's no surprise as he was peeing in the house again and drinking way too much water, he has bacteria and casts again! This time we are using a still different antibiotic and also adding Metacam since apparently NSAIDS do something good to the bladder lining and she felt his urethra was swollen and inflamed today as she had difficulty with the catheter and some bleeding. Other suggestions were another ultrasound done by a specialist, testing for Cushings (he has NO symptoms), exploratory surgery, or...??? History, he has a UTI a minimum of every 6 weeks for the last three to four years. Is clear after two weeks of antibiotics, but it comes right back. He takes urinary acidifiers daily and was on Cosequin, now switched to Metacam. Ultra sounds, xrays of inflated bladder, analysis of casts, etc., are all normal. He didn't have bloodwork today ($$$), but it has been pretty normal in the past...bun is slightly elevated during an infection but everything else is good. Urine is very dilute as he drinks loads when he is suffering from the UTI's, but he can concentrate with no problems. He eats Earthborn Great Prairie grain free, which two vets feel should be switched out to a senior diet for lower protein, but my research doesn't indicate that should be a problem as his kidney function really tests fine. Frankly, this guy JUST started eating well after trying everything under the sun for the past 7 years so I am reluctant to switch again!! Since the antibiotics work so well I am hesitant to spend tons of bucks on more testing.(It doesn't really matter WHICH ones we use, they all work.) The follow up testing for the abnormal cells that were found on his last episode is $500 alone, and that probably won't really tell us anything except that he has an irritated bladder. Anyone got any ideas??? Edited by author Mon Feb 18, '13 5:59pm PST

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Maggie,- Tika, &- Porter

Aussie-tastic- Trio

Barked: Mon Feb 18, '13 9:07pm PST


	Maggie was a chronic UTI dog when I first got her - always something and she would do the two weeks and then a few weeks later it would be back. My vet figured it was worth a shot of doing a month of cephelexin to see if that would help clear things up as she also had a skin/staph infection at the time. Well the month of mess did the trick and her UTIs have yet to resurface - I also changed her diet to raw a few months later and I am sure that played some part as well (before she was getting soaked kibble to keep water going in). I also know of some other dogs having chronic UTIs until they were given a long term and high dose of antibiotics - it seems that two weeks isn't quite long enough to completely battle this ugly beast for some. Hopefully you will find a solution - UTIs suck

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Nakita Mae- Angel Girl

Live to dock- dive!

Barked: Mon Feb 18, '13 9:13pm PST


	Did they get a culture to make sure this antibiotic is the right one to use? You stated that his past bloodwork showed a slight elevation in his BUN, so I would wonder about the use of Metacam. With ongoing UTI's and no accurate answer yet I (IMHO) would consider seeing someone more specialized in urology. Sometimes when you get more eyes on a problem for second opinions you can come up with a better diagnosis and avenue to address it. Have you looked into feeding raw? Some clients absolutely swear that switching to raw completely cleared up urinary problems. Of course some Vets would come unglued about this. Take a look at Dr Karen Beckers website about urinary tract infections and raw, I think you can search her website and find the article, we love her. Best wishes to finding answers, so frustrating for us as fur-pawents, we just want the best for our dogs.

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Toto, CD,- RN, CGC

We don't do- doodles!!!

Barked: Tue Feb 19, '13 4:21am PST


	His last two antibiotics (yes, cultured), ran for a full month... came back within 6 weeks. As for raw, been there, done that. We did two years of Stella & Chewy's premade patties. He HATED it, and no difference. It IS perplexing!!!

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Scooter,- PAWS

Power of the Paw- for those who- need it

Barked: Tue Feb 19, '13 6:16am PST


	Here are a couple of thoughts....not sure if you have tried this? Start giving him Berry Balance? It a powder that can be added to his food each day. It may be similar to what you are already giving him. Is it possible to get prescribed the antibiotic every 4-5 weeks for a little while? Just a thought...something to stop the infection from coming up. Someone else did that and it seemed to help. I think I read that here on dogster somewhere? It prevents the UTI from appearing. Just throwing that idea out there in case it might help. I'm glad the antibiotics are working for him. Otherwise, you probably would be spending a lot on those tests. I read this: http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/what-you-need-to-k now-about-recurrent-urinary-tract-infections-in-dogs It talks about recurring UTIs and some underlying causes as for why they come up. I guess I'm afraid this will continue to be a problem for Toto. Do you continue down this road or do you try to rule out one by one what it isn't? I don't think changing the food will necessarily make a difference although, I will say that when I had my recurring UTIs, I hesitated eating the Royal Canin Urinary SO. Either it helped because once I started eating it, no more UTIs, or it was just coincidence. It sounds like Toto doesnt' do well on a lot of foods so i would hate changing his food too. I'm not sure this helps much, but I do understand why you would be so frustrated. I'm so sorry Toto has to go through this too P.S. of course dogster added a space in the word know in that URL Edited by author Tue Feb 19, '13 6:17am PST

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Toto, CD,- RN, CGC

We don't do- doodles!!!

Barked: Thu May 23, '13 1:01pm PST


	Well, it has been 6 months since his last bloodwork which showed signs of kidney damage and 96 days since his last UTI, so today Toto went for follow up bloodwork and another urinalysis. For whatever reason, bloodwork was dead on perfect and there was NOTHING in his urine...no casts, no RBC's, no bacteria, no WBCs. He has also gained two much needed pounds. Vet kept asking what I was doing different. I wish I knew... other than keeping him on that last antibiotic for 6 weeks instead of four as previously done, NOTHING else has changed one bit...same food, same water, same everything. I wanted to post this as encouragement to others whose dogs suffer chronic UTI's!!

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Kali

She's game for- anything that's- fun.

Barked: Thu May 23, '13 3:48pm PST


	I know it's a different animal, but my Grandfather had a male cat that had chronic UTI's. The vet did some kind of operation (I can't remember what kind) to fix the problem. Has Toto had an Ultra sound to see if there is something physically wrong?