Another UTI?? (UPDATE)

 I'm going through the same thing with my pup. He's only 9 weeks old though.

I have read on the net to give frequent baths to keep his privates clean. And through some advice on here I have just given my pup his first dose of Apple Cider Vinegar. It smelled awful but I put it in his water and he drank it so it must not taste the same as it smells!

Good luck with your guy. I'm hoping to avoid the vet so I am gonna try the vinegar for now. I had called the vet to make an appointment and was informed they had a litter of pups come in with Parvo so the reason to try to avoid the vet at this time.

 Have a culture and sensitivity done, if he is getting repeat UTIs. It's probably not being completely healed by the Clavamox. Sometimes, they need a different antibiotic.

What Jen said.

And, an ill or stressed dog (as in post op) shouldn't be given vaccines anyway.

glenmar

 

And, an ill or stressed dog (as in post op) shouldn't be given vaccines anyway.

 Ditto! Are you in love with your vet? I changed vets because they called Tootsie a Cardigan Welsh Corgi, but I'm a little nuts.

OK, I just had a whole response typed up and it got lost...of course.

The timeline was a little off.  He had been off the clavamox about two weeks before we went in for the check up so I hope that is enough time.  I really do love my vet.

I wanted to add also that Finn has attacked Benny three times in the last 3 days.  I am getting really concerned.  The first 2 times it was over food, so I started feeding, treating, etc separately.  Just now it happened again and no food was involved.  I know Finn could probably do some damage to Benny (he is 20 pounds bigger), but no damage, physically, has been done.  I am really concerned about this.  They typically play together, never fighting.  I am hoping this is health related.  Ugh, I am so upset right now.  And I'm going to be exhausted tomorrow, if I don't get to bed now, but I'm really worried about this.  

Finn, you got some of my good luck vibes being sent to you.  The C & S sounds like an excellent idea. Perhaps you can use a cranberry extract on him.  If you only get a urinalysis done ask for a FULL one. 

Good luck and sending mum some "get some worry free rest" vibes.

Willow had several very bad UTI's until we had the culture/sensitivity done and got on the right drug for what "bug" she had. 

If it's a UTI Lori's right -- it's not "another" UTI -- it is the SAME one but it didn't get completely eradicated.

You need to do a culture and sensitivity.  That requires a sterile draw (either a catheter or a direct from the kidneys aspirate) --tell the vet BEFORE you go -- and don't let him go before you get there. 

Measure/monitor how much he's drinking.

Yes you can TO do that with 3 dogs (I do it all the time!) -- get an Anchor Hocking 2 quart bowl (it has gradiations on the side) -- put the bowl in the center of the house where you will HEAR it if someone goes to drink.

Have ONE PERSON be in charge of all water duty -- so you know how much was in there earlier today and literally jump up and watch where the water level goes after anybuddy drinks. 

This is valuable info for the vet --

a strip test or mere urinalysis is NOT THE SAME.  Don't be dissuaded by this.  ASK for a culture and sensitivity. 

 I'd sen out a sample as well. A note though, they draw from the bladder, not the kidneys

To draw from the bladder do they put the dog under?  Finn wouldn't even let them draw blood for his heart worm test.  They gave up and said he was too stressed and passed on it.  Which was fine with me because he had one done last year and has been on heart worm preventative ever since.

sambob I'd guess it's unlikely that your little one has a UTI and that you have more of a housebreaking issue than a UTI issue. If it really does seem like a UTI don't avoid the vet. Take the pup with a full bladder to the vet. Keep him on your lap in the waiting room and spread your own blanket/towel thing on the vet's exam table when you put him down. Make it obvious that you are concerned about germs and they'll be on their toes. If a young pup does have a UTI you'll have a hell of a time housebreaking him so if this really could be an issue don't let it slide.

Didn't mean to hijack this post but thought the person with the new pup needed this info.

grab01

 I'd sen out a sample as well. A note though, they draw from the bladder, not the kidneys

Thanks -- my bad. 

To answer the above question -- yes, sometimes they sedate the dog in order to do an aspirate -- or they do a catheter (some vets prefer one method over the other -- neither is fun but a sterile draw has to be obtained for a culture and sensitivity).  The big deal with the C&S is that it will find out **exactly** what bacteria may be there -- AND exactly what drug will kill it (they actually culture it and 'grow' whatever bacteria they can -- then they divide it up and treat with different antibiotiocs so they KNOW which one will and won't kill it).

Bottom line -- if you've had more than one UTI lately -- and an expensive course of Clavamox (which is more than amoxycillin) did NOT fix it after 3 weeks -- I'd be looking at a C&S to see what the heck is going on.  That's also going to tell you if you have crystals, etc.

In other words -- sometimes you just plain gotta STOP the insanity and **FIND OUT** exactly what you're dealing with.

And Sambob - no way of knowing but I've seen it both ways.  Sometimes it's just puppy training -- sometimes you have a pup with a UTI and then that's "Nightmare on Pee Street" to try and get it trained.  Bunni's right - it's not always the case, but it is often enough that I try to always mention it.

OK, I called the vet this morning from work and they wanted to see him right away.  I can't very well leave work (I'm a sub) so DH took him in.  They had DH get a urine sample and are doing a culture on it.  It will take 10 days to get the results...  In the meantime, they put him on Metacam (in a syringe) to control discomfort, I guess because I explained about him attacking Benny.  And he's on Zeniquin.

 The other option was to have him sedated and then take xrays and blood and all that, but DH was there and just decided to do this for now.  Hopefully, we get some answers.