Bear might have a UTI - Update!

Hi Tina,  I'm not Callie but I've had a lot of experience with UTI so I'll give it a go for you.  And, then Callie can fill in the rest, LOL!

As far as the urine sample, they say it's fine to catch it early and refridgerate.  BUT, I've had a false positive after doing that and with all the UTI's Willow's had that was the only time I had a false reading.  If you can catch it right before you leave or like you mentioned catch it and drop it off right away--that would be best.  I usually bring a container or use one of theirs and catch it right outside before we go in.  But, if they want the first urine of the day, catch and bring right in would be best. 

I've had so many UTI's come back on her after finishing a course of medication.  I found I only truly got rid of them for her after they did not only a urinalysis but a culture to find out what bacteria she had so they could use the right drug for that "bug".  It's not an expensive test and they just used the urine I brought it--it doesn't always have to be sterile where they take it right from the bladder.  They've only done that once to Willow in all the times she's had a UTI and even then it was only because she wouldn't pee and we needed it right then. 

As far as the cranberry, I'm not sure on the dosing--not sure it's really "dosed" since it's not a medication.  BUT, before giving that find out what his urine PH is because not all UTI's are helped with cranberry. 

Anyway, hope he's feeling better soon.  And, I was helpful, LOL!

Lori

Lori - thanks!  That's a lot of good info! 

Do you happen to know what the PH should be?  Is it different for every dog or is there a range of "normal"?  I won't bother with cranberry if it won't help.

Again, you were very helpful! 

Cranberry is essentially glucose (a kind of sugar) and that's why it's helpful because it helps the bacteria not 'stick' to the walls of the urinary tract.

D-Mannose is even better -- not cheap but cheaper than prolonged testing.  It's another sugar (magnesium in the form of a sugar actually) and a supplement available at health stores (call around first).  Same as above - it helps the bacteria not be able to stick to the urinary tract walls. 

Cranberry is slightly acid.  MOST uti's actually make the urine more alkalyne so cranberry can help them be more comfortable.

BUT if your dog forms oxalate stones (like Willow can) that's the type of UTI that causes **acid** urine so that's why Lori's cautioning that you don't want to increase the acid with cranberry. 

 In short -- if there already IS a UTI you need the vet to diagnose it.  THEN you use the right antibiotic to get rid of it and the cranberry or d-mannose is actually better to help fully get rid of the infection or help it not come back.  They're better as a preventive thing than to *treat*.  Neither of them will get rid of an infection that is already there and established.

You're WAY better off to drop it off on your way and have them test the urine so that it doesn't sit.  You have to re-frigerate it anway (I always put it on ice even when transporting a short distance).  Bacteria grows fast and like Lori says, you sure can have a false positive if it sits.

Sometimes you can just have them treat it with amoxyl or something easy as an antibiotic.  but  ALWAYS take another sample in 2-3 days after you're done with the antibiotics and have them re-test it.  If that shows positive then you'd better have the culture and sensitivity done that Lori described (with a sterile culture -- either they aspirate it right from the bladder or they do a catheter, and Bear says WHAAAAATT?????). 

Honestly -- I'd drop off the sample and have the vet look at it.  Tell them you're glad to bring him in later but you can't guarantee it would be easy to get the sample otherwise.

As long as he hasn't just peed himself out before leaving the house, if he won't willingly "donate" (yes, that's what I tell my dogs as we run to the car -- "Don't go now .... HOLD IT -- you gotta donate at the vets!!";) the vet can always take the aspirate or catheterize him.

Diagnosing the first one is the big deal.  But if he's already had ONE, then frankly I would just plain tell the vet TO aspirate it and do the culture and sensitivity.  A uti shouldn't return -- if it does either you didn't get it all and it came back, or you need to be doing something preventive to get rid of them.  AND have the vet do an actual urinalysis to make sure you don't have stones or crystals causing the UTIs.

Thanks for your reply, Callie!  I've called the vet, going to catch a sample and take it in.  Since we didn't test any last time, thought that might be the place to start.  So if you guys see me on "you-tube" trying to get Bear to aim into the cup, you'll know I'm not completely nuts - even if my neighbors might think I am...LOL!

I don't wanna have to hold him if it comes down to a catheter - I'll have a lot to make up for. 

Was able to catch some pee - even got it to the vet's still warm!  Urinalysis came back normal, so not a UTI.  I'm not sure where to go from here.  Maybe wait a few days to see if the licking subsides?  If not, then go in for further testing?  The doctor suggested he might have gotten obsessed with licking himself, but it was over a month ago he went in and the excessive licking ended within a couple days of starting the antibiotics.  I dunno...

Did the vet actually send it OUT for a urinalysis or just do a strip test?  It can make a BIG difference and a strip test doesn't show crystals, etc. 

 Tina, I don't have any advice, but I hope you find the cause of his licking soon, and that it's not serious.

Callie, they must have just done a strip test because it wasn't long before I got a call.  I've gotta go in to pay when I leave work, so will ask again.   I guess I'm going to be catching more pee, huh?  The neighbors already think I'm weird...LOL

Janice, thanks, me too! 

sharismom

The neighbors already think I'm weird...LOL

   Ha Ha; not as weird as my neighbors thought I was. Last year I needed to get a urine sample; I tried attaching a paper cup to a stick, and also slipping a pie pan under her when she squatted; neither worked.  I finally brought a cup along when I walked her and put it in the stream when she lifted her leg to mark a bush, and it worked. I hoped nobody was watching;   A high protein diet can cause the urine to be acidic (a low ph), which can cause a little burning sensation when urinating. You said you feed him a raw diet; did the vet mention the ph of Bear's urine? Normal ph should be 6 to 6.5.

Definitly get a whole urinalysis done -- because you could have casts or crystals or stuff forming and yeah, you need to check the ph, etc.  A urinalysis will be at least overnight and if for some reason they do a culture & sensitivity it's days. 

I honestly usually let the vet do it -- I'm not agile enough and Foxy used to look at me and leer and say "GO AHEAD MOM - JUST ***TRY*** IT!" -- he was quicker'n greased lightning and you could chase him all day long! 

IF you can manage a 100% totally CLEAN pair of kitchen tongs and some sterile cotton balls or cotton squares, Dvet used to say to just hold the cotton in the urine stream and put it in a baggie.  But frankly, for ME that's too many risks of contamination. 

The other thing that can work well is a cheap kitchen ladle -- (buy a new one -- it will make the family feel good!!) just catch it and pour into a new baggie or container. 

Who worries about neighbors -- if you have ever known anyone with a dog you know you have to get a pee sample once in a while.

calliecritturs

I honestly usually let the vet do it

  You mean doing an ultrasound and inserting a needle into the bladder? My vet's done that too, and it doesn't seem to bother Jessie at all.
 

How's Bear doing?????????  Inquiring (and nosey minds) wanna know!!! 

jessies_mom

calliecritturs

I honestly usually let the vet do it

 

  You mean doing an ultrasound and inserting a needle into the bladder? My vet's done that too, and it doesn't seem to bother Jessie at all.

When they insert a long needle into the bladder that's an aspirate.  They just slide a needle in and suck out the urine.

The other way is when they use a catheter (a long tube that reaches way up in the bladder) -- not fun for anyone but if done competently it can be the best.  With an aspirate there is always the small risk of a tiny drop of blood where the bladder is pierced and that can make the urinalysis reading off (finding blood in the urine where there was none can scare you to death).  But if not done right the tip of the catheter can lose it's sterility by touching the foreskin or vulva. 

An ultrasound is like a pregnant woman getting a sonogram.  Gel on the outside (usually shaving the part of the body to be ultrasounded) and it's like sonar (sorta) and it records the shape of what's inside.  (now how's THAT for a half-wrapped Callie definition).