Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG!

• 03-16-2008 8:33 AM

  fiamartin Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 15 Points 5

  Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG! Reply Contact Help!  I have a 12 year old Brittany. She has a heart condition and takes meds for it. She also was diagnosed with incontinence years ago and takes proin. About 3 months ago she had a UTI and the vet gave her antibiotics and it went away. The symptoms came back this past week. We took her to the vet. She is drinking a lot and is urinating a lot;  3-4 times each time she goes out, and needs to go out frequently. The vet said it is not a UTI he checked her urine. He also took an x-ray and did not see stones or any kidney issues. The urine also did not test positive for kidney issues either. He is sending it our for further cultures and cytology at this time to see what we have on ourhands. We had to put her on Roal Canin Urinary S/O other than it stinking up her urine it does not seem to be working. Has anyone every had this happen to them? She is such a sweet dog and I will do anything to keep her comfortable and alive as long as possible as she is my and my husband's life!! So any insight would be greatly appreciated...

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• 03-16-2008 8:50 AM

  In reply to fiamartin

  denise m Joined on 12-06-2006 Toronto Canada Posts 1,160 Points 70	Re: Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG! Reply Contact I'm sure there can be lots of reasons for this. Hopefully others can help there. I just wanted to mention that my sister's dog had similar symptoms which turned out to be Cushings. Something your vet may want to check for. Prayers and good thoughts coming your way.
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• 03-16-2008 9:14 AM

  In reply to denise m

  tzu_mom Joined on 09-10-2007 midwest Posts 534 Points 0	Re: Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG! Reply Contact As Denise mentioned, it could be many things: Could it be a side effect of any meds she may be on?   Cushing's comes to mind, also Diabetes Insipidus.  Here's a thread to check out: http://community.dog.com/forums/p/70955/552389.aspx#552389
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• 03-16-2008 9:50 AM

  In reply to tzu_mom

  westiegirl3 Joined on 11-05-2007 Posts 546 Points 1,365	Re: Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG! Reply Contact I had a little girl with Diabetes Insipidus with the exact same symptoms.  Make sure your vet checks for this, as it often gets overlooked.  You will be in my thoughts and prayers.   Mom to Bell, Gracie, Treasure, Olivia, and Katza--the Cat Sophie--My Heart, My Joy
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• 03-16-2008 12:24 PM

  In reply to fiamartin

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,748 Points 330

  Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG! Reply Contact If you do get a diagnosis of Cushings, consider doing the Endocrine-Immune blood test before treating.  The endocrine system is made up of many parts which are interdependent.  As I understand it, if there is no tumor, one can sometimes use that test to resolve the Cushings symptoms without any harsh teatments. The test is described in the following book: Plechner, Alfred J.   http://www.drplechner.com/ Pets at Risk: From Allergies to Cancer, Remedies for an Unsuspected Epidemic, 9/2003 http://tinyurl.com/4bhje

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• 03-16-2008 12:35 PM

  In reply to janet_rose

  outdoorschik Joined on 09-10-2007 White Mountains, NH Posts 496 Points 50	Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG! Reply Contact  Also, it could be that there is still a UTI. Callie mentioned to me once that if a dog drinks enough it can cause the urine to get a false negative at the vet b/c it is so dilute. They often drink a ton to make it hurt less. I would almost ask if you can try some antibiotics to see if they help and some cranberry pills.
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• 03-16-2008 6:23 PM

  In reply to outdoorschik

  fiamartin Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 15 Points 5	Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG!- Thanks Reply Contact I am going to call the vet tomorrow and ask him to do the following: Take a blood sample to rule out or rule in Cushings and or Diabetes Ask for antibiotics to be on the safe side Ask about adding cranberry tablets to her daily meds Thanks everyone!!!
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• 03-16-2008 7:44 PM

  In reply to fiamartin

  westiegirl3 Joined on 11-05-2007 Posts 546 Points 1,365

  Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG!- Thanks Reply Contact There are two types of diabetes 1. Diabetes Mellitus and 2 Diabetes Insipidus.  When most people hear Diabetes, they are thinking of Diabetes Mellitus.  This is the kind that most people get.  It would be good to have your dog checked for this.  I had my Sophie checked for this and she did not have this.  She had Diabetes Insipidus, which is a totally different disease process and is not treated or managed in the same way at all.  I think it would be good to have your dog checked for Diabetes Mellitus, Cushings and Diabetes Insipidus.  I've been told by a vet in Atlanta and experienced it myself that Diabetes Insipidus is often overlooked when looking for a diagnosis.  Please if the diagnosis is negative for Diabetes Mellitus and Cushings make sure they check for Diabetes Insipidus.  Mom to Bell, Gracie, Treasure, Olivia, and Katza--the Cat Sophie--My Heart, My Joy

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• 03-16-2008 7:48 PM

  In reply to westiegirl3

  ottoluv Joined on 11-27-2006 So Cal Posts 2,887 Points 520

  Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG!- Thanks Reply Contact westiegirl3: There are two types of diabetes 1. Diabetes Mellitus and 2 Diabetes Insipidus.  When most people hear Diabetes, they are thinking of Diabetes Mellitus.  This is the kind that most people get.  It would be good to have your dog checked for this.  I had my Sophie checked for this and she did not have this.  She had Diabetes Insipidus, which is a totally different disease process and is not treated or managed in the same way at all.  I think it would be good to have your dog checked for Diabetes Mellitus, Cushings and Diabetes Insipidus.  I've been told by a vet in Atlanta and experienced it myself that Diabetes Insipidus is often overlooked when looking for a diagnosis.  Please if the diagnosis is negative for Diabetes Mellitus and Cushings make sure they check for Diabetes Insipidus.  To check for DI (diabetes insipitus) you need a sodium level and a urine specific gravity.  Both of which will be included in a basic metabolic panel and UA.  Just ask your vet to send them both.  It is untrue that dilute urine will make a UA false negative.  If it shows no infection, then there is no infection.  UA's look at nitrites, LEA, WBC's and bacteria (alont with some other things).  All of which will still be present in dilute urine.  It is a bad idea to add antibiotics with no proof of an infection.  Vets that do this are not following the standard of care and are the reason there are many resistant organisms out there.  Here I am stuck in the middle with you I practice societal sanctioned assault

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• 03-16-2008 11:56 PM

  In reply to ottoluv

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 7,283 Points 1,975

  Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG!- Thanks Reply Contact My first question would be back up at the top -- if this dog has a heart condition, is it taking something like Lasix?  That can make a dog both drink tons and be quite incontinent.  Has there been a recent change in the meds or is this simply an increasing thing (which can happen).  All those old folks in nursing homes in diapers?  Most of them are on Lasix.  Just a thot.

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• 03-17-2008 12:34 AM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  willowchow Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 6,319 Points 300	Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG!- Thanks Reply Contact Is she still on the S/O food?  It greatly increased Willow's urine output even for the short time she was on it.  I think part of what it does is increase thirst to get them urinating more.  If she is still on it, you might want to discuss this with the vet.
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• 03-17-2008 7:45 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  fiamartin Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 15 Points 5	Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG!- Thanks Reply Contact The meds for her heart is called enalipril and we have had teh same dose for at least a year- nothing has changed with that medication.
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• 03-17-2008 7:46 PM

  In reply to willowchow

  fiamartin Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 15 Points 5	Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG!- Thanks Reply Contact She is still on it- in fact he gave us a full other bag.
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• 03-18-2008 7:58 PM

  In reply to fiamartin

  fiamartin Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 15 Points 5	Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG!- Results Reply Contact Well- it turns out she does not have Cushings or Diabetes. What she has is a pretty nasty UTI- the results came up when it was sent out to cytology. She is on Clavamox 3 times a day and after two doses she is much better!  Thank you all for the help!!!!
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• 03-18-2008 8:28 PM

  In reply to fiamartin

  westiegirl3 Joined on 11-05-2007 Posts 546 Points 1,365	Re: Help! Frequent Urination and Drinking- OLDER DOG!- Results Reply Contact I am so glad to hear that she is doing much better and for the relatively good news. Thanks for letting us know how she is doing. Mom to Bell, Gracie, Treasure, Olivia, and Katza--the Cat Sophie--My Heart, My Joy
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