Quote: Dale Stoneburg

.... I do not know how to collect a sample, do you have some good tips? . And by first pee of the day, what do you mean? I have been taking her out every three hours, even throughout the night.

Is she still on the clavamox?

I'd call the vet tomorrow and explain about the increased urination frequency.

I was forgetting that she was on clavamox. The vet will tell you whether s/he wants a specimen before you bring her in.

If yes, s/he wants a clean catch, post back and we can tell you how to collect it.




P.S.
The "first of the day" is less meaningful -- maybe not meaningful at all, but the vet can address that -- in this case (where you have no long span at night of no peeing). In usual circumstances, the first urine of the day has allowed the longest time for bacteria to accumulate in the bladder.

Ah I gotcha, she has been off all the meds including clavamox for about a week now.

 Quote: Dale Stoneburg

Ah I gotcha, she has been off all the meds including clavamox for about a week now.

I'd definitely call the vet today. Let us know!

So I spoke with the vet and am taking her in tomorrow morning. The vet wants to do a urinalysis as well as most likely put her on a prescription kibble that has lots of probiotics, and its made by royal canine. I am assuming she will be getting a shot of fluids because she seems to be mildly dehydrated to me. What are your thoughts/ideas on this?

You could save lots of money and probably get much better nutrition by just feeding her yogurt or plain kefir rather than prescription kibble.

If she is dehydrated you could make a batch of electrolytes (1 qt water, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking soda/bicarb, 3 Tbsp sugar) for her to drink. You could make it with chicken broth instead of water to encourage her to drink it.

 Quote: Debbie Bruce

You could save lots of money and probably get much better nutrition by just feeding her yogurt or plain kefir rather than prescription kibble.

What she said.


Live-culture plain yogurt or kefir added to a good-quality food (not that brand) would be my choice.

I'm glad you got an appointment for tomorrow! Let us know.

So I went into the vet today. They did a poop sample and looked at it under the microscope and it looked good. The vet wants me to switch her to the taste of the wild so I am in the process of doing that. They ultrasounded her bladder and there was nothing in there.. She doesn't seem to be dehydrated. They got a very very small sample of urine, only enough to look at under the microscope, not enough to culture. If I remember correctly she said there are 'crystals'? Or something like that that has formed from a PH imbalance. She mentioned it probably hurts when she pees. Which I assume is correct because at times she will run around crying and then pee. I initially though that it was because she was getting used to going on a leash but it more seems that she may be in pain while having to go.

I am taking a sample in tomorrow morning so they can culture and treat it. I guess its a wait and see game now, see if she goes back to having pudding poops with the switch or see if she manages it ok. The vet thinks she may just have irritable bowel syndrome or even possibly an allergy to kibble, whether it be some of the protein in there or something else. I have my fingers crossed and am hoping for the best and hope this gets resolved so we can work on re-training the potty training that has been ruined because she can't control her bladder and bowels.

What kind of crystals? Did they use the word "struvite"?

Please keep us posted on this. Struvites are indeed generally caused by a pH imbalance, and that pH imbalance is nearly always the result of a UTI. The bacteria causes the alkalinity (not the diet, as is often believed). The discomfort on urinating is not at all unusual with a UTI.

Treating a struvite-causing UTI will treat the struvites. While it's true that there is such a thing as sterile struvites, that is so uncommon that I have never even seen an actual case history. Infection-induced struvite (the overwhelming category of struvites) is often associated with urease-producing staphylococcal UTIs.

So the culture is a very good idea.

Of course, we don't know whether it's struvites or oxalate crystals or what. I hope that you will take a notebook and pen with you so you don't do what so many of us do (walk outside, get into the car, and think "What did s/he say?" )

Whatever the diagnosis, I have a lot of authoritative material on UTIs and crystals, and will be happy to link you up and give you excerpts from the Manual of Nephrology and other vet reference sources.

 Quote: Dale Stoneburg

...because she can't control her bladder and bowels.

Isn't she on day 4 of log poops?