We have a 12 week old GSD (we've had her 3 weeks in a residential area - not a rural setting). We took her in for alarming blood in the urine on Monday. She had no signs of any sickness - good appetite, drinking well, playing, no increase in frequency or painful urination. I just happened to notice her peeing blood - thank God! We rushed her to the vet.

They did a urine culture which didn't identify a uti. As the vet looked her over there was no signs of clotting issues, internal bleeding or kidney/bladder dysfunction and/or infection. They also did in house blood work - white blood cells high, red blood cells lower than he liked but not anemic. They also sent out more blood work to a lab and a lepto titer. Still waiting on those results. Vet seemed calm, but alarmed - not sure what this was.

They gave her a shot of penicillin and then gave me 150 mg amoxicillin to be given 2x/day for 10 days. The next day no blood. Took her back yesterday for more blood/urine work - urine clear and slight change for the good in white blood cells, but not where he wants them. Still waiting lepto results - sometimes next week.

She is clearly doing well on the meds, which she has another 7 days left.

Has anyone ever heard of such a situation?

If she only needs this 10 day of meds, how long should I wait until she is considered "healthy"? She was scheduled for 12 week puppy shots next week - not doing that, but wondering how long until she can get them?

Well, I'm not sure how much you've read, but a fair amount of us aren't big fans of vaccinations, period. So, my first recommendation would be, review some of the information on vaccinosis, and decide if you want to vaccinate as a puppy at all.

Nevermind, I remember your posts about your Golden, etc. You've already done your homework.

Myself, I don't vaccinate. I WILL have to have my girls get rabies shots before I can trial them (because my Training Director will KILL me, it's against the club's bylaws and a huge liability issue.) So, I'm waiting until the oldest possible age to inflict that on them.


You are right not to want to vaccinate after the pup has been sick.

If you still decide you wish to follow through on puppy vaccinations, I would wait at LEAST a month from the time the cause of illness has been identified and treated.
So, if the cause was say, Lepto, wait until no less than 30 days after the last dose of medication was given.

In those 30 days, I would be supplementing the dog with yogurt or other probiotics to rebuild the supply of friendly bacteria in the gut, and feeding the best possible food I could, to restore the dog to health, to give it the best chance before vaccination.