Hi there, My 6 yr old, spayed female Boxer, Sweetie, has had 3 bladder infections in the same amount of months. I've been to the vet each time, have had that many urinalysises (sp?), and been given Baytril (68mg) pills to get over each infection. But they keep coming back! I don't know what to do. After the first infection, they ran tests to make sure her kidneys were ok, and they came back clean. I've read many postings on this site about boxers peeing blood and this is what hapens to Sweetie, and the vet said it was a bladder infection. However, other people here have said their boxers were diagnosed with Urinary Tract Infection. Is that the same thing as a bladder infection? Any information from anyone with experiences of recurring bladder infections would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Recurring bladder infections
- Thread starter raeni18
- Start date
- Status
JulieM
Boxer Insane
I don't have personal experience with bladder/UTI infections, but Vitamin C and cranberry juice/extract can help prevent and sometimes even cure them. The problem with antibiotics is that they supress the symptoms, but do not address the reason behind the condition, so that (as you've learned) it keeps returning. Vit. C/cranberry help to make the UT environment more acidic, and thus inhospitable to bacteria.
susan fulcher
Super Boxer
Hi. My 61/2 yr old spayed female has the same problem.Her problem started when she was 2yrs old and had the problem several times a year,every year. She has been on so many antibiotics she has become allergic th betryl,cephlex,and amoxicilline does nothing for her.By 4 yrs. a vet said spaying her would take care of the problem but it didn't. By 4 1/2 yrs I finally found a homeoptic holistic vet. She doesn't have her on antibiotics .I learned from her and another vet who does accupuncture told me this too that these urinary infections are like waves, they come and peak and then go away. My vet has me give her 1500 -2000mil. of Vit.C ( I use Dr. Belfields Mega C for pets) and 500-1000 mil.of cranactin( cranberry capsules)I also have the guidance of my holistic vet, so I'm comfortable doing it this way. 4 yrs of conventional medicine didn't help her so I decided to try holistic medicine.She gets a litttle blood in her urine maybe 1 time for 1 or2 days,I let my vet and it goes away,once in a while she will have me get a urinalysis just to make sure things are okay. I know how scary it is ,the first 4 yrs I was a reck worrying about her,I'm more comfortable with her problems now. She is healthy and happy and doesn't seem to be sick like before. I also have her on a rawfood diet and no more chemicals in her or around the house,thats part of the holistic care. Check out ALTMEDVET.COM
Thanks for the information, I took Sweetie to a new vet and got new antibiotics and started sprinkling a 1/4 tsp. of Vit.C powder on her food once a day. SO far so good. I know it's only been 2 weeks since we finished the medication, but that's already better than the last infection coming back 3 days after the meds! I asked the vet about cranberry extract and he said that to his knowledge, cranberry is used because it's super high in Vit.C, so it's not really needed to give both, Vit.c is great. So thanks again for a very helpful hint!
JulieM
Boxer Insane
Glad to hear Sweetie is doing better 
You might want to let your vet know, though -
Proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins (bioflavonoids) make up the pigment of the leaves and produce the color of the berries. More importantly, proanthocyanidins are responsible for cranberry's best-known medicinal effect. They are the substances that inhibit bacterial colonization of the bladder and prevent urinary tract infections. They may also help relieve diarrheal symptoms.
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/g2603/0003/2603000307/p1/article.jhtml
The substances were identified by Dr. Amy Howell of Rutgers University and written up in the October 8, 1998 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, if he needs further reference
You might want to let your vet know, though -
Proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins (bioflavonoids) make up the pigment of the leaves and produce the color of the berries. More importantly, proanthocyanidins are responsible for cranberry's best-known medicinal effect. They are the substances that inhibit bacterial colonization of the bladder and prevent urinary tract infections. They may also help relieve diarrheal symptoms.
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/g2603/0003/2603000307/p1/article.jhtml
The substances were identified by Dr. Amy Howell of Rutgers University and written up in the October 8, 1998 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, if he needs further reference
bladder infections
My 18mo old male has experienced 2 UTI's in 3 weeks and we are having symptoms (frequency and accidents)on antibiotics currently!
I am giving him the cranberry and vit c as well along with the antibiotics and no luck...
Are there any other urinary tract problems that anyone has seen frequently that would cause the frequent uti's?
Any help would be appreciated!!
My 18mo old male has experienced 2 UTI's in 3 weeks and we are having symptoms (frequency and accidents)on antibiotics currently!
I am giving him the cranberry and vit c as well along with the antibiotics and no luck...
Are there any other urinary tract problems that anyone has seen frequently that would cause the frequent uti's?
Any help would be appreciated!!
CRAISANS
I had my own problems with recurring UTI's and since I just don't like cranberry juice enough to drink it every day as a prophylactic - I started taking the capsules. So far, so good.....
Mack has never had a problem like that but one of the things I give him daily are a few dried cranberries (Craisans) in a meal or as treats. If I had a dog that was having problems, I would try the dried cranberries.
I had my own problems with recurring UTI's and since I just don't like cranberry juice enough to drink it every day as a prophylactic - I started taking the capsules. So far, so good.....
Mack has never had a problem like that but one of the things I give him daily are a few dried cranberries (Craisans) in a meal or as treats. If I had a dog that was having problems, I would try the dried cranberries.
- Status