UTI Persistence vs. Recurrence

[yobdlog]

Hello everyone - thanks in advance for all advice and suggestions on how to approach care for my lovely Roxy girl.

I'm a touch miffed at my vet's office - but don't hold it against their vets for not collaborating better for this information so I've started researching 'tons' on the internet, forums, etc. looking for a good approach. Please don't get me wrong - I am not upset at the financial aspect of it - but am more displeased with the amount of treatment that is going towards treating symptoms rather than the 'actual' root cause.

Roxy is a 4 yr. old boxer female who was adopted at 1 yr. old. She has been quite well throughout her 3 years with my family with the exception of UTIs. She has had about 6 treatments within those 3 years in treating UTIs. Our vet on her most recent incident with a UTI, said that 2 UTIs within a 'lifetime' of a dog is a normal thing - but 6 is abnormal. I'm upset in hearing that as why would they state it now rather than at the 3rd or 4th treatment to undergo more 'microscopic' view of what the issue was at that time - but I digress - she is at her 6th treatment now after a whole year of being clear of any UTI issues.

She has undergone the x-rays to the kidneys and all was looking quite clear 2 years ago. So she has another UTI now - and is back on the same antiobiotic that they used 2 years ago.

My question is this:
My research says that UTIs can be traced to a bacterial infection manifested through protein and microbial activity in the uriine - treated with the 'proper' anti-biotic when all other symptoms have been reviewed (i.e. crystals in the urine, excessive blood in urine, excessive protein in urine)though a length of time - the UTI can be safely eliminated. The question I have is - is the pattern that my poochie is going through more a 'persistent' infection rather than a 'recurrence'. The difference is quite substantial as I feel (being a larger vet office that I visit) that perhaps the adequate diagnosis isn't being applied to testing for UTIs. Notice I am not saying 'mis-diagnosing' or being accusatory, just wondering if I should get a 2nd opinion at this point as well.

I 'believe' my issue is a persistent bacterial infection that hasn't been eliminated yet - the anti-biotic hasn't reached that 'one' little spot in her urinary tract to kill it - or the wrong one is being applied. The fact that it has recurred has been more that it hasn't been elminated yet so its the same or similar one coming back. The last time she had a UTI 2 years ago - she was treated for 6 weeks with 3 different anti-biotics which from what I am reading isn't always effective as each round doesn't work its way through - though the vet says - that "shouldn't" be the case.

Best Regards and THANK YOU!
APU

 

[rainyday]

Rowdy had persistent UTI's as well. He had some fluke where his bladder was attached by a little tendon to his abdomen. His bladder was tilted and he wasn't extracting all the urine....therefore the urine would sit in his bladder and develop an infection. My vet after 3 different vets did a sonogram and found the problem.

I would absolutely get a second opinion. Good luck.
I know exactly what you're feeling.

Rowdy and Lindsay ~~~~~sending good vibes and boxer kisses your way.

 

[yobdlog]

Rowdy had persistent UTI's as well. He had some fluke where his bladder was attached by a little tendon to his abdomen. His bladder was tilted and he wasn't extracting all the urine....therefore the urine would sit in his bladder and develop an infection. My vet after 3 different vets did a sonogram and found the problem.

I would absolutely get a second opinion. Good luck.
I know exactly what you're feeling.

Rowdy and Lindsay ~~~~~sending good vibes and boxer kisses your way.

This is very interesting indeed - they mentioned doing an ultrasound - would this be a similar routine to look for a similar instance such as yours? Just want to narrow down the approach to know what I should be considering.

The diet was a good one that I've been really watching ever since the 2nd infection - she has been pretty good since then - she isn't a full fire alarm type of infection where she is very incontinent and in visible pain -she rarely if ever complains about needing to get out more than she already does (which is every 3-4 hours every day - my wife and I work from home). So it seems she gets over the initial rounds of the infection very fast (1-2 days) once we get an anti-biotic - I just feel helpless that the anti-biotic treatment seems more of a band-aid to the actual cause of the infection rather than curing it.

Keep 'em coming and THANK YOU!

 

[jaimie]

You may need to have a Culture & Sensitivity done. Its not done like ours though, they sedate them & put a needle in their bladder through the abdomen. Then send it off to see what antibiotic will work best. Also, watch for stones because if she is constantly having infections she could get bladder stones like my girl Bay has. She is on an antibiotic right now & has struvite crystals in her urine AGAIN. It may cost anywhere from $60-$100 to get it done but worth it if the antibiotic isn't working & she has had multiple infections.

 

[baileyrce]

I stumbled onto this forum doing research on my 3 month old boxer, Bailey, who also has a UTI. She is on her 2nd medication. We were having a terrible time trying to house break her, we talked with the vet and she suggested sending in a urine sample. It came back positve. The first medicine was a 10 day. After the 8th day and still no improvement, the vet switched Bailey to something else. It has been a little over a week now on the new medicine. She is peeing more and holding it longer. However, we are still noticing a discharge. Its a little discouraging.

 

[yobdlog]

I stumbled onto this forum doing research on my 3 month old boxer, Bailey, who also has a UTI. She is on her 2nd medication. We were having a terrible time trying to house break her, we talked with the vet and she suggested sending in a urine sample. It came back positve. The first medicine was a 10 day. After the 8th day and still no improvement, the vet switched Bailey to something else. It has been a little over a week now on the new medicine. She is peeing more and holding it longer. However, we are still noticing a discharge. Its a little discouraging.

UTIs do take time to recover from - that I have learned. The anti-biotic treatment takes a minimum of 2-3 weeks to be effective in any manner (even after you finish the dosage it is still doing its thing in the digestive tract and urinary tract). The frustrating part is having to watch your poochie suffer through it - but it does go away - be patient with it. My issue with my pooch is trying to find out if its the same darned one that never really got treated or if its a separate issue that hasn't been found - i just want it found through the appropriate treatment and diagnosis.

hang in there - there are many of us who have gone through it frequently enough to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel (this forum has been most encouraging).

 

[dad2max]

Hello everyone - thanks in advance for all advice and suggestions on how to approach care for my lovely Roxy girl.

I'm a touch miffed at my vet's office - but don't hold it against their vets for not collaborating better for this information so I've started researching 'tons' on the internet, forums, etc. looking for a good approach. Please don't get me wrong - I am not upset at the financial aspect of it - but am more displeased with the amount of treatment that is going towards treating symptoms rather than the 'actual' root cause.

Roxy is a 4 yr. old boxer female who was adopted at 1 yr. old. She has been quite well throughout her 3 years with my family with the exception of UTIs. She has had about 6 treatments within those 3 years in treating UTIs. Our vet on her most recent incident with a UTI, said that 2 UTIs within a 'lifetime' of a dog is a normal thing - but 6 is abnormal. I'm upset in hearing that as why would they state it now rather than at the 3rd or 4th treatment to undergo more 'microscopic' view of what the issue was at that time - but I digress - she is at her 6th treatment now after a whole year of being clear of any UTI issues.

She has undergone the x-rays to the kidneys and all was looking quite clear 2 years ago. So she has another UTI now - and is back on the same antiobiotic that they used 2 years ago.

My question is this:
My research says that UTIs can be traced to a bacterial infection manifested through protein and microbial activity in the uriine - treated with the 'proper' anti-biotic when all other symptoms have been reviewed (i.e. crystals in the urine, excessive blood in urine, excessive protein in urine)though a length of time - the UTI can be safely eliminated. The question I have is - is the pattern that my poochie is going through more a 'persistent' infection rather than a 'recurrence'. The difference is quite substantial as I feel (being a larger vet office that I visit) that perhaps the adequate diagnosis isn't being applied to testing for UTIs. Notice I am not saying 'mis-diagnosing' or being accusatory, just wondering if I should get a 2nd opinion at this point as well.

I 'believe' my issue is a persistent bacterial infection that hasn't been eliminated yet - the anti-biotic hasn't reached that 'one' little spot in her urinary tract to kill it - or the wrong one is being applied. The fact that it has recurred has been more that it hasn't been elminated yet so its the same or similar one coming back. The last time she had a UTI 2 years ago - she was treated for 6 weeks with 3 different anti-biotics which from what I am reading isn't always effective as each round doesn't work its way through - though the vet says - that "shouldn't" be the case.

Best Regards and THANK YOU!
APU

In regards to your question of persistent vs. recurrent, it seems as if proper and accurate duration of antibiotic treatment was initiated. In humans, some people are prone to recurrent UTIs, in which prophylactic antibiotics are used. In other words, they are given daily antibiotics to prevent reoccurance. A problem with this is that bacteria can become resistant to the antibiotic. Eventually, all antibiotics may become ineffective. Fluroquinilone antibiotics such as Cipro reach very good urine concentrations and do well at eliminating infection. Could the UTI be persistent? I would say yes, especially if the bacteria causing it is resistant to the antibiotics that your vet prescribed. However, the fact that she was last treated 2 yrs ago and it has just now reoccured would indicate that it was previously eliminated, even in slow growing bacteria. I hope this answers your question. Again, I am not a vet, but just thought I would throw in my two cents.

 

[jaimie]

baileyrce- Your female probably does NOT have the UTI you think she has. My female had puppy vaginitis for most of her first year. We used to add yogurt into her food & eventually it went away. Do a search on here under vaginitis and you will probably find a ton of posts!

 

[kate529]

My 9 month old Hazel has been battling a UTI from day one when we got her at 8 weeks... we didn't notice til 2 weeks of having her. She has been on many different 10 day meds. We finally did a culture and sensitivity, it cost like $105, which I wanted to die over, didnt realize it would be that much. But we found out she has a bacteria called Proteus Mirabilis. It is very hard to get rid of, much like e coli. She is on Clavamox for no less then 16 weeks. And its fairly costly, at $95/month. The vet also mentioned something about some kind of "shock medicine" or something, I am talking to her about that today. But its where they will give her a high dose of something, and ween her off, then she might have to have a pill a month or something??? Not sure. But, if your pup has that bacteria.. it will definately take some time. But definately do take the culture test, it will probably save you money to get the right meds, rather then keep paying for more tests and more meds that aren't working.

 

[kate529]

Sorry, thats pulse, not shock. I'm still not sure how it works, I'm going to research it more. She still has another 7 weeks of clavamox before we go that route.