Follow up to Chronic UTI in 4 month old puppy. I am so worried.

[Donna P.]

Baylie the goldendoodle was diagosed with a UTI when she was 3 months old. For the last 6 weeks she has been on revolving antibiotics. For 20 days she was on Clavamox. 10 days on Baytril, and just finished 10 days on SMZ-TMP. Nothing has knocked it back. My vet has been hestitant to send out a sample to the lab to culture because she says that most of the time they get back a negative result even when she, the vet, is able to see bacteria on the slide. It costs $150 for the test, regardless. So she usually gives a broad spectrum antibiotic which usually clears up the problem.

The dog needs to be off any antibiotics for two weeks before she can send a sample to the lab, so in the meantime, she is going to perform an ultrasound and take a urine sample directly from the bladder to make sure that is where the infection is coming from. If that shows nothing then she will send a sample to the lab.

3 days ago, I started her on a cranberry extract for dogs and cats. Don't know if that will help, but can't hurt. Has anyone else experienced such a resistant infection, and what was the outcome? I am so worried that she might find something that isn't fixable. Anyone got advice?

[Teresa]

Donna so happy it had a great end result for you and Baylie! Just like with human doctors, we have to sometimes do our own research to get to the answer. Although I have a wonderful vet, I do rely on my doodle friends to help with my concerns and questions. Experience......you just can't beat it.

The money is one thing. The anguish was quite another. Poor Baylie probably kept looking at you like...What's wrong? I'm fine!