7 mo old male puppy with UTI's, Vet doesn't know what it is... STILL :(

[Nicole & Dexter]

Hello everyone,

Dexter is still having problems when he pees. Dexter has been on 4 different antibiotics! We have done urine-analysis tests and cultural tests like crazy in the past few months. The first few tests showed stuvite crystals in his urine.  We put him on a couple antibiotics because it would come and go, finally it seemed to clear up the crystals, but then the vet found a drug resistant bacteria in his urine weeks later and we had to put him on another antibiotic. We then went back for testing after his last round of antibiotics and the vet said the bacteria is gone. Well that's great and all, but he's still licking his area after he urinates.  When the vet called to give me the results, she didn't know what to say. She doesn't know what it is. She recommended doing an xray, to see if there is something we are missing, such as a stone. She said if that doesn't work, then she will refer me to an imaging center to take a picture of his insides. I have asked several times if it's the food, and she seems to disagree. She said he's too young, and we would see sign of allergies. She also thinks maybe it's nothing. Maybe he just is obsessed with licking there. I disagree. I'm at my wits end here! Last Thursday I put him on Taste of the Wild grain free food. He has really only been on it since Saturday because I mixed it with his kirkland food he's been on. Which, today he threw up a little, and I'm wondering if it's because I rushed it too fast changing him from kirkland to grain free food in a matter of only a few days? 

Dexter is 7 months old now. He's had this issue for most of his life already and I feel like there's not much more I can do. The vet hasn't helped much. I'm praying this is something he will grow out of. I'm going to keep him on TOTW, but add some kirland for a little bit longer so his stomach can adjust to it, and hopefully see some progress! If anyone has any other advise, please please help me! Sometimes I wonder if I'm just going crazy and over-reacting, but when I see him stop whatever he's doing just to lick his private area, especially after peeing, it definitely tells me there is a problem! Again, any help would be great. Even if you've given me advise about it before when I posted in September, I would appreciate the advice again.

Thank you! 

-Nicole

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry to hear this, Nicole. I wish I had some more advice but I have nothing to add from the past discussions. I think it's good that at least the bacteria is gone. Does he seem to be in pain when he urinates? 

[Nicole & Dexter]

No, he seems to be fine when he is urinating. It's just afterwards. Thanks, Karen!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Does he urinate frequently as they do when they have an active infection?

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

 I don't think you're overreacting-I would be the same way if this were Tara. It's hard to give advice when it currently seems to be an undiagnosed issue.  Have you considered seeing another vet for a second opinion? It sounds like your vet has reached the pinnacle of her knowledge with this issue.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

This will sound stupid, but are dogs ever just clean freaks? Does he just want to clean himself.... I only ask since your vet can't find an answer

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm no expert but I've never heard of a dog licking excessively for the sole purpose of cleanliness. I believe that it is usually triggered by something-allergies, pain, stress-that sort of thing.

But now I'm wondering, since he has had this problem pretty much all of his life, if it is possible he developed a habit of licking. Because originally it DID hurt when he urinated and he licked afterward but now that the pain has stopped, he has an ingrained pattern to lick after urinating pain or no pain . It has somehow become "normal" for him. It's kind of far fetched....

[F, Calla & Luca]

Not far fetched I think.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

My first thought was this: that maybe it has become a learned habit. I wonder if trying to distract him, each and every time he starts licking... maybe with a treat, a toy, or whatever distraction. Just maybe it would break the habit. In lieu of nothing else...maybe it's worth a shot. ( shrugging my shoulders)

[Nicole & Dexter]

Thank you guys for thinking about this! You all could be right.... maybe it is a habit! I'll just keep watching him closely and keep him front licking. Maybe he'll break it eventually.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Keep us posted. I, for one, interested in hearing the outcome. Fingers, toes, paws and tails crossed it does turn out to be purely habit!

[Nicole & Dexter]

Thanks for responding! I have seen two vets so far, and they both seem to have the same answers for the issue.... just testing and trying different antibiotics.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I know how frustrated you must feel. I would definitely go for the x-ray and if that doesn't show anything, then the imaging center. If that all seems like overkill to you, then I'd look into a new vet, but chances are good they'd suggest the same thing.