Bladder Infection???

[dobermom]

I have my newest rescue, she is VERY thin, but otherwise seems pretty healthy.
I have noticed her drinking LOTS of water. She peed some in her crate didn't seem like a full pee. A few minutes ago she peed a little bit on the carpet, could she have a bladder infection?

[Dax]

Originally Posted by dobermom

I have my newest rescue, she is VERY thin, but otherwise seems pretty healthy.
I have noticed her drinking LOTS of water. She peed some in her crate didn't seem like a full pee. A few minutes ago she peed a little bit on the carpet, could she have a bladder infection?

What color is the pee? Does it smell very strong? Puppies always drink a lot the first couple of days in a new home. It could be stress.

[dobermom]

It seemed yellow, I didn't get down and sniff, but it didn't knock me off my feet.
Shelter said she is 2, i think she may be closer to a year.

[RoughCollies]

It might be. We just got through this. Sounds like what we went through. Give her Vitamin C. Faithey is 70 pounds and she was getting 100mg a day.

[sheplovr]

If it is this will not hurt to give anyhow. It is great for the bladder in humans also.


Cranberry Juice, Dogs & Bladder Infections




Cranberry juice and tablets of cranberry juice extract might help a dog with chronic bladder infections. Cranberry juice imparts an acidic (lower) pH to the urine. Acidic urine can help prevent or eliminate bacterial infections of the urinary tract. At least two bacterial inhibitors in cranberry juice, long believed to reduce bladder infections in humans, may protect dogs against urinary tract infections.
Cranberry juice can be offered straight or diluted with water but an alternative source of unaltered (plain) water should also be available. Therapeutic diets and medications can accomplish the same pH shift. Increasing the acidification of the urine should not be used as an alternative to antibiotic therapy, but as an adjunct or preventive treatment. Always check with your veterinarian before adding supplements, even those that seem as safe as cranberry juice. Prolonged overacidification of the urine could lead to some types of bladder stones, such as calcium oxalates. Prolonged infections often have underlying causes. Search for these if appropriate antibiotic therapy fails to clear a urinary tract infection or there is recurrence. Antibiotic therapy should be based on culture and sensitivity testing and needs to be long enough to effectively clear any infection. At least four weeks of continuous treatment is usually needed in chronic or stubborn cases. A follow-up urine culture should be performed about seven days after completion of antibiotic therapy to assess the treatment's effectiveness.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Bogey used to get bladder infections a lot, which got really old. I asked the vet about giving him cranberry juice. She said most cranberry juice's are extremely high in sugar (not good for a dog) and would need to be taken in large quantities to be effective.

So, he's taken preventative medicine to maintain the proper ph for several years now and hasn't had an infection since.

As the infection worsens, the urine typically gets darker and darker yellow. When it's really bad, if you put some of first morning urine between your fingers (so gross, I know) you will start to feel tiny crystals forming.

So, if this keeps up and you feel the "I'm new jitters" are over, then a simple urine test is warranted. I wouldn't wait too long after that because they'll typically get really irritated "down there" as the tiny crystals start to form. Then they start peeing every 15 minutes to try and eliminate the irritation. If that is what it is, antibiotics clear it up quickly.

But, like Dax said, it could just be due to coming to a new home or maybe she's just not housebroken.

[carrie79]

Does she wimper when she pees? My friends rottie had one and she would try and try but coulnt, and when she would try she would wimper.

[dobermom]

No, she doesn't whimper.

I found a small spot last night. ABout the size of your palm. I dont think that could have been a full pee. Honestly I have NEVER had dogs pee in the house, so I am not familiar.
I put her in her crate last night from about 2am till 7am. She had what I think was a full pee.

[RoughCollies]

Solid Gold makes a product called Berry Balance which has the cranberry in it. It is made specifically for urinary tract health.

[Dignity]

The dog could have crystals. Whenever I've dealt with urinary track infections I always noticed straining/crying and blood in the pee. I've only dealt with it in cats though - I know for cats if you feed a diet with high ash content (Ash is pretty high in fish products) they can be more prone to UTI.

Does the rescue you work with have a vet or pay for vet costs? If so, I'd say take her to the vet.