Frequent urination

[kyparamedic]

Our 6 year-old, spayed miniature poodle is having to go to the bathroom constantly. This began about a month ago. When inside, she starts begging to go out about every 45 mins to an hour. At night, she's usually able to hold it but ocassionally will start wimpering in the middle of the night to go out. She When on walks she stops to go about every 20 feet. She acts like she's straining and sometimes just a few drops will come out.

At the first visit he said it sounds like a simple case of UTI so he just put her on a round of antibiotics. 10 days later she wasn't any better so he started running some tests. Urinalysis was fine although he said she had a tiny amount of protein that didn't concern him now but might be an indicator of future kidney disease. Bloodwork all came back fine along with X-rays to rule out bladder or kidney stones. Since all the common things have been ruled out, he thinks it might just be a psychological thing so he's started her on Elavil (Amitriptyline). He also mentioned overactive bladder, which he said isn't all that common in dogs so he thought we'd try this approach first. It's only been a week and hasn't made a difference so far.

We're exasperated and considering getting a second opinion. Any ideas here?

Thanks!

[Dauxside]

Has your vet ruled out diabetes? Thyroid problems or a tumor in the urinary tract can also cause frequent urination. I'd want a second opinion.

[kyparamedic]

I'm assuming diabetes was ruled out. I'm getting this info from my mom as I don't live at home right now. She wasn't sure about it as I asked her. I imagine an overactive thyroid would have shown up in the lab work unless he didn't check a T4 level for some reason. The tumor I'm not sure about. It's definitely possible as it might not show up on an x-ray. He is very conservative in his approach, going by the adage, "when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." At some point though, you have to start looking for zebras.

One additional thing. My mom really hasn't noticed any increase in water intake which one would expect.

[BC132]

Could it be crystals?
I don't know if dogs can get them but my cat suffers from it and he had to keep going pee and ended up with a little blood in his pee. He was put on clavamox and it cleared him up.

[kyparamedic]

Not sure on the crystals. I think those are just a form of stones that were supposed to have been ruled out. We'll have to ask the vet about this specifically. I would imagine that he would have checked for this.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I didn't like how it started out. The vet put the dog on antibiotics for an undiagnosed (just suspected) bladder infection? I never want my dog put on antibiotics without a definate reason. I guess that's because homeopathic followers really dislike antibiotics.

I think I would get another opinion.

[Jaïa]

Originally Posted by kyparamedic

When on walks she stops to go about every 20 feet. She acts like she's straining and sometimes just a few drops will come out.

My dog does that to... She marking her territory. Pee marking that is! She's letting other dog's know who she is.

As for the other problems, maybe she just wants to make sure that there isn't anybody on her territory?? Like wanting to go investigate all of her markings, checking if someone went through and left their smell... Could she be just over protective of her territory?