Zarasowner

Hey all. I haven't posted an update. I'm noticing that Zara's urinating has improved again. Had her on Royal Canin S/O for a month,it caused increased thirst and made the urine very pale but has been back on the old food for a bit now. She doesn't need to go every three hours. I take her on long walks so I let her empty out her bladder. Her streams are fast and they don't seem to be discoloured. I've had her on ZamiPet Urinary supplements since the diagnosis of the crystals and I'm still going to continue with it. I've also been encouraging her to drink more and taking her at the front yard (she prefers there to the backyard ) to do her business. Yes,she still marks at home but it's whenever a pigeon is around or when she's excited,I guess. Vet didn't mention anything about a urinalysis but we did do an ultrasound and there was nothing abnormal, thankfully. 

The times she would go out a lot is on the hot days but I've noticed her gulping up the water then. So, hopefully this is all a good sign. Maybe the crystals were a false flag since she didn't have an infection.

There are three other dogs in the house. All desexed females but are seniors. So,I'm thinking Zara marks because of them?

Once or twice last week she went in the middle of the night to urinate but that would be because she gulped some water up before bed around 9. 

10 minutes ago, Mairead said:

Doesn't sound to me like they sent any sample to a lab. If they did you can ask for a copy of the report. No proper lab would mention crystals and then not identify them. Sounds more like an in house job with someone not used to looking down a microscope.

If she had a UTI again the inappropriate urination (on your bed) and not being able to hold on to her urine overnight or for long would be signs.

What container did you use to collect her sample? 

Honestly,I'm starting to think that. 

They are giving me hell. I have been going there since I got Zara at 11 months. I discovered them through the desexing network and they have been my vet since then. They are good to us. 

Yup. If she does inappropriate urination I would definitely know that something is up.  She's out in the front yard again,did another urination and then scratched the floor. 

I went to the chemist and got a Urine container. Seriously considering making an appointment and letting them do a test on the spot next Monday. 

1 hour ago, ~Anne~ said:

How many times a day does your dog urinate (not including when she is on a walk)? 
 

Is she wetting inside? 

 

Why do you not trust what your vet says? 

I think today it's been two or three times. Still unsure if she's marking or what not because on our walks; she lifts her leg and sometimes squats. At home she's squatting. Unsure if it's because she drank water. Could it be she has a tiny bladder?

No,she doesn't urinate inside. The only time it happens is when it rains and when she had a UTI months ago,she urinated on my bed.

It's not that don't I trust them; it's the fact that the rotation of vets keep telling me something different. I just want to get to the bottom of this. I don't understand what is going on. 

I have asked an online vet. Yes,a vet in real life is better but I'm desperate for more opinions. She said the crystals could have been because they may not have checked the urine straight away and that no one knows how long it took to get to the lab. 

She told me to back and do a fresh in house sample and see if there is crystals.

Zara just urinated once again. There are pigeons around. Unsure if it's because of them. 

She will be two in two days! She had a UTI months ago and nothing since then.

I forgot to add; I asked if they could send off her urine to the lab (when I dropped it off on Wednesday) unsure how long they kept it in the fridge. 

They want me to start her on Royal Canin urniary for two weeks then we go back for another urinalysis. When I asked them this morning what type of crystals it was,they said it's not known. We just got back from our walk,she urinated a few times. Which I'm not worried about because she marks her territory, especially tries to on one of her dog friends. So,I don't know how she got crystals if she drinks well & urinates good. 

Thank you all for your inputs as usual much appreciated. 

Zara has been urinating a lot on the hot day. I thought it was an infection again but the vet advised me it was because she was drinking a lot due the heat. It's normal,etc. She's marking, she's excited (because we have pigeons and bin chickens that come in the yard). That's why she's urinating a lot still. 

I take her for walks daily; between 40-60 minutes. I let her do her business,I don't stop her. She gulps down the water after eating kibble and again in the hot weather. 

I did get her latest urinalysis test via free catch two hours later after having breakfast. I don't think she drank water that day. 

So,I really don't know what is going on. How it's possible if she's urinating frequently and drinking water. 

10 hours ago, Deeds said:

What breed is your dog?  Could it be inherent in the breed.

She's a staffy x Chihuahua 

Thanks for the reply. I rang the vet back up and asked if she has an infection or if she needs antibiotics and they said no. 

I'll have to check those products out. Tomorrow I'll go in and see what is going on because this situation is such a headache. I feel like I'm going in circles with what is going on with her. 

Hi all. I got Zara a urinalysis test done yesterday. Rang the vet and was advised her ph level is high and there is crystals. They asked how long i kept the sample for which was for half an hour. Why did I get it done? it's because she kept urinating a lot. This has been going on for a few weeks now. When I have repeatedly gone to the vet,each one has given me a different answer. One says,she's urine making/marking (unsure the term) one says it's excitement. We did do a test then but apparently there was no clinical findings. 

She drinks plenty of water when it's hot,she loves to release on our walks. I feed one can of black hawk can food in the morning and kibble at night. I don't understand how this is happening. I have to start feeding her Urinary S/O.

Is it possible because I got the sample an hour or two after breakfast? would a urniary supplement help? 

No issues. Vet checked her out and said small dogs do that. She also checked her knees. 

Morning. I was just wondering if this is normal as to what Zara is doing? She sometimes does it on our walk. when we first start or when we are half way. 

https://streamable.com/fzxi0k

Another video of how she walks

https://streamable.com/6dus2x

Thank you 

On 07/07/2022 at 4:37 PM, ~Anne~ said:

I'm late late to the party as always - but, the statement about no crystals but potential stones doesn't make any logical sense. The stones form from the crystals. Not important now as you have a different diagnoses - maybe. Glad to see you've got a vet who is working with you and you're really caring and looking out for her health.

 

Liver enzymes being up can be caused by a multitude of things though - including infection elsewhere in the body and coincidentally, kidney problems. Just something to keep in mind.

 

My last rescue bitch came to me after her second surgery in 12 months to remove a large stone. The Vet reported the last one being the size of a small mandarin and said she was dripping with pus when she came to them.   She was operated on (the owner had requested euthanasia as they could not afford the health care for her) and sent with owner permission to my rescue. She arrived still on antibiotics and a cd prescription diet.

 

Within weeks of her recovery, she was infected again and still forming crystals! An easy test for crystals is to have them wee on a newspaper and then let the newspaper dry. You'll see shiny bits on it if she is developing crystals again.

 

I believe that there is a thought that its a chicken and egg scenario with crystals and bladder infections. Do the crystals form because of the infection or do the crystals cause or assist the infection?

 

Long story short of my experience - we spoke at length with our vet. He recommended we put her under so they could take a sample directly from the bladder to help with isolating the precise bug if there was one - in her case there was. We then put her on long term antibiotics. From memory, I think she was prescribed a month long course and she remained on the CD diet for life.

 

We encouraged her to drink and flush her bladder to help prevent any crystals forming into stones, by draining liquid (and adding water where necessary) from food we were cooking (especially meat) and putting this in a jug in the fridge. I'd then heat it up during Winter. She also drank watery yoghurt.

 

She never, ever got a bladder infection again. Olivia was my last dog. She lived with only one functioning kidney due to her early years before she came to my rescue and she was never able to control her bladder when it was full. If someone knocked on the door and she got excited... she greeted a few guests at the door this way over the years. We hadn't planned to keep her but I'm glad we did. 

 

This made me tear up, Anne. You're such a kind soul. Thank you for the advice as well!

I agree about the crystal/stones bit not making sense. I still don't know what is up with that. 

Hopefully the urine test can help out. 

Good morning. Just an update on Zara. Did an ultrasound & blood test yesterday. Liver enzymes are in normal range. Sludge has gone down a bit and has liquified. Has to give Ursodiol for two more weeks and stop. Isn't too worried and doesn't think it will give her problems in the future.

He also wants me to drop off a urine sample and will check it in-house.

Liver enzymes are up and vet thinks due to the sludge in her gallbladder.

Ooh, also thinks it was caught in time (unsure if that's the case because he said there is a lot of sludge)

Claims it's common and his patients have recovered with medication. At first he wanted to do a wait and see approach but decided against it. No abnormalities on the ultrasound as stated yesterday (didn't mention anything about leaking)

Have to return in six weeks for another ultrasound+ blood test. If any symptoms arise,have to rush her back in. 

They don't do gallbladder surgery there,if it comes to that, we have to be referred to a specialist.

Medication he gave me:

Amoxyclav 250gr half in the morning and half at night

Ursofalk suspension 250ML one daily

Denosyl 250MG once daily (12 hours after the other medications)

I have to go see the vet at 2. I've been advised that she has high liver enzymes and the vet thinks it's due to the thick bile in the gallbladder 

I think at 11 months and no,she's not. My sister and her family no longer wanted her after she was on heat. 

Another update: no abnormalities shown on ultrasound. Everything looks okay. Did find some thick bile inside of her gallbladder. Vet isn't worried. He'll be waiting for her blood test results before giving medication  Will be back for another ultrasound in 4-6 weeks to see what is going on with the bile.

Urination: he says that it's fine,just as long as she isn't urinating and getting dehydrated. 

They gave Zara a sedative but she's still a bit out of it still. Hasn't touched her food,if she's not better by tomorrow afternoon,I have to bring her in.

Thoughts/comments?

I wanted give an update. Tomorrow is the day. I have to drop Zara off tomorrow around 11 for her blood test+ultrasound w/ she has to be fasting. 

Will hopefully post back tomorrow with some good news.

Hi all. I'm having a concern regarding my girl Zara.

> 1 year and 6 months old 

> Desexed

> Chihuahua x staffy

Has previously had a UTI back in February of this year. Did an ultrasound,saw bladder wall was thickened. Went on antibiotics cleared up. 

I've noticed her urinating a lot,I took her to the vet (thinking it was a UTI again) we did a urinalysis and there was no bacteria found,no crystals. However,the vet did find blood (which she thinks it's the method of getting the urine) extracting her bladder.  Had a feel up of the bladder with her hands and was told it's not thickened

Was given CystoPro and if that doesn't help, we'll need to do an ultrasound+ blood test. Vet thinks it could be stones. 

What do you folks think? I'm really nervous. I'm scared it's something like tcc.