My new foster Elmer!

Donna wrote:

northernwitch wrote:I'd also query a UTI. I've had several (actually, lots) that seemed like markers, but were suffering from a UTI. I always like to eliminate the medical first before I assume it's behavioural.

How would I know if he had a UTI, he has been peeing a LOT, but then today he peed a bit of blood.
Do you think the vet would give me something even if I did not bring him in, I'm leaving for vacation Friday morning and another foster mom is picking him up tomorrow night so tomorrow is the only time I can get something.
He is not the brightest bulb in the pack but he is darn cute and lovable.

That definitely sounds like a UTI. The vet might give you something, but, different bacteria responds better to different antibiotics. Plus they will probably need to check for crystals or stones.

UGH, I have zero time tomorrow and he is being picked up by his vacation foster mom at 3, hopefully the vet can give me something to get him thru and maybe his vaca foster mom can take him in on Friday.
Poor guy I feel so bad but he is a charmer.

He looks like Maryjo's Walter in this one, I actually called him Walter tonight.

He is adorable! I want him!! But it was Cathy's (tocents) Walter. I had Beau. He does look like Walter!

Maryjo wrote:

He looks like Maryjo's Walter in this one, I actually called him Walter tonight.

He is adorable! I want him!! But it was Cathy's (tocents) Walter. I had Beau. He does look like Walter!

oops sorry MJ, I don't know why but I thought you had Walter. He really is sweet. besides not to smart and not house broken he is a good fella. I hope he finds a nice home, he deserves it.

He's adorable! I hope you can get the possible UTI issue addressed. It definitely sounds like that's what it is. Some of the pacing/panting could be discomfort too. Poor guy.

Sounds like a UTI to me. Donna, I can't remember what rescue you volunteer for. Is it Green Mountain? My hospice pug Peachy has been battling a UTI on and off for 18 months.

This guy needs a urine sample taken in for Culture and sensitivity testing ASAP. The peeing blood is a sure sign of a UTI and possibly of stones. This isn't something that can wait. If he has stones, he risks a blockage. And UTIs are very, very painful. Ever had a bladder infection? They are miserable.

A sample should be taken in as soon as it's collected. Preferrably first pee in the morning, but I know that's not always possible. If the urine is left too long, it's useless for testing and won't give an accurate picture of what's going on.

The reason he's peeing alot is the infection makes him feel like he has to pee all the time so he's trying to. It's why I suggested a UTI the first time as it sounded like more than marking.

Push fluids as much as you can. Much as it's a pain to have him peeing all over the place, you want him to flush his system as much as possible so don't restrict access to water and I would flood his food with water or unsalted chicken broth. Do not give him anything to treat it yourself like cranberry juice as you don't know what kind of UTI he has and you could make it much worse. I'm betting he likely has some crystals in his urine--either struvites or calcium oxalate. The treatment for these is very different--one needs more acid and one needs more alkaline.

I will make sure I get a urine sample to the vet tomorrow and get him some meds before I leave for vacation.
He has had access to water 24/7, trying to get him to drink more fluids than he has been. I tried floating his food but he would have no part of it, he did eat his wet food though and loved it.
Yes I have had many infections myself and they are miserable, I feel for him.
I will not even think of treating it myself.
Rebbecca, yes it Green Mountain in Vermont.
I will let you know how I make out.

While Roxane was in her coma, I got a call about a pug in need. The first family couldn't treat the UTI. The second family couldn't afford to treat it either. They kept him in the garage because he was peeing on everything. As you can see from his xray, there is a large stone. The picture below shows the stone after it was removed. Who knows how long this poor little guy suffered before we finally got him into rescue.

Good luck, Donna. Glad he's eating wet food--that will help. These things ALWAYS happen when you can least afford them time wise.

Sorry if I sounded sharp with you--wasn't my intention. I just know that sometimes folks think UTIs are no big deal and they can be a very big deal indeed.

And Rebecca--YIKES on that stone! That's a mother of a stone.

I remember seeing the pic of that stone on FB. Yowsers!

Anything pee related always freaks me out. I know that 99.9% of the time, it's treatable but when Hoover started peeing in the house, I had him at the vet the next day and it turns out he had prostate cancer causing the pee issues. I know that's VERY rare and unlikely in this case but always better to be safe.

No Blanche, you did not sound sharp, I'm just feeling stressed time wise. I will make sure I get him in. Why is it when you have the least amount of time to deal with something it comes up. My priority should be him and it will be.

Donna wrote:No Blanche, you did not sound sharp, I'm just feeling stressed time wise. I will make sure I get him in. Why is it when you have the least amount of time to deal with something it comes up

Because the Gods are cruel and use us as pawns in their games?

Beats me why, but it does always seem to happen that way. Here's my rule of thumb with marking boys or peeing girls--if they are leg lifting or squatting more than 10 times in a 10 minute period or in any way their pee habits seems excessive--I assume a UTI and run in a sample. And if there's blood--it's a lead pipe cinch that you have a UTI. And stress can make it worse so if they are inclined to UTIs or hae a bit of an infection--the stress of the surrender/relocation can kick it into overdrive.

ouch! that is some stone. Hope Elmer feels better soon!

Poor Elmer! I hope you can clear it up quickly. Don't give him any meds until a sample has been taken for a C & S.

Aussie Witch wrote:Poor Elmer! I hope you can clear it up quickly. Don't give him any meds until a sample has been taken for a C & S.

No I won't. I'll call 1st thing in the AM and see if I can get him in. He rellly is a great guy I feel so badly for him.

Donna wrote:

Aussie Witch wrote:Poor Elmer! I hope you can clear it up quickly. Don't give him any meds until a sample has been taken for a C & S.

No I won't. I'll call 1st thing in the AM and see if I can get him in. He rellly is a great guy I feel so badly for him.

They will likely suggest clavamox until the C&S is back. And I do give that until I know for sure what antibiotic is best. We see alot of infections caused by Proteus and most of the time clavamox doesn't touch it. There's been good success with Baytril--but usually only with a long course of it--30 to 40 days for Proteus seems to kick it.

And you may have to push for the C&S. Don't let them talk you out of it.

What is a C&S? so I know what to ask for when I call.

Culture and Sensitivity