I'm doing everything 'right', so why the UTI's?

Up until last year, none of my pugs had ever had a UTI. Then Tobey (girl) got one, then another, then another! I thought I had them cleared up, but she has another one now!! For reference, she is turning 9 this year.

I had a C&S done yesterday, so I won't know the results until early next week. I opted to not treat with antibiotics until I know which one she needs. The good news is that while she does get crystals, she has never formed any struvite stones thankfully.

In the mean time, I am wondering, is it possible she will just continue to get them, even though I am doing all the "right" things? At what point do you say that you are doing everything you can, and she will just get them anyway?

For what it's worth, from ages 9 to 10, Ms. Penny had about five or six UTIs. None since then. I treated each one with a full round of antibiotics and cranberry extract, as I know in a human that an untreated UTI is painful and can lead to kidney complications. Now I make sure that she always has a full bowl of fresh filtered water available to her since I retired, and left a full bowl of ffw while I was still working. No idea what made her have those UTIs, and I am very glad that she is not still having them. Hugs and good vibes to Tobey, and good for you for waiting for the C&S results. Not waiting and giving the wrong antibiotic can lead to antibiotic resistance.

Is it possible that it's something with her anatomy that could be causing her to get the UTI's?

Tyson&LuLu'sMom wrote:Is it possible that it's something with her anatomy that could be causing her to get the UTI's?

I am not sure at her age how that would be possible...?

But, she does weigh less now than she has since she was 10 months old . I was a bad owner, and let her get very fat as a young pug. It has taken me three years to get her weight down to where I want it to be. She has really done well on the weight loss in this last year too. I feel bad, she is the type of pug that just walks by the fridge and gains a pound.

In general, she is the type to hold her pee as long as possible, so I know that does play a part in it.

Is it possible that she isn't emptying her bladder? That can cause a bladder infection. If that is a problem, there is a medication that can help. It's called Phenoxybenzamine. It relaxes the urinary sphincter so it is easier to keep peeing.

It's more common for older dogs to have difficulty emptying their bladders. If she isn't emptying her bladder, it predisposes her to getting bladder infections. The urine will smell really strong.

Candace wrote:Is it possible that she isn't emptying her bladder? That can cause a bladder infection. If that is a problem, there is a medication that can help. It's called Phenoxybenzamine. It relaxes the urinary sphincter so it is easier to keep peeing.

It's more common for older dogs to have difficulty emptying their bladders. If she isn't emptying her bladder, it predisposes her to getting bladder infections. The urine will smell really strong.

How would one determine that her bladder is not emptying completely? This is a very interesting thought, and something I am going to ask my vet about. She likes to 'mark', so it is entirely possible she does not empty her bladder every time.

I totally agree with Candace. This is one of the reasons my vets have suggested my older girls developed recurring UTI's. Also, sometimes they might squat closer to the ground and pick up more bugs. Sometimes wiping their vulvas with a baby wipe afterwards might help, but it does seem to be a problem for older girls. Also, girls have a much shorter pathway to their bladder than boys, so they are more prone. I've learned over many years with older girls to just have regular checks and treat them as they occur.

Of course, it is important for your vet to eliminate any other causes, which I know you've done, Renee.

Watching them age and issues appear sucks, doesn't it?

Renee,

Emi (an old foster) didn't empty her bladder. The vet x-rayed her, right after a pee. She could tell by the size of her bladder.

Even if you don't get that done, it is more likely that an older pug would have problems peeing. Also, cleaning her little parts is an excellent idea, as that is where bacteria enters the urinary tract.

Thanks Candace and Rona.

I am absolutely going to talk with my vet about this when she calls me with the results for the C&S.

And, I have some baby wipes, so I am going to start using them to wipe her after she goes outside.