Angel has a UTI. First one since we got her. I think It's my fault for stopping the cranberry tablets about 2 months ago. She had a problem with recurrent UTI's when she was being fostered, but I thought the discovery and subsequent removal of the benign tumor in her bladder would be the end of them. Just to be safe, I put her on cranberry tablets when I adopted her. She was doing so well (almost 4 years later) I figured she didn't need them any more. FEELING REALLY GUILTY HERE!
Anyway, the vet did a bladder ultrasound because of her tumor history and a UA (centesis). He says she definitely has a UTI (duh - that's why I made the appointment), but that she also has a lot of "sludge" in her bladder - probably struvite due to the infection. Anybody know what that's all about? Sounded like a pH thing, but I wasn't sure. Anyway, she's on Baytril and will be going back on the cranberry as soon as the Rx is done.
I also took in Allie for her "annual" (in quotes because it's been much longer than that - I've really been a bad mommy. But I've been better to them than to myself - I haven't been to the dentist in over 3 years!). She had a lump near her tail that I needed to get checked. At first I thought it was another sebaceous cyst (she is very prone to them - she has at least 5), but it got REALLY big (about an inch across), so it got me worried. Fortunately, is was a sebaceous cyst and the vet drained it.
Anyway - this was an expensive visit -$385 (I love my dogs, I love my dogs, I love my dogs ..... if I keep saying it, maybe I'll feel better about it!)
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???Bladder sludge??? - another fun trip to the vet!
???Bladder sludge??? - another fun trip to the vet!
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
Oh, I am getting to know a lot about this...
Winnie had surgery a month ago to remove a struvite stone, so your $385 was better than my $900! From what I understand, the struvites are most always caused by a UTI, and stones can happen within weeks. You are fortunate to have caught it now. Yes, it does have to do with PH most definitely...Winnie is now being monitored, and on a special diet. From what I have gathered, you can keep the dog on regular food, but they need something to keep the urine acidic, in your case the cranberry was doing it. Here is a link, not the best, but informative-I deleted a bunch of bookmarks, as half of them didn't work anymore and were taking up space. You can test the PH at home to make sure it is within certain limits...I haven't done that yet, but we may come to it. Vetman is being cautious this tiime, as it is her second stone. I hope this helps at least a little, and keep in touch (I know you will!)
Re: ???Bladder sludge??? - another fun trip to the vet!
Karen, by 'sludge', your vet probably meant sandy or gritty....as in newly forming struvites. When the urine sediment is gritty, chances are, crystals are nearly always present.
Last edited by Traci on Mon Jun 09, 2003 10:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
..........Traci
Re: ???Bladder sludge??? - another fun trip to the vet!
Marty - thanks for the link - it's very good and I learned what struvite crystals are called in a clinical lab (triple phosphate) so I now know what to look for in the urinalysis.
Traci - that's pretty much what I understood when I was talking to him, but after I got home and started thinking about it, I wasn't sure - I guess I was still reeling from the amost $400 fee! He indicated that he thought they were most likely due to the infection, not diet, so we'll see if anything further is needed after this episode clears up. He wants me to run a UA on her in a couple of days to make sure she's responding to the Baytril, and again at the end of the Rx to make sure she's cleared completely. Angel has been drinking more water than usual, so she apparently knows instinctively what to do to help herself. The biggest problem is that she can "hold it" longer than any other dog I've ever known. I have to force her outside sometimes. It's not unusual for her to go 12 - 14 hours without needing to relieve herself. I guess I need to work on forcing the issue (if that's possible!).
Traci - that's pretty much what I understood when I was talking to him, but after I got home and started thinking about it, I wasn't sure - I guess I was still reeling from the amost $400 fee! He indicated that he thought they were most likely due to the infection, not diet, so we'll see if anything further is needed after this episode clears up. He wants me to run a UA on her in a couple of days to make sure she's responding to the Baytril, and again at the end of the Rx to make sure she's cleared completely. Angel has been drinking more water than usual, so she apparently knows instinctively what to do to help herself. The biggest problem is that she can "hold it" longer than any other dog I've ever known. I have to force her outside sometimes. It's not unusual for her to go 12 - 14 hours without needing to relieve herself. I guess I need to work on forcing the issue (if that's possible!).
Last edited by k9Karen on Tue Jun 10, 2003 6:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
wow $385 for a gland drainage and visit...i retired way
to soon..at those rates "i could a bin a contender"
Re: wow $385 for a gland drainage and visit...i retired way
At those rates, I don't know how anyone affords vet care any more. IMHO, some of it was unnecessary - I really don't think she needed the ultrasound, and I could do the UA and the culture - somewhat insulting that he didn't want it that way. Guess I could have said no, but that's easier to say here than to do there.davet wrote:too soon..at those rates "i could a bin a contender"
The $385 was for two dogs:
Angel: exam, bladder ultrasound, urinalysis, urine culture, antibiotic injection plus 10 days worth of Baytril, and a 12 month supply of HeartGuard Plus.
Allie: exam, rabies vaccination, DHLPP (or whatever - can't ever get the intitials right), blood test for heartworm, fecal for parasites, gland drainage, county dog license and tags, and 12 month supply of HeartGuard Plus.
I forgot and left my receipt there, but if you look at each individual thing, it's probably quite reasonable for each item - it's just the whole thing adds up to too much!
Do you think maybe they saw my MasterCard coming?
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
That actually sounds reasonable to me...
that Baytril is a whopper, plus 12 mos. of Heartguard for 2 dogs...that is over $200 right there! At least, around here! I don't think I could walk a healthy dog into the Vet anymore, without walking out $200 poorer! Just for kicks...my Hubby keeps every last receipt, for what reaon, I don't want to know, but I have noticed my Vet (and we have used him for 20 years), goes up on each individual item (excluding surgery, etc) by exactly $1 each year!...exam fees, shots, etc. I think it's kinda funny!
Re: That actually sounds reasonable to me...
The 3 items you mention were just over $125Marty wrote:that Baytril is a whopper, plus 12 mos. of Heartguard for 2 dogs...that is over $200 right there! At least, around here!
Baytril, 10 day supply: 31.90
HeartGuard Blue (under 25 lbs), 12 mo. supply - 36.33
HearthGuard Green (26 - 50 lbs), 12 mo. supply - 58.27
I got my receipt mailed to me, and almost everything, by itself, was quite reasonable, as I suspected. The only thing I still have a problem with is the culture and sensitivity ($36) which I could have done for free. I guess next time I need to speak up and let them know that I can do it and do it well!
Other "stuff":
cyst drainage - $12
bladder ultrasound - $50 (a bit high if you ask me, but there were 2 photos!)
Office visit (Allie - annual) - $25
Office visit (Angel - the "sickie") - $35
Rabies + DHLPP - $36 - quite reasonable,
county license and tag: $5 (extremely reasonable)
Nothing else looked out of line at all, it's just that it adds up so fast!"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
I just realized
Winnie's Baytril was $114, but for 3 weeks at 2 tablets/day....Biscotti's was $84 at 1 1/2 tablets/day for 3 weeks. Guess we'll all keep Baytril in business, and yes, it sure does add up fast! My vet doesn't even charge an office visit when you just take them in for shots. Somehow, that doesn't make much of a dent!