She had a UTI...the culture showed Ecoli, and the lab said Primor would be effective on it, so because of her history she took it for 6 weeks. A new culture was taken, took almost 2 weeks because they did it twice, and the Ecoli was grown again both times. She apparently is resistant to all the normal Vet meds...Baytril, Clavamox, Primor.
The Vets put their heads together, came up with some options, but of course I am not qualified to make a decision and will leave it up to them. So they are going to order something called chloramphenicol, which they have never used before, and can cause anemia and mess with the blood cells.
They will do another culture, and send it to another lab, also. Regular blood work will have to be done.
Another option is a med that has to be injected daily for 4-6 weeks, but they don't want to go that route yet.
I don't want to think about the possibilities....
Not good news on Winnie
Re: Not good news on Winnie
Lordy, I googled this med, and it has been pulled off the market for humans. I didn't need to know that....
Re: Not good news on Winnie
possibley some of the older, not used any nmor e, might be effective,, don/;t know if they tried gentomycin oir the old fashion penn-strep might be an option...just a guess.
Re: Not good news on Winnie
Hi, Marty -
It's been awhile since I've thought about E.coli UTI's but I'll throw in what I remember. As you may recall, Roxy had a chronic problem with E.coli UTI's and was starting to show resistance to some antibiotics. Roxy's disability was extreme of course, but the only way we were able to get a handle on the recurring UTI's was to bath her privates on a daily basis. The folds of skin in the area around her vulva were especially important to keep clean. We used baby wipes followed by a dilute solution of betadine and water - I think about a 50/50 dilution in a spray bottle which we used to spray the anal area, vulva and the folds of skin around her vulva.
Since the majority of E.coli UTI's are caused by the bacteria from the GI tract ascending up the urethra, keeping her clean along with using the betadine to keep the E.coli at bay was perventative and the only way we could ultimately control her UTI's.
If Winnie has a history of bladder crystals and/or stones, that could also be a contributing factor because crystals and stones can provide a "hiding place" for bacteria to get into and make it more difficult for antibiotics to seek and destroy the bugs. Maybe part of the drug resistance is in part due to an incomplete control of the bacteria, giving the impression of drug resistance.
Hope this helps....I hope you get this under control soon. Jim
It's been awhile since I've thought about E.coli UTI's but I'll throw in what I remember. As you may recall, Roxy had a chronic problem with E.coli UTI's and was starting to show resistance to some antibiotics. Roxy's disability was extreme of course, but the only way we were able to get a handle on the recurring UTI's was to bath her privates on a daily basis. The folds of skin in the area around her vulva were especially important to keep clean. We used baby wipes followed by a dilute solution of betadine and water - I think about a 50/50 dilution in a spray bottle which we used to spray the anal area, vulva and the folds of skin around her vulva.
Since the majority of E.coli UTI's are caused by the bacteria from the GI tract ascending up the urethra, keeping her clean along with using the betadine to keep the E.coli at bay was perventative and the only way we could ultimately control her UTI's.
If Winnie has a history of bladder crystals and/or stones, that could also be a contributing factor because crystals and stones can provide a "hiding place" for bacteria to get into and make it more difficult for antibiotics to seek and destroy the bugs. Maybe part of the drug resistance is in part due to an incomplete control of the bacteria, giving the impression of drug resistance.
Hope this helps....I hope you get this under control soon. Jim
Re: Not good news on Winnie
It helps a lot, Jim...thank you! I do have some betadine around here. All I have to do is catch her on her back, and not look into her eyes when she thinks Mom is off her rocker...LOL!
Yes, she has had 2 bladder stone surgeries, so that is why the Vets and I am so concerned...she is 12 and they need to avoid another one. We caught this from her monthly UA's....she has never shown the usual signs of an infection.
Yes, she has had 2 bladder stone surgeries, so that is why the Vets and I am so concerned...she is 12 and they need to avoid another one. We caught this from her monthly UA's....she has never shown the usual signs of an infection.
Re: Not good news on Winnie
Update...the Vet called back today, and they did a phone consult with a specialist hired by the lab. He prefers a different med...I didn't catch the name as it was a long one, but I think it started with M...I will know tomorrow when I pick up the RX.
They will do another culture tomorrow also, and check for sensitivity to this drug. They won't charge me for it either...however it will be $250 for 6 weeks...sigh.
They will do another culture tomorrow also, and check for sensitivity to this drug. They won't charge me for it either...however it will be $250 for 6 weeks...sigh.
Re: Not good news on Winnie
Holding a good thought for you and Winnie, Marty. Hope the new med works.
Re: Not good news on Winnie
As Davet said, the fluorquinolones would probably be more appropriate for e-coli rather than the other antibiotics. Some of these might include ampicillin, gentamicin, cephalexin, and marbofloxacin. You should probably consider a new culture during the use of the new antibiotic, and subsequent cultures thereafter to monitor this.
Does Winnie have normal renal function, and was an ultrasound ever offered to you to rule out kidney problems?
Does Winnie have normal renal function, and was an ultrasound ever offered to you to rule out kidney problems?
..........Traci
Re: Not good news on Winnie
She started off on ampicillin..guess that was another post, my mistake...then went to Primor. I dunno what more to say right now, other than what I have already said.
Re: Not good news on Winnie
Update on Winnie...as per the lab specialist's recommendation, she will be starting something called Nitrofurantoin. I picked up 10 days worth today until we see how she responds to it. The Vet is asking for 4-6 weeks on it.
Vet did suggest an ultrasound, which I told her to go ahead with. She had mentiioned it for another problem, and it got put on a back burner when this E coli started causing problems. So the ultrasound will cover them both.
I think Winnie is eating our checkbook, but I love that girl. DH has been very good so far, but his eyes bugged when I mentioned the sonogram LOL, it will be done!
Vet did suggest an ultrasound, which I told her to go ahead with. She had mentiioned it for another problem, and it got put on a back burner when this E coli started causing problems. So the ultrasound will cover them both.
I think Winnie is eating our checkbook, but I love that girl. DH has been very good so far, but his eyes bugged when I mentioned the sonogram LOL, it will be done!