Dog owners: Advice needed

[Ste11aeres]

My housebroken dog who had just taken a walk, while lying on his side in my room, dribbled urine on himself. I've read that this can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, which needs veterinary care, but I am impoverished, financially destitute. With this being his only symptom, do you think he needs me to take him to the vet? I would do anything for him, but I don't know how to afford it...

 

[Suzanne]

I found this link and perhaps it will help?http://moderndogmagazine.com/blogs/loridawn/natural-relief-your-dogs-urinary-tract-infections.

 

[Tom]

Not sure what part of the states you are from but was just reading about group that does free health care for dogs of people who can't afford in it in inner LA. Anyway do a very thorough online search for your area and see what you can dig up as far as aid or programs to help make it possible. Don't forget to look for Pit groups specifically. Then work the phones and find the best option you can manage. Do not be afraid to ask for a very long repay or low cost/no cost arrangement. Some one, some place may be able to work you in gratis for part of the process.

That symptom has multiple possibilities but unfortunately does require to be followed up on by a visit to the vet and may require lab tests and meds. Do call a vet first and ask them for their opinion. Most vet staff or docs will answer that question on the phone, as far as the medical needs.

Sometimes drug companies have programs for assisting people who can't afford their products.

Think of it not as begging for you, but as advocating for your dog.

 

[Mia]

Sometimes its behavioral, the dribbling, pitty's and several other breeds are known to do this, a response to some sound or maybe even a trigger from the past, sometimes even the exposure to a scent. It might even be fatigue from the walk.

Wait a day or two and try and recreate the situation, it may be purely a psychological or physical response on your dogs part. Don't panic or overthink it, as I know how that is and I do that with my animals.

If it's more than that, pain or yipping when he urinates outside, PM me.

 

[Ste11aeres]

So far, his urination when outdoors is normal.
It's tough with animals and babies. They can't tell us what's going on, or if something in their body doesn't feel right.

 

[Judge]

Google homeopathic remedies for canine UTI. Lots out there.

A trip to the vet in this case may not require it being your first course of action.

http://moderndogmagazine.com/blogs/loridawn/natural-relief-your-dogs-urinary-tract-infections

 

[Beverly]

How old is the dog? Is the urine light to medium yellow or is it closer to orange? Does the dog show discomfort, or feel bloated if you apply medium pressure to its abdomen? (Use a flat open hand to do this.)

Calling on my Veterinary Technician degree here - took the classes for my own personal interest so have never worked in a vet's office but, I can try to help you determine if the dog should be taken to a vet or, if you just need to observe the animal and take it to the vet if something further develops.

If the dog shows signs of painful urination, can't urinate or, urinates very little or, appears to be bloated- get him to a vet ASAP, especially for no urination or bloated, that is an emergency.

 

[Ste11aeres]

How old is the dog? Is the urine light to medium yellow or is it closer to orange? Does the dog show discomfort, or feel bloated if you apply medium pressure to its abdomen? (Use a flat open hand to do this.)

Calling on my Veterinary Technician degree here - took the classes for my own personal interest so have never worked in a vet's office but, I can try to help you determine if the dog should be taken to a vet or, if you just need to observe the animal and take it to the vet if something further develops.

If the dog shows signs of painful urination, can't urinate or, urinates very little or, appears to be bloated- get him to a vet ASAP, especially for no urination or bloated, that is an emergency.

He's a two or three year old male, and the dribbled urine was pale. On our walks outside, the color varies. I haven't yet purposely tried to put pressure on his abdomen, and I'm not with him right now.
His urination when we are outdoors is normal.

 

[Beverly]

Could have been just a bit nervous and it won't happen again or, possible he twisted his back a bit playing and got a pinched nerve but, that's less likely. I'd watch him and, check for discomfort with pressure when you can. If that's okay, just see if it happens again, or he has indications of a more serious problem.

An infection or stones would darken his urine and, cause discomfort or pain. Pale to fairly dark yellow urine is fine, orange, red, green, cloudy may be a problem and, orange or red is blood so would need attention ASAP. If you're concerned about an infection, you can feed him 1 egg yolk per 20 lbs of his weight. They have sulfur and, that's the standard homeopathic treatment for bladder infections. the eggs won't hurt him if it isn't an infection.

Another good tip for dogs - if they have diarrhea 2 TBS solid pack pumpkin (not pie filling) mixed with 1 TBS plain yogurt and 1tsp honey (they like the sweet taste so eat it better that way.) per 20 lbs will stop it in 1-2 days. handy if you need to change his diet and he has trouble adjusting to the new food, or if he has diarrhea for more than a day and you can't get to a vet.

Living 35 miles from a vet, the neighbors think I'm the go to for pet health advice so, I keep up with what vets are doing and with home remedies for animals. I've got 38 of my own (mostly rabbits but 3 wolfdogs, 2 pigs, a conure [bird] and a goat.)

 

[ancusmitis]

He's a two or three year old male, and the dribbled urine was pale. On our walks outside, the color varies. I haven't yet purposely tried to put pressure on his abdomen, and I'm not with him right now.
His urination when we are outdoors is normal.

If he's very young, then maybe it was just an accident.

 

[Ste11aeres]

If he's very young, then maybe it was just an accident.

He's fully adult.

 

[Warmheart]

s the dog intact? He may have BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia). It means the prostate swells and the urine flow gets squeezed off. This is rather risky. Treatment for BHP is neutering in the US, or a few months of a medication in Europe.

If the dog is neutered, it may be a UTI. Treatment is antibiotics. The cost of exam and antibiotics isn't easy, but this clears up very soon with the meds, and your pal will be feeling better soon.

I am sending you and your dear pup good thoughts!

 

[Ste11aeres]

Update: I have a bottle of unused antibiotics from a past trip to the vet. The reason I hadn't used them, was she had given them in connection with an itching problem (I didn't ask why antibiotics might help) that I ended up deciding might be food related, so I had simply changed his diet instead of giving medicine.
Recently, I read that this type of antibiotics was one that is used to treat an UTI, so I've been giving it to him. I don't know whether he as an UTI, but the vet originally gave the medicine without knowing for sure whether he needed it, so I figure that means a possibly unnecessary use won't hurt him.
Poor person's solution

 

[Beverly]

I would guess those are a broad spectrum antibiotic like Amoxicillin, Tetracycline or, Combid and, those are fine for a multitude of possible infections. They won't harm him except that, like antibiotics do with us, they also kill the good bacteria in our gut, so he might have some minor digestive problems, constipation, diarrhea or, gas while he's taking them.

Just like with us, yogurt helps relive those minor upsets when taking antibiotics but, just plain or plain with a little honey for a dog since he doesn't need excess sugar and, fruit isn't his thing.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I would guess those are a broad spectrum antibiotic like Amoxicillin, Tetracycline or, Combid and, those are fine for a multitude of possible infections. They won't harm him except that, like antibiotics do with us, they also kill the good bacteria in our gut, so he might have some minor digestive problems, constipation, diarrhea or, gas while he's taking them.

Just like with us, yogurt helps relive those minor upsets when taking antibiotics but, just plain or plain with a little honey for a dog since he doesn't need excess sugar and, fruit isn't his thing.

Just as with us, it's kind of a matter of balancing possible benefits vs possible harm. Thanks for the tip.