How fast do UTIs clear up?

[vacation1]

My 16yo dog has a UTI and is taking Baytril. She started 10 days ago, and I’m not sure I’m seeing a big improvement yet. She has always been 110% housebroken, so one of the reasons I did the urine test was her suddenly peeing in the house. I’m a bit worried because she’s still peeing inside and still seems to have trouble peeing unless she’s really, really ready.

She’s had a UTI before, but the arthritis has advanced since then, and that makes everything so much harder itself that I’m really anxious for this infection to resolve. Am I just going to have to wait another week or so, or should I check with the vet? I’m supposed to do another urine test at the 14-day mark, to see if it’s improved.

[cloudyandcallie]

Go out today and buy some Cosequin.
Give one capsule in morning and one at night till it clears up.
Then give one capsule a day to help prevent recurrence.

Baytril used to take forever to clear up my cats’ plural, urinary tract issues. Cosequin did it within a day or two.

[sockmonkey]

It shouldn’t take more than 3 to 4 days for an antibiotic to show improvement in a UTI. If it isn’t, there’s more to it than that. Possible bladder stones, just not the right antibiotic, arthritis making the issue worse, etc. Did your vet do a urinalysis and culture/sensitivity?

[BuddyRoo]

They may need to do a urine culture if they haven’t already to determine if there’s a better med for her. I would expect to see improvement within 48-72 hours of being on the correct antibiotic. She may have more going on than just a UTI though. She may have some urinary incontinence and need to go on DES or something.

If she were my dog and I was at day 10 of treatment for a UTI, I’d take her back in for another UA and ask about a culture.

[SquishTheBunny]

Was she susceptible to baytril on her urine culture? It’s important to culture before starting antibiotics. If she was, she should get an ultrasound done to rule out other issues.

[vacation1]

Well, I took in a sample, and the infection’s cleared up, so we’ll complete the antibiotics and all should be well on that score.

Unfortunately, that means her lingering symptoms are coming from somewhere else, and pain is probably a factor. Vet has switched her over to gabapentin, which is supposed to help boost the effectiveness of the Rimadyl and possibly provide some pain relief on its own, and starting her on Proin.

[SquishTheBunny]

I’d get an ultrasound done. Can’t hurt and could identify issues with the urogenital system causing her to urinate in the house that bloodwork and radiography can’t pick up.

Is she drinking more than normal, urinating more? Or same as always just inside the house?

[vacation1]

She’s not drinking more than usual, or peeing more. And she doesn’t pee a lot inside, it’s just that she’s always been 110% housebroken, so the peeing in the house is huge. She will still pee outside, and my theory is that getting in the hunched back/braced leg position to pee just hurts too much sometimes, particularly since we’re having a very humid, rainy summer and its horrible on her arthritis. Her vet feels it’s also age-related, the sphincter isn’t as strong as it once was.

Unfortunately, the ultrasound could literally hurt. She had it done a few years ago, for another UTI, and it was done with her on her back in a brace sort of thing. I believe that’s how they’re usually done. Even back then, I was concerned enough about what could happen to her fragile mobility if anything went wrong - she’s an unhappy camper at the vet, and has never liked being restrained - that I insisted on being the one to handle her and everything went well. Her vet and I are both unenthusiastic about doing anything that puts her in that situation again unless we really have to. Her vet didn’t even do the ultrasound the last time, had a surgeon do it because he could do it faster than she can, lessening the time we’d have her in that position.

We’ll get another urine test after finishing the antibiotics, and I think I’ll take her back in for an exam in about a month for bloodwork and a lookover, just because of all the meds she’s on.

I’m very grateful for everyone’s interest and comments. COTH has always been a great dog resource for me.

[Simkie]

Sterile cystitis? Cosequin really will be helpful if so. Good luck…pee problems are the worst

[SquishTheBunny]

With a uti, dogs generally have increased urination. Also, the “urine tests” done do not sound like good quality urine samples. To test properly for a uti, one should obtain a sterile sample (not free catch brought in by owner) and have it cultured, which often takes 3-5 days for prelim or final results. It sounds like she just had a quick peek for bacteria (which can be present in Mon uti situations, esp free catch).

If she continues to urinate in the house, I would definitely consider a urogenital issue or like you have said, pain (although even really painful dogs don’t “typically” go inside all of the sudden). I’d assume you have her on a good range of pain meds such as tramadol, gabaoentin, nsaid etc. Might not be a bad idea to run some blood work. Also, ultrasounds can give a wealth of information and should a dog be uncomfortable they should be given a narcotic to address the pain (really well!) And sedates them ad well. If your dog was fighting and struggling for the last one I would fine a vet who would make it a more pleasant experience with an anti anxiety drug and narcotic.

[vacation1]

Thanks for all the ideas! I’m mulling currently. I am struggling with the opposing temptations to:

A) Wait and see. Basically, conclude the heat and humidity are pushing her very hard, even though she spends all day in the a/c house with water and a fan too, and this plus the UTI tipped her over the line with the result she’s got the limping and some incontinence. Try to keep her cool and comfortable, recognize an older arthritic dog is going to not be 100% pain-free 24/7, and regroup with vet to do bloodwork/exam in about a month.

B) Recognize that something else may be going on and get an ultrasound done.

My instinctive desire is b). I am not by nature a calm person with my dogs. I am the aggressive owner who wants to solve it. With an old, fragile dog, I’ve had to rein myself in repeatedly because now the risk of causing more problems by aggressive investigation of potential problems is much less acceptable than it was when she was stronger. She does get Rimadyl and Tramadol and gabapentin, goes to massage once a week. I’m a bit worried at how under the weather she’s seemed lately, but that could easily be due to the absolutely awful weather we’ve had. She’s eating - has to be coaxed to start, then gets enthusiastic - and walks slowly but with interest.

I’ve basically decided to go with A) and leave myself open to going with B) if she doesn’t seem to pick up a bit now the weather’s improved.

[Peggy]

I know that one of the mantras of veterinary medicine is that dogs are not just big cats (OK, it’s the reverse), but the recommendation for sterile cystitis (assuming that’s what you’re dealing with) in cats is Cosequin or, even better, something like Trixsyn that has even more hyaluronic acid in it. That would even help with the arthritis.

[SquishTheBunny]

Sounds like a very reasonable plan. The certainly doesn’t sound distressed so you have time to see which direction she wants to go. Jingles!