At least where the urine speciman is concerned. You can diagnose a UTI with a sterile urine speciman (thru the bladder), but it's not initially necessary. It's like using an elephant gun to go after squirrels.
A regular urine speciman (peeing in a cup) can tell you the ph (often elevated in UTIs), the specific gravity, and if there's red or white blood cells and bacteria present in the urine. Most vets will start on a general antibiotic if there's bacteria. A sterile speciman may be needed in the future if she doesn't respond to the antibiotic and they need a specific antibiotic that targets a specific bacteria. Sterile urine specimans are needed for a culture and sensitivity.
I don't have any experience with IDCs, but Helen (who has more bulldog experience than anyone) recommends standing the dog in a bleach solution.
As for the food issue, if your girl can handle chicken, Nature's Variety Instinct is grain and potato free. Some dogs have issues with potatoes. For some reason, sweet potatoes are easier on the dog than white, so you could also look for a grain-free that lists sweet potatoes first.
I'd definitely look for a new vet!

Olivia/Kano/Q-Ball

At least where the urine speciman is concerned. You can diagnose a UTI with a sterile urine speciman (thru the bladder), but it's not initially necessary. It's like using an elephant gun to go after squirrels.
A regular urine speciman (peeing in a cup) can tell you the ph (often elevated in UTIs), the specific gravity, and if there's red or white blood cells and bacteria present in the urine. Most vets will start on a general antibiotic if there's bacteria. A sterile speciman may be needed in the future if she doesn't respond to the antibiotic and they need a specific antibiotic that targets a specific bacteria. Sterile urine specimans are needed for a culture and sensitivity.
I don't have any experience with IDCs, but Helen (who has more bulldog experience than anyone) recommends standing the dog in a bleach solution.
As for the food issue, if your girl can handle chicken, Nature's Variety Instinct is grain and potato free. Some dogs have issues with potatoes. For some reason, sweet potatoes are easier on the dog than white, so you could also look for a grain-free that lists sweet potatoes first.
I'd definitely look for a new vet!

Olivia/Kano/Q-Ball

I would find a really good bulldog vet (if you are able) in your area. These vets can take you to the cleaners when they see you coming with a bullie. I have had experience with UTI's and I would definitely let a good vet have a urine sample. This will clear up a lot of your questions about what is best for her. God bless you for all you have done! My prayers are with you!

I would find a really good bulldog vet (if you are able) in your area. These vets can take you to the cleaners when they see you coming with a bullie. I have had experience with UTI's and I would definitely let a good vet have a urine sample. This will clear up a lot of your questions about what is best for her. God bless you for all you have done! My prayers are with you!

i assume she is spayed? get a early am urine sample....why he wants a bladder sample is a little over board...you need antibotics to clear the infection up....but after that cranberry tabs work great...i would also use some vit c....yougurt while on the antibotics....i myself use cod liver tabs becasue they have great omeg in them....
you cant fix years of negelect...all you can do now is make sure she is getting the best diet and vet care possible...as your doing....i had two older rescues and it was hard with their medical problems but you can work on them....
good luck and keep us posted.....

i assume she is spayed? get a early am urine sample....why he wants a bladder sample is a little over board...you need antibotics to clear the infection up....but after that cranberry tabs work great...i would also use some vit c....yougurt while on the antibotics....i myself use cod liver tabs becasue they have great omeg in them....
you cant fix years of negelect...all you can do now is make sure she is getting the best diet and vet care possible...as your doing....i had two older rescues and it was hard with their medical problems but you can work on them....
good luck and keep us posted.....

I would have fell for the $1000 vet treatments before this website!

The feet/ear wax: my bulldog had the same thing until I switched her food to Wellness Core Low Fat (at the time I had an elderly Cocker Spaniel who needed low fat so they all got it). That issue went away so I would say she is allergic to something....common, oh so common, with Bulldogs. My bulldog and my two Cockers are doing very well on the grain free foods and they have been on Wellness for 3 years now!

The dime size spots: staph infection. My vet gave me Muricin ointment which I swear cleared up the spots in 2 days!

Pee in a cup should be enough.....not that we are doctors, but we have been down this road 1000 times in a month and that is a UTI. People have found that cranberry capsules help as a preventative supplement.

Vet - check the homepage, there is a listing of bulldog vets by state

IDC - my vet told me to have my rescue bulldog stand in the tub filled enough to cover his feet with Epsom salts. It helps to draw out the infection.

I use to rush my dogs (the lunatic I am) to the vet every time they appeared sick. I have learned not to unless it is something serious. I talk with my vet on a regular basis and she gives me whatever I need in the way of meds and I trust her but will tell her "no" to things that I don't feel are necessary. One thing I learned: once my vet learned I know what I am talking about, she felt more comfortable about allowing me to make the decision on stuff.

Good luck! And I look forward to seeing your baby!

I would have fell for the $1000 vet treatments before this website!

The feet/ear wax: my bulldog had the same thing until I switched her food to Wellness Core Low Fat (at the time I had an elderly Cocker Spaniel who needed low fat so they all got it). That issue went away so I would say she is allergic to something....common, oh so common, with Bulldogs. My bulldog and my two Cockers are doing very well on the grain free foods and they have been on Wellness for 3 years now!

The dime size spots: staph infection. My vet gave me Muricin ointment which I swear cleared up the spots in 2 days!

Pee in a cup should be enough.....not that we are doctors, but we have been down this road 1000 times in a month and that is a UTI. People have found that cranberry capsules help as a preventative supplement.

Vet - check the homepage, there is a listing of bulldog vets by state

IDC - my vet told me to have my rescue bulldog stand in the tub filled enough to cover his feet with Epsom salts. It helps to draw out the infection.

I use to rush my dogs (the lunatic I am) to the vet every time they appeared sick. I have learned not to unless it is something serious. I talk with my vet on a regular basis and she gives me whatever I need in the way of meds and I trust her but will tell her "no" to things that I don't feel are necessary. One thing I learned: once my vet learned I know what I am talking about, she felt more comfortable about allowing me to make the decision on stuff.

Good luck! And I look forward to seeing your baby!

Sounds most likely like a UTI. I would tell your vet you want to start conservatively and do antibiotics and see if it clears up. Some vets draw the urine directly from the bladder with the method you described, but I have also just done the pee in the cup thing too, depends on the vet.
I am in So. Cal so do not know of a good bulldog vet up in the bay area but you can go to the Bulldog Club of America website and search for bulldog vets there. Or there may be someone on this sight from your area that knows of a good vet. I have several bulldogger friends up there that also go to UC Davis, that is another option. Sounds like you are taking wonderful care of your new baby. Enjoy her to the fullest and hopefully this will get cleared quickly.

Sounds most likely like a UTI. I would tell your vet you want to start conservatively and do antibiotics and see if it clears up. Some vets draw the urine directly from the bladder with the method you described, but I have also just done the pee in the cup thing too, depends on the vet.
I am in So. Cal so do not know of a good bulldog vet up in the bay area but you can go to the Bulldog Club of America website and search for bulldog vets there. Or there may be someone on this sight from your area that knows of a good vet. I have several bulldogger friends up there that also go to UC Davis, that is another option. Sounds like you are taking wonderful care of your new baby. Enjoy her to the fullest and hopefully this will get cleared quickly.

my boy had a UTI at 8 mos. It turned out to be crystals. Not sure if this works with a female, but I was told to put a clean disposable foil pie plate under him and catch the urine mid-stream. Clean and rinse the vulva well before you do this. Hope it works. It is the only way I have caught a specimen. Some vets do want a more sterile urine specimen to be sure.

my boy had a UTI at 8 mos. It turned out to be crystals. Not sure if this works with a female, but I was told to put a clean disposable foil pie plate under him and catch the urine mid-stream. Clean and rinse the vulva well before you do this. Hope it works. It is the only way I have caught a specimen. Some vets do want a more sterile urine specimen to be sure.

look around for a good vet that knows the bulldog breed.
some vets know nothing much about them and can cost you big bucks
ask the vet how many bullies they have as patients and so on..
that is the best advice I can give you

Pat

look around for a good vet that knows the bulldog breed.
some vets know nothing much about them and can cost you big bucks
ask the vet how many bullies they have as patients and so on..
that is the best advice I can give you

Pat

pee in the cup is all they used for the UTI here in one of my dogs years ago.

pee in the cup is all they used for the UTI here in one of my dogs years ago.

cup Clorox and stand the dog in it for about 5 minutes, do not rinse just dry the feet with an old soft clean towel. Also do not let the dog walk on good rugs until you are sure the feet are dry.

cup Clorox and stand the dog in it for about 5 minutes, do not rinse just dry the feet with an old soft clean towel. Also do not let the dog walk on good rugs until you are sure the feet are dry.

There are crystals, it can still be detected by a regular urine speciman. If you don't want to take the dog in (and get charged for another office visit), I would call the vet that's been treating her, and tell them you're bringing in a urine sample to have it dipsticked. Then, after I got the antibiotic, I would find another vet! lol
I'm not sure of the cranberry dose, but I know most people give the pills in the food. Also, Vit C tabs will help acidify the urine. You can get them at the grocery store or a health foods store.
As for the red/rusty color - that usually means yeast. I know Q would get really red itchy feet when he had an allergy to the food - as well as patches of baldness. Occasionally, he would also get a rash. Food allergies are a pain! Remember, though - if you end up changing foods, it may take a while for the symptoms to go away as her body needs to detoxify.
Good luck!

Olivia/Kano/Q-Ball

There are crystals, it can still be detected by a regular urine speciman. If you don't want to take the dog in (and get charged for another office visit), I would call the vet that's been treating her, and tell them you're bringing in a urine sample to have it dipsticked. Then, after I got the antibiotic, I would find another vet! lol
I'm not sure of the cranberry dose, but I know most people give the pills in the food. Also, Vit C tabs will help acidify the urine. You can get them at the grocery store or a health foods store.
As for the red/rusty color - that usually means yeast. I know Q would get really red itchy feet when he had an allergy to the food - as well as patches of baldness. Occasionally, he would also get a rash. Food allergies are a pain! Remember, though - if you end up changing foods, it may take a while for the symptoms to go away as her body needs to detoxify.
Good luck!

Olivia/Kano/Q-Ball

Hello,

I have had many problems with my Tessie.

I wanted to mention something to you that I'm not sure if you've heard. There have been rumors that NB duck and potato has caused crystals in dogs and cats urine. Tessie had crystals while she was on NB duck and potato and when I switched her off of it, she doesn't have them anymore. I always did urine samples through the needle method because struvite crystals can form in urine as it sits so we always had the urine taken by needle and examined at the vet (not sent out).

I hope this helps.

Amanda

*Amanda*

Hello,

I have had many problems with my Tessie.

I wanted to mention something to you that I'm not sure if you've heard. There have been rumors that NB duck and potato has caused crystals in dogs and cats urine. Tessie had crystals while she was on NB duck and potato and when I switched her off of it, she doesn't have them anymore. I always did urine samples through the needle method because struvite crystals can form in urine as it sits so we always had the urine taken by needle and examined at the vet (not sent out).

I hope this helps.

Amanda

*Amanda*

OK! THANK YOU for all your suggestions and I will try to find someone quickly who will let me let my girl just pee in a cup! I just worry that I am not doing all I can by not wanting them to stick a needle in her. I don't want to miss anything. The vet mentioned it could be stones, crystals, so many different kinds of infections, blah, blah,etc.. scared me to death!

as for cranberry supplements, can I just add a few dried cranberries to her food? or give her a little juice in the meantime, thats what dr.s reccommend for humans, right?

does all the extra redness/rustiness sound like she is allergic to the NB duck/potatoe food?

Its hard to me to tell if she is sick or different because of food or other changes. I try to be very consistent... I also use stainless steal bowls with filtered water. I do everything that is mentioned on this website, except for supplements (so far).

OK! THANK YOU for all your suggestions and I will try to find someone quickly who will let me let my girl just pee in a cup! I just worry that I am not doing all I can by not wanting them to stick a needle in her. I don't want to miss anything. The vet mentioned it could be stones, crystals, so many different kinds of infections, blah, blah,etc.. scared me to death!

as for cranberry supplements, can I just add a few dried cranberries to her food? or give her a little juice in the meantime, thats what dr.s reccommend for humans, right?

does all the extra redness/rustiness sound like she is allergic to the NB duck/potatoe food?

Its hard to me to tell if she is sick or different because of food or other changes. I try to be very consistent... I also use stainless steal bowls with filtered water. I do everything that is mentioned on this website, except for supplements (so far).

Have her evaluated by a vet and get her on another course of antibiotics. That's not to say that cranberry, and other supplements would do any harm, but it's also something you should discuss with the vet. Some would be dependant on the urine pH (too acidic vs alkalotic?).
As for the redness/itchiness, hard to say if it's just yeasty or if there is also a bacterial component. Antibiotics screw up all the normal skin and gut flora. I'm a big fan of probiotics.
The medicated shampoo should help. If she's super uncomfy, you could give her a benadryl (1 mg/pound) to help with the itchiness. Poor girl.

Olivia/Kano/Q-Ball

Have her evaluated by a vet and get her on another course of antibiotics. That's not to say that cranberry, and other supplements would do any harm, but it's also something you should discuss with the vet. Some would be dependant on the urine pH (too acidic vs alkalotic?).
As for the redness/itchiness, hard to say if it's just yeasty or if there is also a bacterial component. Antibiotics screw up all the normal skin and gut flora. I'm a big fan of probiotics.
The medicated shampoo should help. If she's super uncomfy, you could give her a benadryl (1 mg/pound) to help with the itchiness. Poor girl.

Olivia/Kano/Q-Ball

Olivia/Kano/Q-Ball

Olivia/Kano/Q-Ball

Dear all,

Thanks again for the help. I will be bringing kibby in to the vet on monday because her knees, inner thighs, all seem a little pinker, or itchier. I am hoping its just the food and not because of the uti. I will be switching from NB duck/potato to instinct chicken and see how it goes. I have a feeling its the potatoes...she has duck in other food with no issues.

I have been trying to do some research to try to relieve any discomfort she may have...

1. I have heard to feed her 2 tablesppons of acv and then some yogurt to home remedy the uti... has anyone else tried this? if so, how much and for how long? would this really cure it, or should i just go for a round of antibotics just to safe? or should i just try vitamin c or cranberry extract , if so, how much?

2. she keeps spinning, trying to scratch her tail, privates, and legs...as for her privates, i have been cleaning her with a soft, warm, towel.. just to be sure to remove anything that my be irritating her. I havent used any soap or cleaning product yet. Should I try some of those vagasil or malsaleb wipes, listerine? or just leave it alone? it does seem a little sensitive,just some red yeasty rustiness around the outside hairs.. but other then that, it does not appear red or inflamed or anything.

Dear all,

Thanks again for the help. I will be bringing kibby in to the vet on monday because her knees, inner thighs, all seem a little pinker, or itchier. I am hoping its just the food and not because of the uti. I will be switching from NB duck/potato to instinct chicken and see how it goes. I have a feeling its the potatoes...she has duck in other food with no issues.

I have been trying to do some research to try to relieve any discomfort she may have...

1. I have heard to feed her 2 tablesppons of acv and then some yogurt to home remedy the uti... has anyone else tried this? if so, how much and for how long? would this really cure it, or should i just go for a round of antibotics just to safe? or should i just try vitamin c or cranberry extract , if so, how much?

2. she keeps spinning, trying to scratch her tail, privates, and legs...as for her privates, i have been cleaning her with a soft, warm, towel.. just to be sure to remove anything that my be irritating her. I havent used any soap or cleaning product yet. Should I try some of those vagasil or malsaleb wipes, listerine? or just leave it alone? it does seem a little sensitive,just some red yeasty rustiness around the outside hairs.. but other then that, it does not appear red or inflamed or anything.

what food did you end up using for Q? thanks for looking. T & J

what food did you end up using for Q? thanks for looking. T & J

Little Miss Betty Cuteface

Toofie on the left, eyeball on the right.

Little Miss Betty Cuteface

Toofie on the left, eyeball on the right.