strep infection

[nursegail]

My vet spayed my 6month old puppy in December and she ended up with a strep infection in her bladder.  It is four months later, she still has trouble urinating, has crystals in the urine.  I have been told that the strep infection is gone but she still had the crystals.  what could be causing the crystals, there are no stones in the bladder.  

[BUDDHISTTB]

hi there :) just a suggestion as im not a vet but in my opinion and a previous bad experience with a vet, i would change vets immediately to a vet who knows what there talking about!!

HOPE YOUR PUPPY GETS WELL SOON X

[nursegail]

My puppy contracted a gamma hemolytic strep infection after she was spayed in December.  She continues to have crystals in her urine and it smells awful-- almost like glue.  The vet did an xray of the bladder on Tuesday, and saw no stones..... so I'm at a loss as to what to do now, as the vet is!!!

[Misfits4Me]

Oh, the Little Pom doesn't belong to me......I've become facinated with her prognosis through my Vet's office......I ask about her every time I go in....

He (Vet) practices Holistic & traditional medicine....Although he is also Licensed in Homeopathic Medicine, he seems to lean towards Chinese Herbals first.....That's been my experience....

I do not know what this dog eats....I'll ask next time I'm there....I do know that she takes the Enalpril and has for years...

Since he promotes whole, fresh foods...I suspect she eats a homemade diet w/ Vitamins & supplements....That's just my guess, though....He does carry a few of the Prescription Diets in cans.....She may eat one of those.......

When I see him, I'll ask.  (If I can remember)   :(      Take care, Karla

[Margot49]

Thanks for the info. I don't think I was aware of the E.R.D. test.  
Wow, pretty young at a year to get kidney failure and kudos to you if she is that old now.
^5

[Misfits4Me]

Want to add something:

There is a fairly new Renal Disease Test available....It's called "E.R.D." test...Stands for Early Renal Disease.....It is taken with a fresh urine sample.....

This test shows Renal Disease at the 25% level in dogs & cats....Traditional Blood testing show renal disease at 75% loss of function.....

My dogs get this test yearly.....My Vet starts the Heart Medication "Enalapril" immediately if anything shows up on the ERD test....

I'm clocking a little Pomeranian that was in Kidney Failure at the age of 1yr......She was given 3 - 6mos. to live (By her regular Vet) at the time.........She's almost 6 yrs. old now, and expected to live at least another year......Good news...........

[Misfits4Me]

I agree, floating the Kibble (Adding water) will achieve the same purpose....

My thinking here is that since this is a puppy, that possibly it's immune system is struggling....I would suggest a high quality canned for not only moisture content, but also the nutrition factor....I'm hoping that by building the immune system with nutrition (Since we don't know what she feeds) & flushing the system, will help her dog rid the crystals on it's own....That is if the infection is gone, of course........Karla

[Margot49]

I beg to differ on the necessity for only canned food,  Our own dog with kidney issues is on kibble and canned food as many, many other dogs I know of with renal issues.  I do add some water to the food but as long as the dog is drinking fluids, kibble can certainly be fed.  

[Misfits4Me]

Hello & welcome...What do you feed this girl?
Did your Vet culture your dog's urine after her medication was finished? This is very important so that the correct Antibiotic is used.....How do you know that the infection is gone? What did your Vet do to clarify this? Just assume the Antibiotic worked or did they in fact retest her urine?

Any dog with Kidney/Bladder problems should only eat Wet food...The extra water is needed to keep the system flushed....Your puppy needs to be on a high quality, CANNED food for at least awhile.....

Please check out "Dogfoodanalysis.com" to locate a great food for your puppy...They rate their foods 1 star (The lowest quality) to 6 star (The highest). Find a food for this girl that is rated 5 or 6.  Also, check out the food your feeding while your there....See what it's rated and go from there........Karla

[ginger899]

Bladder crystals and bladder stones are the same substance. Only crystals are tiny, tiny particles, and it is only when they clump together that stones form.
Some breeds are particularly prone to this, more than others.
High levels of protein in the food, not enough water to drink, UTI's, ...can all contribute to crystals forming.
Increase your dog's water intake if you possibly can, and if she is well enough, make sure she has plenty of opportunity to pee very frequently, plenty of walks, as much as she is fit enough for right now.
You could also ask your vet about a special diet which can be used to treat this condition.

[Margot49]

Sorry, I can't be much help with this.  You mean strep or staph infection?
I know you can get them from a bladder infection.
Was a culture done to make sure the right antibiotic was used?
And, you might try giving Cranberry juice capsules, avoid anything with sugar.
I think a low protein diet should be fed also.