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Suspected UTI, vet says no

I have a 5 year old Boxer/Dane mix, we've had her since she was 10 weeks old (approx) when we picked her out at the pound. She has been house trained since about 2 weeks after we brought her home. Last Friday I took her outside to potty and noticed that she peed not once, but twice while out there. I thought that was a little strange. Later that evening she urinated on the carpet, she didn't whine at all just popped a squat and did it. I was surprised, but it raised a red flag. Over the next 3 days she urinated 4 more times in the house, she was whining to go out more and I would take her. Sometimes she would urinate and sometimes not, but when she would urinate in the house she never whined beforehand. Otherwise she seemed fine, she ran all over the house chasing her dog food, and up and down the steps.

I called the vet Tuesday (they weren't open Mon), and they said the earliest they could see her was Thursday morning, and to bring her in first thing. I brought her and they said they were keeping her to assess her and I could pick her up later. They called me at 1pm and told me that she had a "slipped disc" in her neck and was in severe pain. The vet asst. said she was shocked I had not noticed this, as she was walking funny too. I was completely surprised by this information, she had not exhibited pain at all. I asked about the urination issue and she said they had not got a sample, but they didn't think that was the problem. When I went to pick her up they said they did manage to get a sample but that it was fine. I paid the bill to the tune of 130 bucks, and left with Mederol. They told me to be sure to call if her symptoms of pain got worse, and not to worry about her peeing all over because the steroids they gave her could cause that.....

I'm still incredibly confused. My dog shows no signs of pain...still. She hops about and jumps, i tried palpating the area they said she had pain and I got no response from her (they said she whimpered and yelped). I don't want my dog to be in any pain, but how am I suppose to monitor symptoms that I can't detect? They said she might be urinating in the house d/t her being lethargic and not wanting to get up because of the pain, but I have not seen this at all. Shes acting just as spunky as she ever has, and no different in that respect than when I took her in. They didn't do any x-rays or labs on her, which troubles me, but i don't know if thats protocol or not? Of course tonight she again urinated in the house...

I'm kind of at a loss, does anyone have suggestions? thoughts?

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Re: Suspected UTI, vet says no

  • I would get a second opinion. Is it common at your vets office to drop the dog off then come back later to pick her up? It seems odd to me that they couldn't do an exam in the room with you present, check a urine sample and discuss their findings with you still present. It does happen from time to time that patients get mixed up especially after a holiday when things are usually busier. I would suggest getting a second opinion at an office where you can stay present for the whole exam!
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  • I agree with pp. First, I find it odd they didn't do an exam with you there. Second, are they sure it was your dog they examined? Did they even do a urine sample?

    I too would get a second opinion. When my dog had a uti the vet could tell visually that it more than likely was a uti and gave antibiotics. She said if they need a urine sample, they had tricks to encourage a sample right there (my dog BMed and didn't pee, lol) or they'd give me a kit to DIY.  It was a small shallow plastic "pan" that you slip under her when she squats, and a pill bottle looking container to pour it in.   

    This whole experience you describe just seems weird. 

     

    ETA. Maybe your dog was behaving weird due to nerves of a strange place without mom, and they misinterpreted for pain? Especially on a mentally vulnerable area like the neck. A real stretch, but maybe?

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  • Also, have you been giving the Medrol to your dog?  If so, if it is relieving pain, the dog might run around thinking it feels really good, masking signs of pain. 
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  • I don't have any amazing advice unfortunately but I thought I would share my experience.

    In April, my beagle was acting very tired all the time. He didn't get up see me when I came home (very unusual). He was eating but after the food had been out for a few minutes (extremely unusual). I thought maybe he ate something that couldn't pass so examined his belly and it was swollen and hard. I took him to the vet convinced that there was something blocking his intestines. Vet told me it was a slipped disc and gave me meds. The next day my dog was back to normal.

  • I think it is weird that they have you drop off the dog. My dog goes for the vet to check his urine (chronic UTIs) every 3 weeks or so and we never leave him there. I think you should get a second opinion.
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  • I would also suggest a second opinion. Mix-ups can happen, and in practices where animals are dropped off and not examined with the owners present, it seems to happen more. We had a pretty serious mix-up with our own pet years ago when we went to a large corporate-owned vet clinic that was located inside a popular retail chain (not going to name names but you can probably figure it out). We've since switched to a much smaller practice where we see the vets face-to-face and the care we've received is much, much better.

    Sorry you're going through this, but I hope you get some answers soon.

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