Blood in pee

[ProfessorPeteZa]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

When Ellie was having bladder issues her xray showed nothing. During her spay the vet felt her bladder...nothing. But because ammonium urate stones are radiolucent, ultimately we had to use u/s to rule them out.

With blood in the urine, if she doesn't get better soon I would definitely go further. If there is any doubt about it clearing up correctly, if she has stones or if the UTI recurs, she should be bile acids test.

As of yesterday, there hasn't been any blood in her urine. I did not get a chance to check today but will know this PM when i get home from work. She pees when excited and she peed when she saw my mom this AM but my mom didnt mention anything about blood. As of yesterday, her pee was brownish in color. Does this mean it is getting better?

I am a bit confused now. So she should not be on rimadyl? i really do not like this drug. It knocks her out. I mean like all she wants to do is sleep. She'll play a little bit but shes not like hounding me to play w. her like she usually does. As for stones, do I need to pursue this further? If so, how? do i request an xray be done? any other tests?I want to make sure this doesnt progress into anything else.

[ProfessorPeteZa]

Originally Posted by PiePiper

When Chip had the blood in his urine he was treated with an antibiotic first since they did check his urine and found he had a bladder infection. The vet didn't think he had bladder stones because he couldn't feel any. I was told to give Chip the antibiotic and if he wasn't 100% they would have to do xrays. After the 10 days of the antibiotics he was a lot better but not 100% so I took him for the xrays. Chip had multiple bladder stones and had to have surgery. Just because they can't feel the stones doesn't mean they're not there.

Hmm, well this is quite worrisome. I fear I am even more ill informed than I previously thought. I am a little annoyed that my vet did not insist on an x-ray. Shall I insist on an X-Ray during my visit on the 21st? Do I need to have this done earlier or can it wait?

[Ellie May]

Please don't be upset with your vet.
Some owners just do not have any money and if the vet said all of these dogs needed xrays and cultures, they'd be called money hungry. So they try to go easy on the expensive testing if possible...

If you trust your vet, do what they want. Ellie had a UTI (no visable blood) and she was never prescribed anything for pain. In my opinion, using Rimadyl should not be taken lightly, especially in Yorkies where liver function hasn't been tested. That doesn't mean you shouldn't use it though. That's between you and the vet.

You know her best. If something is stiill off post antibiotic, continue testing. If she is perfectly fine, use your own judgment. Sometimes more than just xray is needed for a diagnosis of stones.

Not sure why her urine is brown. Normal colored (clear or yellow) is what I'd want to see.

[Nancy1999]

Just wanted to add, that most of the time the blood isn't visible to the naked eye, when you can actually see the blood in the urine, the infection is very advanced and quite painful, although it can be painful without any visible sign of blood. Stones can also cause blood, which again, is painful. Sometimes stones and infections are related, and sometimes they aren't.

[ProfessorPeteZa]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Please don't be upset with your vet.
Some owners just do not have any money and if the vet said all of these dogs needed xrays and cultures, they'd be called money hungry. So they try to go easy on the expensive testing if possible...

If you trust your vet, do what they want. Ellie had a UTI (no visable blood) and she was never prescribed anything for pain. In my opinion, using Rimadyl should not be taken lightly, especially in Yorkies where liver function hasn't been tested. That doesn't mean you shouldn't use it though. That's between you and the vet.

You know her best. If something is stiill off post antibiotic, continue testing. If she is perfectly fine, use your own judgment. Sometimes more than just xray is needed for a diagnosis of stones.

Not sure why her urine is brown. Normal colored (clear or yellow) is what I'd want to see.

id like clear or yellow as well, its like a yellowy brown. not brown brown. I will check once I am home again. This rimadyl is scaring me even more. I cannot tell if my Bindi is in visible pain. Even when she when she had blood in her urine. I could not see that she was in pain They had her on this same drug when she had her bloody stool. I hope it is not adversely affecting her liver function. I've been going to the same practice for about 10-12 yrs. now however this is my 3rd visit w. this vet in particular. Shes new at the practice. I think I like her this far.

[ProfessorPeteZa]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Just wanted to add, that most of the time the blood isn't visible to the naked eye, when you can actually see the blood in the urine, the infection is very advanced and quite painful, although it can be painful without any visible sign of blood. Stones can also cause blood, which again, is painful. Sometimes stones and infections are related, and sometimes they aren't.

Is even more confused *cries* I just want my baby to be healthy!

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by ProfessorPeteZa

id like clear or yellow as well, its like a yellowy brown. not brown brown. I will check once I am home again. This rimadyl is scaring me even more. I cannot tell if my Bindi is in visible pain. Even when she when she had blood in her urine. I could not see that she was in pain They had her on this same drug when she had her bloody stool. I hope it is not adversely affecting her liver function. I've been going to the same practice for about 10-12 yrs. now however this is my 3rd visit w. this vet in particular. Shes new at the practice. I think I like her this far.

What was the loose stool from and why in the world would rimadyl be used for that? Was she in pain?

[PiePiper]

The only time my yorkies have been on Rimadyl was if they had surgery and then it was only for a few days.

[ProfessorPeteZa]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

What was the loose stool from and why in the world would rimadyl be used for that? Was she in pain?

We dont know what the bloody stools were from. They speculated that it was from something she ate but nothing conclusive. i did not go to that vet visit as I was at work and she was taken in as an emergency visit. At that time they gave her (oh no im blanking) something to harden her poo, rimadyl and an antibiotic I want to say. I cannot be absolutely sure. I don't remember. She was crying when we'd tried to wipe her butt clean, other than that. not from what i can tell.

The more I am on YT the more I do not like the new vet. I might ask to see the other doctor. They kinda just gave me this new lady during her semi annual.

[ProfessorPeteZa]

Originally Posted by PiePiper

The only time my yorkies have been on Rimadyl was if they had surgery and then it was only for a few days.

oh no, i dont know what to do. this lady might not be that great. how do i switch to another doc at the practice without pissing everyone off? shes a sweet lady

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by ProfessorPeteZa

oh no, i dont know what to do. this lady might not be that great. how do i switch to another doc at the practice without pissing everyone off? shes a sweet lady

Sweet or not you want what's best for your furkid.
Can't you just schedule with one of the other doctors next time?
I found a vet that I like and just always schedule with her.
I had seen two other ones in the same practice before her.
You can always go on days when she isn't working if that would make you feel better.

I doubt short term use of Rimadyl is going to do anything harmful but it sounds like they hand the stuff out like candy or something.

[ProfessorPeteZa]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Sweet or not you want what's best for your furkid.
Can't you just schedule with one of the other doctors next time?
I found a vet that I like and just always schedule with her.
I had seen two other ones in the same practice before her.
You can always go on days when she isn't working if that would make you feel better.

I doubt short term use of Rimadyl is going to do anything harmful but it sounds like they hand the stuff out like candy or something.

All this talk is making me wonder if I should go to this other vet that I trust instead. ...... after I get this UTI sorted thru I think I will move to this vet at a different practice. I also, already totally despise one of the "nurses/vet techs" at the practice I am currently at.

In conclusion, do I need to insist on an xray for the stones and do i need to get some test to check out her liver?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by ProfessorPeteZa

All this talk is making me wonder if I should go to this other vet that I trust instead. ...... after I get this UTI sorted thru I think I will move to this vet at a different practice. I also, already totally despise one of the "nurses/vet techs" at the practice I am currently at.

In conclusion, do I need to insist on an xray for the stones and do i need to get some test to check out her liver?

I would not unless it doesn't clear up 100% but that doesn't mean that is the right answer.

I believe all Yorkies should be bile acids test, so UTI or not, my answer is yes while most other people will say no.

[Ladymom]

It's not unusual for a vet to prescribe Clavamox or Baytril initially for a UTI to see if it clears it up. Xrays, sterile cultures and ultrasounds run into the hundreds of dollars and may not be necessary for a simple UTI.

Make sure you give her the medication as prescribed. If it is working, you will see a dramatic improvement quickly. If she doesn't improve, your vet will have to do a sterile culture to find out what bacteria is causing the infection so he will know what to prescribe. At that point he will also want to do xrays to look for stones.

To answer your question about getting a bile acids test to test liver function, the answer is absolutely yes. Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a shunt than all other breeds combined. Dr, Center recommends that all Yorkie puppies have a bile acids test after 20 weeks old.

[ProfessorPeteZa]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

It's not unusual for a vet to prescribe Clavamox or Baytril initially for a UTI to see if it clears it up. Xrays, sterile cultures and ultrasounds run into the hundreds of dollars and may not be necessary for a simple UTI.

Make sure you give her the medication as prescribed. If it is working, you will see a dramatic improvement quickly. If she doesn't improve, your vet will have to do a sterile culture to find out what bacteria is causing the infection so he will know what to prescribe. At that point he will also want to do xrays to look for stones.

To answer your question about getting a bile acids test to test liver function, the answer is absolutely yes. Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a shunt than all other breeds combined. Dr, Center recommends that all Yorkie puppies have a bile acids test after 20 weeks old.

Yes, that's it. she is on Baytril. She seems to be much better with clear/yellow urine. She seems to go longer in between needing to pee now as well. I think she feels much better.

As for this rimadyl, should I continue on it as prescribed? I'm scared of this drug now. I will ask for a bile acid test on my vet visit on the 21st.

What else, if anything, should I bring up to my Vet?