Need some quick opinions please
 

Our shih tzu,Speedy started acting weird tonight. She started squatting like she needed to pee and then she would stay on that position and take a few steps and act like age was peeing and do it again and just stop and lay in the grass. When she Is in the camper(we are camping this weekend) she acts fine but e wry time we open the door she runs out in the grass and repeats the above. She doesn't act like she is in pain and her tail is wagging. She walks and jumps up and down fine. But hubby said it's like she is trying to find a cool place to lay on her belly. Please give me your thoughts.

One more thing. We are coming home tomorrow and will see if she acts the same if so should we go to emergency vet or go to regular vet on Monday Could it be a bladder infection.

I would get her to the vet as soon as you can, if it is a bladder infection that is causing this she needs to be treated. If she seems ok, go to the regular vet on Monday.

Thx Cathy. So if the symptoms are the sAme tomorrow we will pack up Fo home and Fo to energ vet. We are going home tomorrow anyway. Are those symptoms of a bladder infection?

It's hard to say... My dog Daisy had a bladder infection that was totally subclinical....the only reason we knew it was routine blood/urine testing pre-surgery. She had to be on meds for 6 weeks to clear. In the past, I've seen my dogs try to pee and they seem to "get stuck" -- that might be what speedy is doing.

Ok thx Rick is worried to death about his little girl. We will see what tomorrow brings. Definitely going to vet on Monday no matter what. Off to bed. Thx for being here for me.

Dianne I'm just seeing this. How is Speedy this morning?

She went outside with Toby this morning but didn't even go in the yard to potty. Shed still in the bed sleeping so I will post when she's up and around.

I went into the bedroom and asked speedy if she wanted a belly rub and she rolled over on her back so I rubbed her I saw no rash or anything. Then she got up went outside and squatted like normal to potty then walked to another part of the yard and squatted again. She never tries to go pee twice but at least she didn't stay hunkered down. Will see how she does when we get home. But still getting her a vet appt for mon or tue.

Sounds like it could be a uti or bladder infection.

Since I've always had healthy dogs, what causes a uti or bladder infection. Is it considered an emergency or can I take her to her vet tomorrow when they open.

It's very painful just like in humans. UTIs are caused by bacteria and need an antibiotic and culture to determine the proper type. If it were one of mine I would be at the ER vet today and not wait until Monday or Tuesday. Poor Speedy :(

I think I would take to her vet if possible. UTI is not pleasant feeling. Also, probably a lesser possibility, but when a kidney stone is passed there is a lot of straining to urinate - that is also not a pleasant experience.

We are home and she went pee in the back yard and didn't continue to move to different spots to pee. She is eating and drinking normally. But to be on the safe side, I called the emergency vet. The nurse spoke with the doctor and the doctor said as long as she is eating, drinking, acting normal and it doesn't appear she's straining, we can take her to our regular vet tomorrow. She WILL be going to the vet tomorrow for this reason as well as she is due for her rabies and DHLPP shots. Not sure if the vet will give her the shots if she needs to be treated for UTI or bladder infection. Thanks to everyone for your responses. It is so nice to know I can always count on my YT friends for quick and honest responses. I will keep everyone posted.

Glad you checked with you vet, and hope she's okay. One question I have is I thought they weren't suppose to get rabies shot with other shots, is that just for puppies?

You might want to get a urine sample from her first pee in the morning to take with you. I hope Speedy is okay and that it isn't serious. It does sound like a UTI that one of my foster dogs had at one time.

I don't know Nancy. Speedy has always gotten all her shots together and we've never had an issue and she's 4 1/2 years old. She is the perfect dog according to my husband. She is not needy at all. She lives to play and eat. But she does have an attitude. It's her way or no way and all she has to do is look at you with those gorgeous black eyes and she gets whatever she wants (from hubby of course.) She's very playful this afternoon and she's acting very normal so I will get her in to our regular vet tomorrow. They are really good about squeezing you in if necessary.

Thank you everyone for caring. These furbutts are like kids to each and every one of us. And they definitely know how to capture our hearts!

I would separate the shots. Especially if lepto is in the combo. I'd wait 2-3 weeks before giving the other shot. I also would not have them give her shots if there is a possibility of infection.

I'd resolve the issue with her urine first...for me, that would mean a STERILE sample of urine (taken by the vet) and I would want a culture and sensitivity test done in addition to a urinalysis as well so that the infection, if any, is treated with the right antibiotic.

Just seeing this now... Agree the possible UTI needs to be resolved before any vaccines are given...

Also, JMHO, I would give the DHPP one day, then next month the Rabies, then the next month the Lepto. Giving them all at once to a small (or large ) dog can overload their immune system.

Also, please read this: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/die...ntibodies.html

Thanks for the replies. I was wrong. All she needs right now is her heartworm checkup which we supplied the "goods" today when we took her in for her other issue. Vet kept her this afternoon. She is totally healthy other than her temperature was up (104.) They got some blood from her this afternoon but have yet to get any urine from her. They will call us later with an update. She doesn't need any shots until October! But I will tell them about giving them separately like I did with Toby.

You would never know she had anything wrong with her. She acts completely normal. The only thing we notice now that we know she has a fever is that for the past few weeks she's laying on the hardwood floors more (like she was trying to cool her belly). Makes sense if she's been running a fever.

I will not let her stay at the vet's overnight unless someone is there 24/7. She is not a dog that gets crated so that would be very stressful for her.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that it is nothing serious. Cathy, I will make sure hubby mentions the culture, sensitivity test and urinalysis when the vet calls him. I won't be home this evening but will let you know what we find out.

You told me that they took a sample from her bladder. It's called a cystosentesis and is used to collect urine. They will used this for the testing that Cathy mentioned.

Sounds like a bladder infection to me, I hope that tested the urine, with that high of fever, I would think they would. One thing I learned was that dogs do not show pain unless they are in extreme pain. They are genetically programmed to hide pain because any sign of weakness in the wild would make them vulnerable to animal attacks. So that's why it's important for us to look for other behavior changes.

Just wanted to give everyone an update and thank you again for all your comments.

Took Speed to the vet today. She was running a 104 temperature. It took a while but they FINALLY got a urine specimen and found some very small crystals in her bladder via an x-ray and she had a little bit of blood and bacteria in her urine. Her liver and kidneys are fine. Vet was concerned as to why she had a fever as that isn't normal with crystals so that's why she ran several tests. The culture (which will tell us what kind of antibiotic she needs to be on) won't be back for a couple days so have to wait on those results. She is on a couple days worth of Clavamox for her fever. Once we get the culture back we will know what antibiotic she needs. HOPEFULLY we can dissolve the crystals with a change in her diet because they are so small. They performed a urine culture, urinalysis, urine sedimient, CBC, and heartworm test. They also did a Centesis urine test (whatever that is.) They said she was really good and was very well behaved. This vet was very thorough and even called hubby on his cell to tell him Speedy has a small bruise on her belly where they took urine from her bladder and didn't want us to wonder where it came from. So for now, no surgery is needed. If they can't dissolve the crystals with diet, they will need to operate. She did tell us to stop giving her the coconut oil. She doesn't know if it contributed to it or not but said to stop giving it to her. They put her on Waltham K-9 SO diet food for now. I'm hoping the vet ran all the necessary tests. For the price they charged, she should have!

I am glad they found out what is going on. Hopefully the meds will work and get rid of the infection and crystals.