My dog has a UTI and high kidney levels. Is E. Coli possible?

I'm glad that Bella is recovering well. Hopefully her kidney levels will continue to improve as she is on the medication. You will probably want to recheck the levels about a week or so after discontinuing the antibiotics. Some dogs with kidney damage/insufficiency benefit from a kidney diet. These typically have lower levels or protein and salts which can be protective for the kidneys over time. There are other medications for kidney disease as well but are not really indicated in a dog that is doing clinically well like Bella is. Additionally, some dogs also will benefit from fluid therapy periodically throughout the week. Typically the owner gives the fluids subcutaneously (under the skin) a couple of times a week to help prevent dehydration and promote renal blood flow. I would recommend talking with your vet about options for a kidney diet and possibly giving Bella fluids at home. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

As long as he can urinate and is acting otherwise normally, it is likely not an emergency situation. Consider allowing your veterinarian to collect a sterile urine sample to submit for a culture and sensitivity panel. This may identify the bacteria responsible for Red's infection as well as the most effective antibiotic to use in treatment. Stones in his bladder or kidneys and masses may be ruled out with the ultrasound. He may need to be on long term or pulsed (alternating weeks or month on/off meds) antibiotic therapy.

Frequent licking and blood in the urine are signs of an infection. However if it flared after the start of the antibiotics then I would pursue further testing. Did they do anytime sample tonxhexk for cells and crystals and see what bacteria what present? From there you need an X-ray or an ultrasound to make sure there are no bladder stones as this can require surgery or the problem will keep occurring without.

I am so sorry Toby is not feeling well. Ehrlichia is a tick born disease that can cause a lot of secondary issues from the infection. Kidney disease acute (suddenly) or chronic(over a long period of time) can be hard to detect. The Ehrlichia can cause dehydration, anemia, acute kidney disease and even low platelets. The kidney disease usually resolves when the Ehrlichia is treated. However with a 14 year old dog I would be concerned that Toby had kidney disease that was undetectable until now. That would make it hard to predict if the kidney values will ever go back to normal. There are no specific drugs to lower the kidney values. The best options are intravenous fluids and antibiotics for the Ehrlichia and close monitoring. I hope Toby makes a full recocery

If she is getting recurrent urinary tract infections than she should be checked for bladder stones as dogs with bladder stones typically have recurrent infections. Your vet can take an x-ray or do an ultrasound of her bladder to check for stones. She should also have her kidney values checked and may need to stay on an antibiotic for an exteded period of time. Call your vet and schedule an recheck. Hope she feels better soon!

UTI's can cause your dog pain, that's for sure. If you've ever had one yourself you might know that the burning sensation and pain in the lower abdomen are quite uncomfortable. The pain isn't terrible, for sure, but there's no doubt that Bella isn't feeling well. In addition, in a diabetic dog, UTI's can indicate that she is poorly regulated (i.e. there is routinely glucose in her urine) and having one signals that it's a good idea to check blood glucose as well, to determine if an adjustment might be considered in insulin dosage. Checking a quick urine dipstick can also ease your mind that she is not tipping over into diabetic ketoacidosis as well, which is a very serious condition. It's also worth noting that even though the same antibiotic is prescribed each time, when UTI's occur frequently the bacteria that cause them can become stronger, and more resistant to the normally-used antibiotics - this is why urine culture is so valuable in these cases, in order to make sure that the appropriate antibiotic is used. I would recommend that you get her in today, since it's another 36 hours since your regular vet opens, and that's a long time for her to be uncomfortable.

She should have an x-ray and/or ultrasound of her bladder to look for bladder stones. Dogs with stones tend to have chronic urinary tract infections. If your vet has already ruled out any stones than her urine should be cultured to make sure the right antibiotic is used. She may need to stay on an antibiotic for an exteneded period of time.