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My puppy has a UTI. How long off antibiotics for a urine culture?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Newfoundland | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 25 days old | 50 lbs

How long should a 4 month puppy be off of an antibiotic prior to a urine culture? We are visiting a specialist for an UTI after three courses of antibiotics.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Published on February 23rd, 2018

In general, a dog should be off antibiotics for 10-14 days prior to a urine culture, but sometimes we will culture a dog that has not been off antibiotics that long if we suspect that there is still an infection. I would certainly discuss that with the specialist and get their recommendation.
I'm so sorry that you are dealing with a challenging problem in such a young puppy, but I hope the specialist is able to help Jett. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on November 9th, 2017

    You should begin to see some improvement in symptoms after a few days IF the bacteria responsible is sensitive to the antibiotic. Ideally, a sterile urine sample should be collected and submitted for urinalysis and a urine culture/sensitivity panel. This second test should be able to identify the organism responsible as well as the most effective antibiotic to use in treatment.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 19th, 2019

    It is generally expected that the antibiotics will kick in and the clinical signs should subside by day 5. I would be concerned there is antibiotic resistance, a bladder stone or bladder cancer causing the continued symptoms but it could also just be a slow response. I recommend to call you vet and decide what to do next. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 19th, 2018

    It can take up to six weeks of taking antibiotics to combat a UTI. You will need to be patient. 4 days of treatment is a very short time and you will likely not see any results for another few days. Make sure he drinks a lot, and go for walkies and the more often he urinates, the better, as he is getting rid of bacteria in his bladder.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Vet Q & A
Is a follow-up urine culture standard after dog UTI antibiotics?
Yes, urinary infections can be difficult to clear up so to make sure the infection is gone they will do the culture. It's best to do this as you don't want Koda to get UTIs frequently. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help answer your veterinary questions.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
How long until my puppy's UTI antibiotics work and discharge clears?
Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Antibiotics for a UTI can take a few days to clear up the infection. I would recommend monitoring him for another few days. If it doesn't clear up by that point then I would suggest having him re-checked and a sample of his urine being sent away for a culture and sensitivity in case the antibiotic is not the right one for the infection that Brownie has. Best of luck with him!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog has UTI symptoms, negative culture. Should I see a specialist?
Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I agree that he requires a further work up. It is not common for male dogs to develop urinary tract infections given their anatomy. I would recommend that he has bloodwork and x-rays of his abdomen. You need to rule out any metabolic disorder and uroliths (bladder stones or kidney stones). Then I would proceed with the abdominal ultrasound. Occasionally prostate disease can cause recurrent urinary signs. This is uncommon in such a young dog though. It may be easiest to pursue a consult with an internal medicine specialist. I hope you are able to get an answer and his problems resolved. Good luck!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Dog UTI: Is 2 weeks of Cipro enough if blood in urine stopped?
Hi there! This is definitely something that you could discuss with the veterinarian who is treating Val. It's true that we normally recommend repeating a urine culture after finishing the meds to make sure that the infection has cleared, but I know that sometimes this isn't financially feasible. In that case, your vet may be okay with having you do a 2-3 week course of cipro and then monitor for a return of her symptoms.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My dog finished UTI antibiotics. How long until symptoms are gone?
Hi, ten days of antibiotics should have cleared the infection by now. Do you still notice signs ? Could she be urinary incontinent ? There is a chance that if the antibiotics were not based on colture and sensitivity they are not the right ones.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My puppy has recurring UTIs. Can she stay on antibiotics long-term?
It's not recommended to keep an animal on antibiotics long term unless absolutely necessary. She's only four months old, and she may not go into heat until she is closer to a year of age. I would have her spayed to see if that helps.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My dog keeps getting UTIs. What can I do to prevent them long-term?
Make sure your vet does a culture on the urine to be sure your pup is on the right antibiotic. Then, make sure to recheck the urine at the end of the antibiotics to make sure the infection is resolved. If you haven't yet, get an xray to make sure there are no bladder stones present. Make sure your dog doesn't have a recessed vulva or a vaginal stricture that traps the urine and leads to infection. If these things don't work, there are also supplements like probiotics, herbal products, and even foods that can help. A good holistic vet could help with this.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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