Urinary infections: A Summary of info. gathered by the University of Minnesota and Carroll Weiss, Urinary Chair of the Dalmatian Club
1. Three species of bacteria are most commonly identified with canineurinary infections: E. coli, Staph. and Proteus. Of those three, E. coli is the most common one identified by bacterial cultures of the dogs' urine (although infections with one or more species present is not uncommon). Female dogs tend to have more urinary infections than males. Almost immediately successful treatment of urinary infections depends on which antibiotic is prescribed, at what dosage and for how long. If, for example, the specie(s) of bacteria is/are resistant to a particular antibiotic, the response to that drug will not be good. If, as another example, the dosage of the antibiotic is not high enough to kill the bacteria, nor continued long enough to totally eradicate the presence of the bacteria, the infection will recur because of residual bacteria still present when the antibiotic is stopped. (CAUTION! Do not presume one pill is good but two is better...increasing dosage of medications is something exclusively for the vet who knows what dosage-related side effects can occur.)
2. Accurate and very revealing identification by "bacteriology culturing" of specifically which bacteria is/are causing the infection is not inexpensive. However, it is a one-time exam and it INCLUDES "antibiotic discing" whereby the bacteriology lab impregnates dishes with your dog's specimen and in which small paper discs impregnated with different antibiotics are placed. As the bacteria grows on the plate, haloes will appear in small to large sizes around the various discs...the larger the halo, the stronger that particular antibiotic is against the specific bacteria causing the infection. In the absence of a bacteriology exam of the urine culture, most general practice vets will administer a "broad spectrum" antibiotic. These work in most instances but if the infection is tenacious, it's an indication that the bacterial species are being resistant to that antibiotic at that dosage
strength.
3. There are more than one type of infections, such as "primary" vs."secondary" infections. Primary urinary infections are caused exclusively by bacteria. Some symptoms (including urinary infections SECONDARY to abnormal urinary crystals/stones) do indeed occur. Food formulation is significant in only a very few types of crystals/stones in which the problem has, as one known cause, the type of diet.
4. Vitamin C - primary urinary infections thrive in an abnormally ALKALINE urinary pH (*above normal canine of pH 7.0 to 8.0 or 8.5). Normal pH runs between 6.5 to 6.8... One (note only "one") of several treatments for chronic urinary infection therefore is to chemically neutralize the abnormal alkaline urine by acidifying it, in this instance with vitamin C. However, again,the use of vitamin C is very precarious. One type of abnormal urinary stone throughout all dogs is calcium oxalate and it is rising precipitously in incidence throughout the US. One form of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a chemical "precursor" of calcium oxalate so if your dog has a tendency to calcium oxalate urinary crystals/stones, you are WORSENING that by giving vitamin C instead of another urinary acidifier. Incidentally, the usual protein-yielding diets, whether raw etc. or commercial, will create an acidic urine as part of "normal" food assimilation. If the dog has a urinary infection with an alkaline pH, that "normal" acidity can help, but it will worsen other dogs whose urine is abnormally acidic and not alkaline.
**According to studies from the University of Minnesota Veterinary Teaching School, Min. Schnauzers are now the number #1 breed to form both struvite and calcium oxalate stones, out of a study of 77,000 stones. Bladder stones are now thought to be a genetic inheritance. This "may" be an inherited deficiency in the bladder lining, allowing infection to form and the pH to become too high or too low, creating an environment for crystals/stones to form. This "can" be common in *certain* schnauzers affected with this inheritance. These dogs should "not" be bred. Canine stone-forming is "potential" vs. "overt," namely that some dogs live out their entire lives without showing symptoms of the stones. Dr. Osborne calls these stone-forming dogs, "silent stone-formers" some dogs can have crystals without forming stones and, conversely, others have stones without showing crystals.
A brand new, state-of-the-art textbook has been issued on canine urolithiasis by the U of M, a series of articles are based on 77,000 canine stones and cover diagnosis, treatment, drugs, diagnostic methods of x-rays, 25 years experience of uropropulsion, etc. (This volume is a follow-up to their two-volume 1986 textbooks...) THE VETERINARY CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA, January 1999 Volume "The ROCKet Science of Canine Urolithiasis" In U.S., order by calling toll free: 1-800-654-2452.. Approx. $40
Written by Kathy T
1. Three species of bacteria are most commonly identified with canineurinary infections: E. coli, Staph. and Proteus. Of those three, E. coli is the most common one identified by bacterial cultures of the dogs' urine (although infections with one or more species present is not uncommon). Female dogs tend to have more urinary infections than males. Almost immediately successful treatment of urinary infections depends on which antibiotic is prescribed, at what dosage and for how long. If, for example, the specie(s) of bacteria is/are resistant to a particular antibiotic, the response to that drug will not be good. If, as another example, the dosage of the antibiotic is not high enough to kill the bacteria, nor continued long enough to totally eradicate the presence of the bacteria, the infection will recur because of residual bacteria still present when the antibiotic is stopped. (CAUTION! Do not presume one pill is good but two is better...increasing dosage of medications is something exclusively for the vet who knows what dosage-related side effects can occur.)
2. Accurate and very revealing identification by "bacteriology culturing" of specifically which bacteria is/are causing the infection is not inexpensive. However, it is a one-time exam and it INCLUDES "antibiotic discing" whereby the bacteriology lab impregnates dishes with your dog's specimen and in which small paper discs impregnated with different antibiotics are placed. As the bacteria grows on the plate, haloes will appear in small to large sizes around the various discs...the larger the halo, the stronger that particular antibiotic is against the specific bacteria causing the infection. In the absence of a bacteriology exam of the urine culture, most general practice vets will administer a "broad spectrum" antibiotic. These work in most instances but if the infection is tenacious, it's an indication that the bacterial species are being resistant to that antibiotic at that dosage
strength.
3. There are more than one type of infections, such as "primary" vs."secondary" infections. Primary urinary infections are caused exclusively by bacteria. Some symptoms (including urinary infections SECONDARY to abnormal urinary crystals/stones) do indeed occur. Food formulation is significant in only a very few types of crystals/stones in which the problem has, as one known cause, the type of diet.
4. Vitamin C - primary urinary infections thrive in an abnormally ALKALINE urinary pH (*above normal canine of pH 7.0 to 8.0 or 8.5). Normal pH runs between 6.5 to 6.8... One (note only "one") of several treatments for chronic urinary infection therefore is to chemically neutralize the abnormal alkaline urine by acidifying it, in this instance with vitamin C. However, again,the use of vitamin C is very precarious. One type of abnormal urinary stone throughout all dogs is calcium oxalate and it is rising precipitously in incidence throughout the US. One form of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a chemical "precursor" of calcium oxalate so if your dog has a tendency to calcium oxalate urinary crystals/stones, you are WORSENING that by giving vitamin C instead of another urinary acidifier. Incidentally, the usual protein-yielding diets, whether raw etc. or commercial, will create an acidic urine as part of "normal" food assimilation. If the dog has a urinary infection with an alkaline pH, that "normal" acidity can help, but it will worsen other dogs whose urine is abnormally acidic and not alkaline.
**According to studies from the University of Minnesota Veterinary Teaching School, Min. Schnauzers are now the number #1 breed to form both struvite and calcium oxalate stones, out of a study of 77,000 stones. Bladder stones are now thought to be a genetic inheritance. This "may" be an inherited deficiency in the bladder lining, allowing infection to form and the pH to become too high or too low, creating an environment for crystals/stones to form. This "can" be common in *certain* schnauzers affected with this inheritance. These dogs should "not" be bred. Canine stone-forming is "potential" vs. "overt," namely that some dogs live out their entire lives without showing symptoms of the stones. Dr. Osborne calls these stone-forming dogs, "silent stone-formers" some dogs can have crystals without forming stones and, conversely, others have stones without showing crystals.
A brand new, state-of-the-art textbook has been issued on canine urolithiasis by the U of M, a series of articles are based on 77,000 canine stones and cover diagnosis, treatment, drugs, diagnostic methods of x-rays, 25 years experience of uropropulsion, etc. (This volume is a follow-up to their two-volume 1986 textbooks...) THE VETERINARY CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA, January 1999 Volume "The ROCKet Science of Canine Urolithiasis" In U.S., order by calling toll free: 1-800-654-2452.. Approx. $40
Written by Kathy T