vets appt on Thu, what to expect?

pamelab21

Hi all

I posted a couple of weeks back basically regarding my 7 year old Lhasa Apso urinating in the house (she has never done this since any small accidents as a small puppy) this started as follows:
6 weeks ago when we were on holiday she wet the floor at my parents twice
4 weeks ago she wet our bathroom floor
3 weeks ago she wet my parents floor
I vowed if it happened after this we would take her to the vet to get her checked out
last night there was another puddle on the floor, despite my hubby having just taken her for walk.
I have noticed she has been drinking more water, however her appetite is the same, she has not lost or gained weight, she is normal weight for her breed etc as per her last checkup at the vet, she does not have any shaking and is not any more sleepy than normal. ( I have been looking at Diabetes on the net, prob not a good thing)

Anyway I have called the vet and the nurse had said could be behavioural but best to rule out with urine dip test to check glucose,blood in urine etc, have an appt booked for Thu evening.

Question is what to expect, if its a possible bladder infection how can they check for that, should a 'dip' test rule that out? From what I gathered from the nurse this test will only check for poss Diabetes?

Anyone been through this at all?

suki1964

Knowing what happened with out lad its a dip test and then an early morning sample for further investigations, bloods and possibly an ultra sound

If it is a kidney problem then she may well be put on diuretics and her diet changed

pamelab21

could we be in for a big bill at the end of this, don't get me wrong I would do anything for her but I would like to be prepared!

would they give a course of antibiotics to rules out an infection anyway?

suki1964

Yes you possibly are looking at a big bill. Blood tests and urine tests are not cheap and an ultra sound - well the last one my lad had was £250.

But a vet will work with you and will rule out possible causes from the bottom - hence the dip test - that will show any infection needing antibiotic cover. Its if nothing shows there that further investigations are required

Take it shes not insured?

pamelab21

no we never did take insurance for her.

so you think the dip test should show if infection is present also? The nurse said that would only be an extra £3-4 onto the consultation which is normally £16 at our vets.

Please don't get me wrong, I will pay to have this looked into, just looking for an idea of what could be expected in both tests for her and bill for me!

suki1964

Well its all speculation right now. So go get the dip test, see what the outcome is and then if things need to progress your vet will be able to guide you.

My vet would automatically just give a broad spectrum anti B if an infection was present, if there was no improvement he would then order more investigations to narrow down the anti B needed. No vet is going to dive in at the top , all start at the bottom and progress if things dont improve.

So dont be panicking about bills, nowts been confirmed , just get the little one seen to and better

elsien

It really does depend (which I know is seriously unhelpful), but my mutts urine infection last week cost £67.55 for the consultation (which is more expensive than your vets), a urine test, steroid injection and a 2 week course of antibiotics. We also have to go back next week to check it's cleared up. Really does depend on what they find though, and what they decide to prescribe, because I'm guessing different meds have different costs.

pamelab21

Thanks for your replies.
Starting to get myself worked up at the thought that I could have let this go on too long thinking it could be a behaviour issue due to the fact that we had gone on holiday. She does not seem to be in pain though but hate to think she could be and I have not done anything.
Google is also a terrible thing as feel I have her diagnosed before a vet has checked her out.
Anyway appt is on for Thu evening so will see how we go then with her.
Now I need to try and collect a urine sample :rolleyes:

pamelab21

elsien wrote: »

It really does depend (which I know is seriously unhelpful), but my mutts urine infection last week cost £67.55 for the consultation (which is more expensive than your vets), a urine test, steroid injection and a 2 week course of antibiotics. We also have to go back next week to check it's cleared up. Really does depend on what they find though, and what they decide to prescribe, because I'm guessing different meds have different costs.

can I ask what your dogs symptoms were?

simontheiceman

First rule - dont panic. This is a daily consultaion for me (already had mine today at 14:10). The vast majority (at least 90%) are non-specific urinary tract infections and will clear on a short course of antibiotics.

Failure of house training is another issue and some careful questioning will weed these out.
If we are drinking more then allow 1pt per 10kg and anything more than that is excessive. Diabetes is uncommon but positively problematic to sort out.

pamelab21

thanks, I am keeping my fingers crossed. I think that the last time she soiled the house was when she was a pup, she always has access to the back garden and is walked daily. She is not good at asking to go out, just stands with her nose pressed to the door, its just the fact that she had just beenm a walk and 'done both' that she came in and did it in the downstairs hallway when we were upstairs...

I will try and keep an eye on what we are giving her water wise so I can tell the vet, I would really only say I am filling her bowl with fresh water once in the morning and once when we get home after work and that does not get emptied.....what size is the bowl though...hmm. Need to check when I go home. Its not as if she licks the bowl clean dry though.....

thanks all