What could be wrong?

Question

My dog was having a hard time urinating. Also....diarrhea. I would take her for a walk, she would squat down and strain like crazy to pee. I took her to the vet, and she had numerous tests done. They even kept her in the hospital for 3 days, following x-rays. On the second day, the vet called and said they sent out cultures to check for cancer. She said that her and another vet did the test and saw cancer cells...claimed it was bladder cancer. Said it probably be best to put the dog to sleep, because she was dripping urine and may not even be able to pee at all soon. The next day she called up and said the tests came back negative! Needless to say, we were furious (after crying and trying to make a decision to put her to sleep the day before). We are going to another vet for another opinion, since the dog still has the same problems going on. Anyone know what this can be??? The dog is a Lhasa Apso, 12 years old, but still very spunky.....

OK....here goes.... like I said before, the dog is very spunky. What I forgot to tell you all is that she does NOT appear to be in any pain. The vet checked and said she didn't feel the dog was in pain either. She isn't crying or whining and she still acts like her own self, with the exception of her problems. The same vet also told me she called a specialist and the specialist told me it could be a severe urunary tract infection....that only time will tell. So putting the dog to sleep right now is out of the question!

OK....here goes.... like I said before, the dog is very spunky. What I forgot to tell you all is that she does NOT appear to be in any pain. The vet checked and said she didn't feel the dog was in pain either. She isn't crying or whining and she still acts like her own self, with the exception of her problems. The same vet also told me she called a specialist and the specialist told me it could be a severe urunary tract infection....that only time will tell. So putting the dog to sleep right now is out of the question! She if presently taking medicaton for approximately 1 month now.

Hey YO! You're the reason that blondes think of all the small minded people in the world. I am far from stupid....I'd prove that to you if you were standing in front of me. Next time, if you can't answer the question...keep you a$$anine comments to yourself!

Answer 1

Seems you are taking all the right steps and not getting anywhere fast.
A urinary tract infection should show up in the culture and sensitivity your first vet took. To test for this a urine sample forwarded to the lab (or the vet can look at the sample in house) to determine whether or not bacteria +/- white blood cells are present. If your dog was put on antibiotics prior to a sample being collected however this makes getting accurate results more difficult as the bacteria is already being targeted by the antibiotics.
A urinalysis would also test for the presence of crystals. Crystals can form in the urine and block the urethra, this is less common in females however.
As bladder cancer has been ruled out already, continue with the treatment course and see what happens, the condition should seemingly resolve rather quickly (if it is due to bacterial infection) but keep up with the medicine.
Other things may include uterine stump infections (I'm assuming she is speyed), proliferative urethritis (which can look like bladder cancer on smears and is seen in female dogs; in this instance to destinguish between this condition and bladder cancer a tissue biopsy of the bladder is needed - this condition is rare) and polyneuropathy (signal being sent to bladder from brain due to a process going on somewhere else in the body). It may also be idiopathic (we don't know what the cause is).
These are only a few.
You are doing the right thing by seeking a second opinion. I hope everything works out well for you.

Answer 2

I have three dogs of my own, so I'll give the best advice I can conjure up. I personally think that with all the testing you're doing on your dog, it would be better to put her to sleep and save yourself the money and both of you the trouble. I understand you must love your dog very much, but if she is in an uncomfortable and maybe even painful situation like this, is it really fair to let her go on in misery? If she is as old as you say she is it might be her time to leave. It would be much nicer for her and for you if she was put down because neither of you will have to go on in sadness and pain. Also, getting a puppy when she's gone might make you feel better. A new puppy will also keep you on your toes and your attention away from having to put down your best friend.

Answer 3

I would strongly recommend an ultrasound of her urinary bladder. If there is a mass, it should be easily visible. There are many veterinarians capable of doing this procedure.

And don't forget, the dog is still having the problem. Euthanasia is not an easy decision, and just because one test did not prove that the dog has cancer, doesn't mean that euthanasia is a bad idea. You need to find a way to bring comfort to your animal. Get a second opinion, or talk to your vet until you understand everything that they are telling you. But find a way to fix your dog.

Answer 4

I would try a product called URI-Ease it is made by nutri-vet. Sounds like a UTI. Also putting her on a holistic diet might help. 12 is pretty old for that size dog. Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul (Senior) would be a great food for your dog. It also has glucosimine to help with old joints.

Answer 5

an exceedingly ill mama canines is an exceedingly annoying project. and that i understand your anger on the countless solutions which you gained. that's regular so which you could desire to vent back to those human beings a number of your anger and frustration. So, attempt to proceed to be calm and keep your concentration on your canines & puppies. do no longer enable this cloud your real purpose - a wholesome canines. And confident, i could extremely desire to appreciate this effect. Kudos to you on your speedy action in taking good care of seven puppies! it is not worry-free! I desire that greater human beings could comprehend that there are circumstances that stump even the terrific of vets. on a similar time as the calicum concern is the main elementary with those indications, it isn't the only reason. And your dedication to this canines and her puppies is amazingly, very admirable. So, you realize which you're responding to this disaster interior the terrific way a threat. you're doing all you're able to do in an exceedingly difficult project. enable God cope with something. Peace

Answer 6

i dont know what to say, very tragic, i think the best you can do is see the vet like you are doing, and carefully decide, but if it were my dog i would put her to sleep, the dog is suffering and will suffer more why not just let her go before its to much to bare, it may be hard for you but to know your dog went in peace instead of strain to pee, is much better.

Answer 7

Definately see another vet. There are any number of things that could be going wrong. Good luck with the dog!

Answer 8

did they do a blood test to check for diabetes! some dogs do get that when they age, does she drink alot of water! and hardly eats, more than likely one of her kidneys could be shutting down, now remember this is a possibility! it may not be happening get a second opinion on this don't speculate,older dogs do generate some of the nasty deseases.

Answer 9

thats so sad i have a friend with a dog that has the same problem and its so sad to see her dog it could be a urine infectuion that the vet gives out medicen a dog medicene and the vet from my friend is really nice try him out i will mail you the #

Answer 10

the same exact thing happened to my friends dog and it had bladder cancer and they had to put it to sleep because it was suffering some much

Good Luck