| This question was posted on the Rainbow
Pet Diabetes Email List.
Dr Jen,
Cookie has bladder stones so that explains why
the UTI doesn't go away. She is on Actigall for the bladder stones but
it does sound like we need to keep the antibiotics going forever now. Our
plan is to be off the Clavamox for 5 days once this course is done then
go back on for 10 days and to keep that pattern up. Does that sound reasonable.
Also will the cranberry help Cookie as well?
Thanks
Roy & Cookie
Roy,
Yes Cranberry would help...it won't hurt. I would recommend starting
at one human capsule twice daily (they don't usually like the juice)...I
am not sure how much your dog weighs so she may need more. If there
were calcium stones though you do want to be careful about keeping the
urine pH neutral. If there were struvites, then you must keep the
urine acidic and can add Vitamin C into the diet. I think you can
buy pH strips if you want to monitor urine pH.
As far as the antibiotics go, pulse therapy does work. Long term
antibiotic therapy is not ideal because not only are you killing the urinary
infection you are killing the good bacteria in the intestines, etc.
So while on antibiotics, make sure to give some type of probiotic like
acidophilus or live-active cultured yogurt. Dogs are not as suspectible
to yeast infections like people but anitibiotics can do some harm.
Just remember if the infection is not totally cleared it will come right
back (could take a few weeks to notice) which is the reason for culturing
the urine during the medication to make sure it is working and then after
the medicine is finished to make sure it was successful. If you have
not had a culture, get one done! I do have a patient who is on long
term Baytril therapy since she had 3 bladder surgeries and chronic infections
even though she is not diabetic....sometimes it is necessary, but most
times I think it can be avoided. Some dogs have conformational problems
that make them more susceptible to infection and of course females are
more so because of anatomy.
Dr. J
More from Dr. Jennifer on UTI'S
I would recommend urine culture and sensitivities to determine what
bacteria is growing. I have sense many bacteria resistant to
Baytril even though it is one of our big-gun anitibiotics. UTIs are
common in diabetics; however, they usually are fairly easy to treat.
If they are persistant then I would recommend long term treatment with
CRANBERRY (good for any person or animal to help treat and prevent UTI)
in addition to a at least a 4-6 week course of antibiotics. To ensure
the antibiotics are working, a culture should be done mid-treatment and
then again when off the antibiotics. Cranberry prevents the bacteria from
adhering to the bladder wall--it isn't just an old wive's tale...it really
helps. Cranberry also helps make the urine a bit more acidic which
makes the environment unsuitable. You can also give Vitamin C (10
mg per pound) twice daily to help reduce the pH of the urine.
The other thing to consider is checking for bladder stones as struvite
stones are usually infection related and UTIs won't clear up if there are
stones in the bladder. Another thing to consider is supplementation
to stregthen the immune system such as Echinacea (be careful if your pet
has allergies and it is best given on 10 days, then off and back on), Noni
or
Transfer Factor http://www.transferfactor.com/
Cranberry Extract is high in Vitamin C and prevents bacteria from
adhering to the bladder wall. Women who drink a pint of juice a day
had 63% reduction in recurrence of urinary tract infections. And
YES YOU CAN GIVE IT TO YOUR PETS!!!! One 3000 mg capsule is equivalent
to 24 ounces of cranberry juice.
Dosing schedule…1/8 capsule for cats & small dogs, ¼
capsule for medium dogs, ½ capsule for large dogs and 1 capsule
for giant breed dogs. Give THREE times a day.
From the premiere issue of
Antietam Valley Animal Hospital's newsletter
Subscribe to Antietam Valley
Animal Hospital's monthly newsletter
Read
More on the herb Cranberry Here
CRANBERRY (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
Available in the following forms:
Capsule
Liquid/Tincture
Fresh or dried fruit
Tablet
Softgel
Tea
Guidelines for Use:
Cranberry has no known interactions with antibiotics or other medications.But
by acidifying the urine, cranberry may lessen the effect of another herb
sometimes used for UTIs called
uva ursi (also known as bearberry). Try one or the other.
I wrote asking Dr. Jen about using uva ursi.
Yes Uva Ursi can be used but should be used SHORT TERM
since it lowers potassium levels...not sure about cats....I attached some
notes I took from a lecture on supplements for urinary tract, kidney disease
and heart disease....may be useful.
Click
Here to read Her notes on Supplements that help
Back to Dr.
Jennifers Corner
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