After 10 years, or How I got Frozen Pee Hand

[sumbonuscanis]

Yesterday Hogarth woke up early (which never happens in winter) and, clearly in some discomfort, made it clear that he needed to go outside.  I threw my coat and boots on over my pjs and raced outside with him.  He had a couple of pees and then headed back inside.  Not usual, but I figured he just really needed to go.  I took him out again before I left for work, again once I got home from work, and once more before bed.  On each occasion our mission was accomplished under what appeared to be normal circumstances.  Went to bed, but was woken up at two am by a panting pug.  I said "Do you need to go out?" and he gave the yowl that signifies YES, RIGHT NOW.  On with the coat and boots and out we went.  He peed, we went back inside.  And repeated the same performance 10 minutes later.  (I live on the 4th floor and it's amazing how fast we can get downstairs and outside when we really have to.)  There was a third trip around 3:30, after which he appeared to find relief. 

Am I correct in assuming that these are the actions of a pug who is working on a UTI or something like?  Hogarth is 10 (11 in March) and all these years we have been spared, but I'm thinking that our number is now up.  Other than frequently needing to go, he is eating with his usual enthusiasm, all other natural functions appear to be unimpaired, and he isn't acting like the sad sack he turns into when not feeling well.  I'm at work today and he is at daycare, where they will keep an eye on him and alert me if necessary, and give him all the opportunities he needs to get emptied out.  I called the vet as soon as they opened and they will see him on Mon.

I tried to get a sample when I walked him this morning - had intended to drop it off at the vet's with a note.  I should have tried earlier, but I was so confused at the sudden wake-up call and headlong dash that I didn't think far enough ahead to grab something - as it was it's a wonder I didn't lock myself out.   But this morning he insisted on peeing up against something and although I had a baggie at the ready, he shifted his weight, I missed the sample, and wound up with Frozen Pee Hand into the bargain.

Aside from taking him out every hour on the half-hour, does anyone know of anything I can do to give him some relief?  (I know apple cider vinegar works well for humans, but I don't know about dogs, let alone how I'd get the vinegar into him.)

L

P.S.  If it's not TMI, I also noticed that he was suffering from swollen junk before I got him outside.  His junk seemed fine after he peed though.

[Anna]

It sounds like a UTI &/or possibly a crystal/ stones problem like my Darwin has.  This seems to be the winter for it.  For your appointment on Monday a urinalysis is a very good idea but don't collect it now it must be absolutely as fresh as possible and collected in a sterile container.  I'd wait and do it at the vets if possible.  As for giving something for some relief for him, I don't know.  Darwin was given a bit of Metacam for pain but I don't know if I would without vet ok.  Cranberries and apple cider vinegar can be helpful, but I also wouldn't do that until you know his urine PH in case he has crystals.
There are a lot of people on here who know way more about it than I do, so hopefully they can help.  Good luck and feel better Hogarth!

[RockysMom]

Poor Hogarth!!
Never having experienced a UTI with my dogs I can't offer any real advice.
But as a nurse I do agree with Anna's suggestion that you wait to collect the urine sample till you get to the vets. 

Good luck and I hope that Hogarth is feeling better very soon!

[sumbonuscanis]

Thank you so much!  I feel better if it's just the winter for it, and not something I should have been doing and didn't.  It's been so bitter lately that he has just refused to go out for more than the absolute minimum time required for producing nos. 1 and 2, so I guess he's been holding it longer than he should.  I try to get him out but he just stands in the courtyard, looking miserable and straining towards the door. 

This forum and its members are invaluable resources - I had only thought of trying to relieve some of his discomfort but you are quite right, I should not do anything that would change the pH of his urine before I get it checked.  I did remember from previous posts that many more UTIs are detected in the winter, when you have snow as contrast, but I didn't see any blood this morning (of course that doesn't mean it isn't there).  He did get a Tramadol last night, though, since initially I thought it was his back that was bothering him.  I don't think it did much for the UTI 

Re the sample issue - my vet clinic works 9-3 on Sat so had I been able to obtain a viable sample, I would have dropped it off on my way to work today, when they were open and it was fresh.  I think having to deal with a 3-day-old pee sample would be even worse than coping with Frozen Pee Hand!  They will get it fresh from the source on Mon, though I might have to stop there first and get one of those little jars for collecting purposes - in desperation I tried a clean ziploc bag this morning and I think that was part of the problem.

We've done the usual pug stuff - eyes, knees, teeth, back (plus pancreatitis, which was entirely my fault) - but the UTI is a new one for us.  Thank heaven there are the kind people of Pugalug Nation who are willing to share!

L

P.S.  is it strange that I feel like I need to go all the time now, out of sheer sympathy?

[blanche]

Sounds like a UTI, crystals or potential blockage so watch carefully if he's straining and nothing is coming out--that's an emergency room visit, for sure.

Yes, sample must be fresh and looked at immediately as crystals can form in pee that is sitting around so you get a false positive for crystals.

If he's on kibble, I'd take him off and put him on canned for higher moisture.  DON"T give cranberries until it is determined that he has (1) struvite crystals and (2) only AFTER antibiotics are done if he is put on them.  An infection can raise the urinary pH which partly makes stuvite crystals more likely.

I generally flood my dogs food with water and I really flood the food of any dog that has had a UTI or crystals as you really want that system to flush out.  And you want a dog with UTI/Crystals/stones to pee as often as possible.

Calcium oxalate crystals are a whole other kettle of fish--but you still want to flood food.  These crystals are more likely to form stones and can't be broken up easily as struvites stones can (which are rare).

[lmcpug]

poor Hogarth, hope you are feeling better soon!

Pugsley, Bubs and Abi too!

[serenpugity]

Poor Hogarth and his Mom. We'll be waiting to hear what the vet says after his visit.

[sumbonuscanis]

Thanks, Blanche - no kibble, flood food, neither of which would have occurred to me so I am very grateful.  He only got me up once last night but we`ve been out this morning before breakfast, after breakfast, and 2 other trips since then.  At the first sign of restlessness or panting I put on my coat ... He`s still producing urine but it appears very concentrated.  He is a dog who just doesn`t drink much and I wonder if that has contributed to the problem; anyway, he just had a big drink a few minutes ago, so let`s hope that helps.  He`s snoozing comfortably right now after his latest walk.

His vet appt is tomorrow aft and I was going to go in to work for the morning, but I`m not comfortable leaving him for that long if he has a pee emergency, so I`m going to take the day as personal leave.

I never thought I`d be grateful for snow, but it does come in awfully useful for tracking pee production and the like.

Thanks for all good wishes, L