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1) You can call the local animal control.

2) Not veterinary advice, but do dogs drink cranberry juice?

Peter P says

1) You can call the local animal control.

Is that the best way? And are they 24hrs usually?

Peter P says

2) Not veterinary advice, but do dogs drink cranberry juice?

I think there are cran-tabs you can give them.

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/jcoates/2013/nov/how-cranberry-can-be-used-to-prevent-urinary-infections-dogs-31002

I see articles too that dismiss their efficacy, even among humans. Could it be an old "significant other's" tale?

Thanks!

CL says

I see articles too that dismiss their efficacy, even among humans. Could it be an old "significant other's" tale?

Don't discount the placebo effect.

Peter P says

CL says

I see articles too that dismiss their efficacy, even among humans. Could it be an old "significant other's" tale?

Don't discount the placebo effect.

Ya think I should trick my dog into thinking it's real medicine? :)

CL says

What would you do under that circumstance? Switch vets? Go to a specialist? Is there such a thing? She "seems" fine but does the obligatory "sit and spin", so I know she's itchy. We are confident it's not her anal glands or anything, since we just had those checked.

Thoughts?

If the UTI comes back take her to another vet.
I have medical insurance for my dog. What do you guys think? Worth it?

Strategist says

If the UTI comes back take her to another vet.

It probably is back. I think I might.

Strategist says

I have medical insurance for my dog. What do you guys think? Worth it?

I'm curious about your results. Has it saved you money? Have your pets needed surgery?

1) The 24/7 "911 type service" would be either 911 or 311.

2) Switch vets. What makes you believe the UTI and the sit&spin are even related? There was a myth about urine being supposedly sterile, but it was never true, and humans tend to have harmless UTIs. Even if the behavior started because of an itchy infection, the habit might continue after the infection cleared, and sandy soil might cause a self-reinforcing cycle of itchy irritation. You might try changing the dog's diet and increasing exercise: maybe jog instead of walking, so there won't be time to sit&spin; perhaps the dog might drink more water if you grind some dry food into it. Read widely on the interwebs and watch some videos on YouTube, you might find better (and worse) ideas there.

CL says

1) What would you do if you found a living, but mortally wounded dog (say a hit and run) in the street?

Obligatory:

curious2 says

1) The 24/7 "911 type service" would be either 911 or 311

I wouldn't think 911 would consider a animal emergency a real emergency. From experience, I had a stray running around in my 'hood. When I called that in, I even presented it as a safety hazard, since the dog was running around a busy street. They didn't treat it as urgent, that's for sure. Have you had any prior experience with that via 911?

curious2 says

What makes you believe the UTI and the sit&spin are even related?

She seems to stop that behavior when the antibiotics have run their course, only to start up again sometime later. She gets darker in her vulvar parts when she is irritated (although I agree, it could be the symptom as opposed to the cause. She basically has figured out how to slide down a dog ramp we built for her when she itches. Cute as hell, but distressing to think she may be in discomfort). Post-treatment, the vet has remarked that her vulva is no longer dark and that that is a good sign.

She does the s&s when she's at home. But often when she has just awakened, which kind of made me think bladder/uti stuff. I like the idea of mixing her diet differently, as well as exercise more. We've done that a bit but maybe I can take it to the next level.

Can you tell me more about the sandy soil idea? My wife swears the dog gets it because she kicks like a boy when she's done urinating. The vet dismissed that though, but it would be curious if the wife were right after all!

Thanks!