Kim & Nala
New Member
FEMALE - mixed breed . non-IVDD SCI
Posts: 3
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Post by Kim & Nala on Feb 4, 2021 6:58:30 GMT -7
[Original subject line: Suggestions for reducing UTI]
Hello All,
This website was recommended to me via our rehab veterinarian. We do not have a dog with IVDD, however we recently adopted a medium sized dog who suffered a spinal cord injury when little and is now paralyzed on her hind legs. She is incontinent and uses a drag bag and a wheelchair for mobility. We have had a huge issue with UTI’s. We have been going back and forth to our vet and our sweet pup
Now has a MRSA UTI and will have to get injections for super strong antibiotics. We are very concerned about how we can adjust or improve our potty hygiene routine with her to try and mitigate repeated UTI in the future. If anyone on this forum has experience caring for an incontinent pet I would love some suggestions or feedback for how you minimize UTI risk and what your potty regime with your pet is. Thank you for your consideration and help!
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724 
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Post by Marjorie on Feb 4, 2021 7:44:07 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist. My name is Marjorie, what's yours? And your dog's name? First of all, blessings to you for adopting a paralyzed dog. We're here to help you in any way that we can. The best way to keep the bladder healthy and to avoid UTIs is to manually express the bladder. Urine lying for too long in the bladder can lead to UTIs. If not expressed, the bladder will overflow but will not completely empty and that's not healthy for the bladder. Do you express your dog's bladder and how often do you express? Do you find wet bedding or does she leak on you when lifted? The goal when expressing is to keep her dry between expressing. If you haven't had a lesson on expressing by a vet, you should get one ASAP. Here's our page on expressing the bladder for tips on how to express. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/Here's our page with information concerning recurring UTIs and tips on how to prevent UTIs. Be sure to click on all of the links/arrows on the page. dodgerslist.com/2020/06/09/recurrent-uti/Healing prayers for your dog. |
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Kim & Nala
New Member
FEMALE - mixed breed . non-IVDD SCI
Posts: 3
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Post by Kim & Nala on Feb 4, 2021 7:53:39 GMT -7
Hi Marjorie. My name is Kim and our dog is Nala. She is a 50 lb mixed breed with the sweetest disposition. Nala definitely leaks urine between potty breaks and will urinate when picked up Most of the time. Sounds like we need a lesson on helping her express her bladder. I will
Definitely ask our vet when we go today!
[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
50 lbs
name of antibiotic
name of any other meds taken]
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,564
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Post by PaulaM on Feb 4, 2021 9:12:53 GMT -7
Kim, how wonderful that Nala has such a good mom to help her. Thank you for giving her a forever home! Do check out the link Marjorie gave for also being able to express the bowels to avoid Nala's anxiety in finding poop where she sleeps. If leaking on you (an overflowing bladder) when lifted is due to loss of bladder control, getting on a bladder expressing schedule can help to prevent bacterial infection in the bladder.. Do let us know all meds that Nala is taking— exact name of med(s), dose in mgs and how often given.Does your drag bag have good air flow via a mesh panel to prevent a humid environment building up? What about during the night to prevent an overflowing bladder from getting urine on skin and fur? Tell us how nights are handled. URINE Protection garments.- justhappydog.com/store/dog-diapers/ female with hole for tail- commercial product - tinkletrousers.com/ claims not to pull down their rear end!  - www.joybies.com/petstore/ piddle pant  - Peekeeper: peekeeper.com/ Advertised not to pull down  How does Nala scoot? Like a seal with back legs behind OR like a frog with legs to the front?
SCOOTING garments
Females have short pathway from ground to the bladder. Avoiding picking up bacteria from ground/floor. Find BOTH some sew- and no-sew options in below links. If you don't sew, contact your local fabric store (JoAnne's etc) where they likely know of a reputable local sewest who can do a sewing project for you.
FROG LIKE SCOOTERS
Clark’s Bumpad for frog-like scooters:
dodgerslist.com/2020/06/13/garment-skin-uti-protection/
Tandy’s no-sew Butt Protection
dodgerslist.com/2020/06/13/garment-skin-uti-protection/
SEAL LIKE SCOOTERS
Ollie’s Cape DIY with a commercial option
dodgerslist.com/2020/06/13/garment-skin-uti-protection/
Commercial Airy mesh panel scoot bag— one example company, Google to find others.
www.handicappedpets.com/walkin-drag-bag/ [drag bag]
HELP US?
Would you consider helping members here looking for a rehab vet? Here is where you can post your rehab vet recommendation: dodgerslist.boards.net/board/13/member-reported-surgery-costs-recommendations
vet recommendations:
Name of Vet
Name of Clinic
Street Address
City:
State or country:
Type of vet (general DVM, board certified surgeon, acupuncture, etc.) NOTE: chiro treatment is not compatible with disc disease.
Comments:
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Kim & Nala
New Member
FEMALE - mixed breed . non-IVDD SCI
Posts: 3
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Post by Kim & Nala on Feb 4, 2021 9:38:51 GMT -7
Hi Paula,
Nala wears a diaper while inside the house with a Walkin brand drag bag over top which does have a large mesh panel.
We take her outside every 2-3 hours and she runs around and plays on the grass which usually causes her to poop and pee. I guess we assumed since she was “peeing on her own” that she was capable of emptying her bladder.
But obviously with the UTI issue and the information you all have provided that is not the case. Normally Nala does not take any medication outside of several supplements including one for joint health, one for skin health, and one for urinary health. I do not remember the names and dosing off the top of my head so I will have to get back to you on that.
When we take her outside we let her run around with her diaper on to protect her from dragging on the grass. We then place her in a plastic kiddies pool and clean her using baby wipes and usually put a A&D ointment on her skin to protect from diaper rash. We then put on a clean diaper and the drag bag and bring her back in. How often should be be helping her express her bladder?
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,564
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Post by PaulaM on Feb 4, 2021 9:50:42 GMT -7
Kim, learning to express the bladder will be a new skill you are learning. Often after a weeks worth of expressing you will have it down pat! Expect to initially express the bladder every 2-3 hours as you are perfecting your skill: --- to locate the bladder and feel its change in shape as it empties. --- to know how much pressure to apply. This is where the hands-on-top-of-your-hands type of expressing lesson is important. You will get more out of the bladder expressing lesson by reading and viewing the video at this page: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/. Poop expressing is so very easy that you can just watch the video and be an instant expert! -- to recognize when the bladder is empty by being able to almost feel your other hand because the bladder is so flat (empty). As you perfect your bladder expressing skill, you will move to expressing every 4-6 hours. At night when the body produces less urine, you can easily go to 8 hrs. Diapers can have their own issues and why we do not recommend them in general. Learning to express is a healthier thing all around. Let us know how the vet visit goes today. |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,564
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Post by PaulaM on Feb 4, 2021 9:53:52 GMT -7
Let us know the name of the antibiotic injection and the urinary health supplement when you can.
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