Callie is starting a third antibiotic for UTI

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Callie & Patches

Callie & Patches

Member Since 2016
I feel so sorry for Callie. It has been so hard treating her UTI. Her numbers have been slowly going down but are still way to high. they were up in the 500-600's and now they are mostly in the 300's. The vet is starting her on a third antibiotic and has increased her Vetsulin from 5 units to 51/2. She said if Callie's numbers don't come down to the 100's in a few days, I should increase it to 6 units. This just seems so high.
 
How has her UTI been diagnosed? My kitty had a UTI diagnosed by taking urine directly from the bladder with a needle through the abdomen (cystocentesis) and it was then cultured and antibiotic sensitivity determined. She had a two week course of antibiotic followed by a further cystocentesis to check it had cleared, which it has. She had no symptoms other than high sugars. Which antibiotics have you been given and how long was the course?
 
Alexi said:
How has her UTI been diagnosed? My kitty had a UTI diagnosed by taking urine directly from the bladder with a needle through the abdomen (cystocentesis) and it was then cultured and antibiotic sensitivity determined. She had a two week course of antibiotic followed by a further cystocentesis to check it had cleared, which it has. She had no symptoms other than high sugars. Which antibiotics have you been given and how long was the course?
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I was sure she had a UTI when I kept finding puddles of urine on the floor and the kitchen counter. Callie's numbers shot up for no other reason. The Vet didn't test her before She started her on Amoxicillin, then Enrofloxacin and now Clavamox. I sure hope it works. I worry because she has gone from 2 units of Vetsulin to 51/2. I think her numbers will come down when the UTI clears up and I will have to worry about it going to low.

They did a urine test after the Amoxicillin failed, but it was too late to check for sensibility to antibiotics. She is still peeing in strange places.
 
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For a valid culture and sensitivity test the cat has to be off antibiotics for a week to 10 days.
donnalea said:
They did a urine test after the Amoxicillin failed,
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Just what tests did they do? Maybe not an UTI at all.
Sometimes a deep kidney infection requires a 4-week or more course of antibiotics.
 
They just looked at it with a microscope. They said she had some bacteria that were rods? I sure hope it's not something more serious. My poor baby has been through so much.
 
They need to do a culture and sensitivity, but to get good results, she'd need to be off all antibiotics for at least 7 days

They have to get a sterile sample directly from her bladder and send it off to culture to see exactly which bacteria they're fighting and then see which antibiotic will actually kill that bacteria

It takes 2-3 days to get grow the culture and see how it reacts to different antibiotics to see which one will work best
 
Chris & China said:
They need to do a culture and sensitivity, but to get good results, she'd need to be off all antibiotics for at least 7 days

They have to get a sterile sample directly from her bladder and send it off to culture to see exactly which bacteria they're fighting and then see which antibiotic will actually kill that bacteria

It takes 2-3 days to get grow the culture and see how it reacts to different antibiotics to see which one will work best
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I couldn't make her go through a week without a antibiotic. I need to get her better ASAP. My hubby is upset about the peeing all over the house. He is threatening to have her put down if I don't keep her locked up in the garage. It's hot out there. I am praying that this new antibiotic works.
 
Hi!!
I know you are going thru so much--please think about what Chris has written--
if she is on the wrong AB it will not work-it is like taking cough medicine for a headache--it may take some symptoms but for her to really heal your vet should culture to find what bacteria needs to be killed-which is when he or she should prescribe the correct one and it will be all gone:)
I hope your baby gets well soon:bighug: and I hope you husband understands it is not her fault.... it is very painful to have a UTI--I used to get them all the time and they are awful:(
 
I should know if this new antibiotic works in a few days. If not, I will talk to my vets about doing a culture. If I have to, I can keep her in the spare bathroom, although my daughter won't be happy about my taking out the rugs and having to share with the cat for a week plus till she starts using a litter box.
 
Does anyone know if there is something that the vet can give Callie for the pain she is going through if she has to go through 7-10 days without any antibiotic so they can test her. I am thinking of changing vets. There is a vet 30 miles away that specializes in only cats. The vets I have been going to since 1983, are old fashoned country vets. They have been wonderful over the years. I just don't understand why he didn't test Callie before putting her on Amoxicillin. I think he wanted to save me money since I have spent so much treating her diabetes. I keep wondering how we can keep her comfortable until we get her urinary problem cleared up.
 
Chris & China said:
They need to do a culture and sensitivity, but to get good results, she'd need to be off all antibiotics for at least 7 days

They have to get a sterile sample directly from her bladder and send it off to culture to see exactly which bacteria they're fighting and then see which antibiotic will actually kill that bacteria

It takes 2-3 days to get grow the culture and see how it reacts to different antibiotics to see which one will work best
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I agree. If they have not done a culture they need to. Also, did they check for crystals? If they are present, that will also cause pain and cause her not to use the litter box.
 
Sharon14 said:
Have you tried Dmannose? It helps with E. coli infections, which cause the majority of UTI's. Since I started Colin on it he hasn't had another UTI(anti jinx!). It's not an antibiotic, so I don't think it would impact a culture? This is the one I use
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HCMK90/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
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Sharon14 said:
Have you tried Dmannose? It helps with E. coli infections, which cause the majority of UTI's. Since I started Colin on it he hasn't had another UTI(anti jinx!). It's not an antibiotic, so I don't think it would impact a culture? This is the one I use
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HCMK90/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
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D mannose is amazing and no side effects
 
She is doing so much better. I'm not stepping in wet spots in my bare feet. Callie seems to feel so much better. She wants to be petted and brushed. And her numbers have gone down. Now I just have to get the dose adjusted again.

Thank you to everyone who has been so nice and helpful.
 
My cat was dx with the UTI..which is what we thought he had and brought him into the vet for.. and the vet put him on amox which seems (fingers crossed) to be helping... I think he's got another weeks worth. Would that D mannose just help either way? My husband was at his first appt when he said they took a long needle and did something with it (took him to the back area )and looked under their microscope . She said she'll want to do another test to make sure it's gone but sending it off bc sometimes their scopes don't see everything.. Does that make sense to any one? :) glad your kitty is feeling better donnalea!
 
Yeah, it all does make sense. The needle thing is a cystocentesis. Basically they use the needle to get a urine sample. Sounds terrible I know but most cats don't seem to react badly and it's the best way to get a sterile sample.

Sending it off is probably a culture and sensitivity. Also the best way to diagnose and determine treatment. They grow the sample for 3 days I believe to see what kind of bacteria is present, if any. Then if it is present, they try different antibiotics to see which one works best.

As for the d mannose, I think it only helps E. coli bacteria but I don't think it will hurt anything if you try it. :)
 
I have been giving it to Callie. She doesn't mind if I mix it in with her food. E. coli is responsible for ,ost UTIS. I will kep her on it for a few weeks to be sure the UTI doesn't come back.
 
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