Urynalysis vrs. Urine Culture

[Tara]

Thought I would start a new thread..the other one was getting long :) Sheena, what is the difference between a urinalysis and a urine culture? My vet is going to run both on Diablo this time round. It is quite costly over $200. Also, I don’t think they have ever examined his prostate? How do they do this and what kind of problems would they be looking for? My vet told me a little while ago that they would not consider putting diablo under for surgery because of his age and his IMHA so worried that we might find something that can’t be fixed :( Thanks!

[Tara]

O.K. just thinking….does it make sense that I paid for a urine culture before I even get the results back of the urinanalysis? Please let me know what you think – thanks!

[Patrice]

Tara,
Wow, expensive. I am really short on time but I wanted to give you a few links to read about what is happening most likely.

Your vet is looking for bladder stones. There are two types. Struvite and Oxalate. The most important distinction is the reason why they are formed and that makes all the difference in how you treat them. If it is Struvite, then there is an infection and that needs to be treated. If it is Oxalate, it generally needs to be removed by surgery, but not always.

For Struvite stone formation remember this:
” In the dog, the general rule is: No infection, no bladder stone.”

For Oxalate stone formation remember this:
“Calcium oxalate stones cannot be made to dissolve over time by changing to a special diet (as can be done with struvite or uric acid bladder stones).”

Read these pages carefully several times so when you talk to your vet you know what to say.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_struvite_bladder_stones.html
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_canine_oxalate_bladder_stones.html
my best
patrice

[admin]

Hi Tara
Please don’t worry too much – Patrice has given you all the information on what is the most likely & common cause – all fixable. I’ve just quickly re-read through some of your old messages from January time (it was in the back of my mind I remembered something) when Diablo had pee-pee problems – urgency & frequency – & he must have been checked out then for prostate – you’d mentioned it to the vet at that time as Brigitte had suggested it was a good idea.
My goodness – that’s an expensive set of tests! Finding the particular type of infection will be done by the culture & they will then know the appropriate antibiotic to kill that particular “bug” if necessary.
Let us know how he is – you know he’s very dear to my heart & he’s made a wonderful recovery. He’s such a special boy, Tara. Worzel & Ollie send him crossed paws & so do I!
Loads of love & best wishes from me & the boys xxxx

[Tara]

Thank you Patrice and Sheena for the information. So do you think I should go ahead with culture even before I get the results of the urinanalysis? Or should I wait for the results of the urinanalysis before moving forward with culture? He just had an accident now and no blood in urine but a drop of blood on floor but not sure if that happened before he started to pee or after he finished. He was on special food before IMHA because when he was a puppy they found crystals in his urine but he has never had a stone before……I hope it is not that because if they won’t do surgery how will we deal with it….I will start reading the info. above – thanks again!!!!

[admin]

Hi Tara – yes, get the culture for the infection, then they will be sure of which antibiotic to use kill it off. That will make him more comfortable & the sooner the better. I forgot to say yesterday that the detailed explanation of what is done for a full urinalysis is in our AIHA Terms
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/AIHA_Terms/urinalysis/

You could print Patrice’s information from the links & take it with you to the vets to discuss it. In humans, some types of stones can be disintegrated by ultrasound which is non-invasive, but it would depend on what they find as to whether this is possible. I’m not even sure they do it for dogs! Looking at Patrice’s links, it may also be possible to remove the stones by passing a special tube up the urethra into the bladder if they are small. I appreciate you would be worried about a full anaesthetic, but maybe ask if they could do this with light sedation, or if he did need an anaesthetic, would it be a short operation? I’m not certain about this – sorry – I wish I were a vet, but sadly I’m not. All you can do is take the information with you & ask all these questions at the surgery when you go. The fact you mentioned crystals in his urine when he was younger, he has been on prednisone & he is of a breed suspectible to stones makes me think that this is the cause of the blood. So, don’t worry too much – these things are sent to try us & you can deal with this, no problem. Compared to what he has already been through, this is “fixable”. Keep us posted on how you get on.
Lots of love to you Tara, & to my special little man a big hug
Sheena & the lads

[admin]

Hi Tara

I’m so pleased to hear that Diablo has been doing so much better and glad that you were able to get away for a vacation. I hope you had a great time, but I know it’s hard being away when you are worried about them. Sorry to hear about the but. He’s certainly keeping you on your toes.

Urinalysis – if it is a dipstick – is a quick test which gives you a broad picture of various things which might be going on, but not in great detail. It might pick up something which needs further investigation. Do you know whether Diablo had a dipstick urinalysis or microscopy? If he’s had microscopy, they will have looked at which cells are present in the sample (red/white blood cells etc) as well as crystals. The glossary article which Sheena posted a link to is really helpful to explain this. Culture is a test where cultures are grown from the urine sample, looking at specific bacteria present and what the bacteria is sensitive to (which antibiotics to use). Looking at what Sheena and Patrice have written, I would suggest going ahead with both tests to get to the bottom of what is causing the blood.

Molly was a crystal lady too. She had terrible bouts of idiopathic cystitis which we finally got under control with prescription food. I’m not sure if it is the same in dogs as cats, but she had an ultrasound and cystocentesis under sedation (not anaesthetic) to check the crystals in her bladder.

I hope you manage to get to the bottom of it soon and Diablo is feeling good today.

Mary and Mable x

[Tara]

Thanks Mary. The urine has been sent away for a culture & sensitivity. It came back with bacteria, white blood cells, some blood and was ‘low’ specific gravity. The vet feels that he has a very bad bladder infection that has gone up to the kidneys. He is back on antibiotics and she said to prepare to be on them for up to 8 weeks….we might have to change what he is on based on how the culture comes back. I am now stressing that something may be wrong with his kidneys but past urine and bloodwork did not indicate this so hopefully it is just a very bad infection that is fixable. It might be my imagination but he has had an antibiotic yesterday a.m. and p.m. and today already does seem a bit better….slept longer and was dry overnight which he has not been the last few nights. Will keep everyone posted and thanks so much for all your help and kind words.