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My dogs name is Shakes. She is 3 years old and a Cairn Terrier. She has had pee problems for almost a year now. Recently it has gotten worse and occuring in the apartment. Below is my latest correspondance to the vet looking at her problem. On one occasion they pulled a foxtail out of her vaginal area during a scoping procedure. However, even after antibiotics, she still has the same problem. She has been seen again since the removal of the foxtail (below), but they did not find anything else. We really do not believe this to be behavorial which was latest suggestion from Vet. I also have video of the symptoms but when I try to upload them here my posting went away, I think because it is an 8 MB file. Any help??

Thanks,

Shakes & Cato

It should be noted that these symptoms are observed off and on leash, inside and outside our normal community. Meaning, she has these symptoms at doggy day care, in our parent’s back yard, and other places, including regular home.

Please know that we understand you already extended us a large break on the second go around of the scoping procedure. We are trying to abreast you fully of the details that lead us to believe she still may be exhibiting physical, as opposed to behavioral, problems. After this last checkup, we will have spent over $4,000.00 trying to determine what is going on with her through 3 veterinary clinics.

Shakes’ Symptoms

1. When out for walks, or usually at any time outside, Shakes often stops to get into a normal looking pee position. She usually stays in this position for extended periods of time-- often she walks/crawls very slowly while in this position and will do this on grass and concrete. On walks she performs this behavior roughly every 1 to 3 minutes.
2. Recently, she has developed a pattern of leaning to her right while getting into this position as if it is more comfortable for her to shift her weight towards her right side. Also, this behavior is usually accompanied by allowing her left hind leg to remain further outward and flexed than normal.
3. Also more recently, while in this position, and leaning to the right, she will very slowly get into a sitting position, and then will begin to lick around the vaginal/and or anal area (unsure).
4. Random cases of small amount of pee inside the apartment. Recently this has picked up a bit and she urinates inside the apartment more frequently.

I understand that you successfully pulled a foxtail out of her during a recent examination. Upon a follow up examination, she was given a clean bill of health. It is my concern that something is still inside her or passed through that could not be detected since last checked.

It should also be noted that we moved back to the MD area earlier this year from California. While in California, we walked our dogs at a very large park once a day where they were off leash. In this park, the plants/grass that produces the foxtail thrives. This is why it is quite possible that Shakes may have had more than one foxtail inside her. We have also researched foxtails, we know that they can travel through places and get deep inside.

Lastly, although she began exhibiting this strange behavior roughly two weeks before getting attacked and badly bitten by a large pitbull, she did suffer two fractured ribs, #9 and #11. She was given a clean bill of health after recovery once we moved back to MD from the Veterinary clinic. At which time she was still having this strange pee behavior, the Doctor tried Shakes on some muscle relaxers (and valium) and “urinary pumping/easing” medicine, which did not solve the problem, this is when we began having you look at her. Shakes is still very active and has a healthy appetite.

Update to post:

meds/history shakes has been on for pee problem and vet visits:

Treatment history:

03/21/09 CA Vet (silverado vet)
- Physical - negative
- Uranlysis - negative
- Cytocentsis/Ultrasound - negative
- PRESCRIBED: Clavamox 125mg

$130.01

03/27/09 CA Vet (silverado vet)
- Progress check - negative
- Cystocentesis - negative
- Culture and Sensitivity - negative
- CHEM 865 - ?

$277.18

04/03/09 CA Vet (silverado vet)
- Progress check - negative

$31.00

04/09/09 CA Vet (silverado vet)
- Fecal Eval - negative

$29.70

4/14/09 CA Vet (silverado vet)
- Progress check - negative
- Radiograph check - negative
- Cystocentesis/Ultrasound - negative
- Urine Thiobroth Culture/MIC - "Removed small band of tissue around urethra"

$179.75

5/13/09 CA Vet (silverado vet)
- Care Exam
- Radiograph followup - negative

$151.00

5/22/09 CA Vet (silverado vet)
- Exam with sedation - negative
- Anesthesia/Morphine
- PRESCRIBED Zeniquin 25mg
- PRESCRIBED Metacam

$212.59

05/24/09 CA Emergency Vet (Shakes attacked by pitbull) - Solano Vet Hospital
- Shakes in hospital two days for deep puncture wounds and
boken ribs - #9 and #11 (on right), subcutaneous emphysema.

- PRESCRIBED: Tramadol 50mg
- PRESCRIBED: Metacam
- PRESCRIBED: Zenequin

$1,017.00 - 5/25
$546.00 - 5/26
--------
$1,563.00

05/29/09 CA Vet (silverado vet)
- Progress Check
- Suture removed (fell out)
- Staple put in

$32.20

06/08/09 MD Vet (glenvilah vet)
- Staple removed
- Brief Rib exam

$25.00

06/22/09 MD Vet (glenvilah vet)
- Exam recheck (pee problem)
- PRESCRIBED: Phenoxybenzamine 2.5mg (QTY: 30)

$97.50

07/15/09 MD Specialist (Frederick Referral Group)
- Health Check
- Radiology w/ radiologist review
- Urinalysis full
- Culture and Sensitivity
- PRESCRIBED 7 Zeniquin 25mg

Findings:

- Large amount of stool in colon - later reviewed and negative
- No apparent stones
- Normal appearance to the liver, gall bladder, kidneys, and GI tract
- Urinary bladder is caudally positioned and the apex is difusely thickened and irregular
- all tests came back negative

$936.70

09/14/09 MD Specialist (Frederick Referral Group)
- Cytoscopy
- Anesthesia and monitoring
- PRESCRIBED: Clavamox 125mg
- PRESCRIBED: Metacam

Findings:

- Grass awn foriegn body lodged in the urethral papilla. It was removed with graspers.
- Vaginal wall in this area is inflamed and nodular (chronic irritation).
- remainder of vagina is normal. Uretha and bladder visually normal.

$546.55

10/06/09 MD Specialist (Frederick Referral Group)
- Cytology
- PRESCRIBED: Zeniquin 37.5mg

Findings:

- Normal appearance to vaginal vault, urethral opening, urethra and bladder.
- No more redness
- Urine is yellow and clear
- Bacterial and Fungal culture came back negative


$250.96

11/17/09 MD Specialist (Frederick Referral Group)
- Cytoscopy
- Thoratic and abdominal radiographs
- Bladder contrast
- PRESCRIBED: Zeniquin 25mg
- PRESCRIBED: Prednisone .5mg
- PRESCRIBED: Prazosin .5mg

Findings:

- All exams and tests - negative

$659.19