Question:
Hi, I am hoping after reading some of your wonderfully knowledgable advice if somebody might be able to help me with my proplem with my 9 year old Husky. I returned from the U.K. to Spain in September and a friend who had been looking after the dogs told me that the last day I was away Roque had refused to eat. During that night I was awoken by him howling terribly in the garden and I could see him straining to pass feces. He was also having little accidents in the house (which he has never done) and when passing urine "squatting" like a female dog. Next day I rushed him to the vet who took blood/urine samples (looked like very milky coffee) and did x-rays (showed nothing).

Roqs was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and was castrated and put on antibiotics. The bloods came back that he had Escherichia Coli, and one of the recommended antibiotic (Amoxyl) he was already taking and an anti inflammatory. Although the passing feces problem eased, the urine infection just became worse, he would not eat or drink and I spoon fed him for a week.
So, back to the vet who changed to another antibiotic (Zinnac) - still no joy. He then put him on Furobactina and it appeared to work - AT LAST (I thought). His urine became more and more clear, he put back on the 5 kilos he had lost and seemed back to his old self. But we visited the vet weekly who took a urine sample and two weeks ago (after gradually lowering the dose to one anti biotic every other day), sure enough the urine is beginning to go cloudy and my vet has told me that he has to go back onto two Furobactina per day..... sorry, I am rabbiting on but I really need some help here !

The vet keeps muttering about an investigative operation, but I am not very happy about it. Are dogs the same as humans and should not take anti-biotics over a long period ? we are now talking just over 6 months, and it worries me, also, does anyone have any helpful ideas or a miracle cure ? or anything that I can do to help him ? He has a good diet and I´m doing the yogurt a day thing. I have a wonderful vet, but sometimes Spain can be rather behind in these things.

Any helpful advice would be most GRATEFULLY recieved, Roque does not deserve to suffer and if there is a way to cure him I want to find it.

Thank you all in advance
Regards,
Lesley-Ann (& Roque) in spain

Answer:
I'm so sorry you and your doggy are going through this!

Yes, dogs are like humans, or I should say dogs' bacteria are like humans' bacteria and shouldn't be exposed to too many antibiotics...

Have you tried probiotics? They come in capsules that you keep in the fridge... I buy the ones for humans for my dogs and sprinkle it on their food... They shouldn't be taken too close to the antibiotics though.

Answer:
I agree and HUGS to you and Roque. Give him some probiotics to get the good flora back in his intestines. What are you feeding him?

BTW, welcome to the forum and we would love to see pics of Roque. One of my dogs is also a Siberian Husky.

Good luck with the probiotics and keep us posted.

Answer:
Thank you for your help !!

Roque has a diet of chicken, offal, loves sardines and tuna (he is a spanish husky) ! vegetables and a good quality complete food. The complete food has probiotics, and he has one yogurt a day, but not within two hours of having the antibiotic. I will try and get some probiotics tomorrow, it will have to be human ones, as here many of the drugs for animals are those used for humans (quite handy when I got bronchitus and Roque was on Zinnac !), but on the up side you can go down the local slaughter house and get as many cows intestines as you like for a couple of euros ! (don´t try this at home unless you have a stong stomach!) I don´t do it, but my friend who breeds spanish long legged jack russels does, fills me with wine and I always seem to end up cutting it all up ....? !!! it´s quite theraputic actually... takes your mind RIGHT OFF any problems you may have !!

I had never had a dog (I am qualified in horses and if anyone has horsey problems.... do let me know!) and it took a friend who found Roqs all of 30 minutes to convince me I.... I said I´ll try it for a week...did he have a name ?oh, yes "Roque" - I was running the equestrian centre at the San Roque Club at the time..... that was eight years ago. ....

Boy do I go on, sorry people I talk like this too..... and in spanish... badly... but thats what living in the middle of nowhere with a husky does for you...(I will ask one of my friends a photo of him), sorry the digital revolution ain´t come down my track yet !

I am very sure of myself with any horse ailment and in most cases don´t even have to get the vet out, but dogs.... your advice is invaluable !

I think what I am trying to avoid is my dog having surgery at his age. Here their expected life span is 10-12 years and if he can continue on antibiotics and/or other treatments and maintain quality of life, I would prefer that. The one thing I will not have is him suffering.

With horses it is sometimes better to leave well alone, depending upon age, condition, quality of life and happiness of animal than start messing around with them. But, I trained in horse veterinary science.... not dogs, but I think roughly the same basic rules may apply. If he was younger I would not be so concerned , but imagine if you will the heat and flies here and the infections that they can spread can sometimes lead to you having a worse problem than you started with.

Anyway, I will go and see my pharmacist tomorrow and get the probiotics ....

Thanks again for your kindness ! hope all your animals are well

Lesley-Ann

Answer:
Did you find any? Are they helping?

Answer:
Originally Posted by LA Spain
Roque has a diet of chicken, offal, loves sardines and tuna (he is a spanish husky) ! vegetables and a good quality complete food. The complete food has probiotics, and he has one yogurt a day, but not within two hours of having the antibiotic.

Sorry, but I'm a bit confused. Is this a raw diet (or cooked)? I'm sorry this happened to your dog. I'd love to offer some help, but I don't recognise the symptoms. Probiotics is good advice though.

Answer:
Welcome to the board. Have you tried cranberry capsules?

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His diet is always cooked, I don´t believe in feeding raw meat. I have now gone out and bought some Hills diet, unfortunately even mashed with sardines he sucks off the sardines and leaves a neat row of biscuits around the bowl !

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He has been on one probiotic a day now for just over a week which I give him midday (he eats early morning and evening), but the last two days he has got very "down" in himself. Not due to visit vet until Friday, but I think I am going to to earlier. Do you have any idea what surgery the vet may be thinking of ? (my spanish is pretty good, but not THAT good), but I am beginning to feel now, after 6 months on antibiotics I have to do something. I have changed his diet to Hills diet food (which he HATES) - just sucks all the sardines or chicken off them and leaves them !!! I just hate to see my Husky who has always been such a happy lively guy going up and down like this.....

Answer:
Thanks for your welcome, I have tried to find cranberry capsules, but here in Spain they are only just getting used to Cranberry juice, but I´ll try Gibraltar, thanks for the advice.

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Just a word of caution,Hills Prescription Diet food(kibbles)is part of a recall here in Canada and the US,the wheatgluten beeing contaminated!!!

Answer:
The probiotic should be given either during or after the meals (on a full stomach).

As for the "down" feelings, those can mean a fever...

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Well, thats reassuring !!! I have looked at the bag and it is Hills Science Croquettas (I think thats what you guys call kibble) with chicken, I have searched websites etc., and cannot find that particular type on the recall list... I am beginning to think that I should give up this scientific stuff and make a trip to the slaughter house instead (see my earlier note on this method), it is frightening the number of foods that are affected.... here in spain most spanish people feed their dogs cooked meat/offal and dog rice.. maybe the old ways are the best. Anyway, Roque is going back to his old Menu until I can be sure.... Thanks for the advice !

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I am learning a lot.... OK, probiotics with food from now on... I was concentrating on not giving them too close to the antibiotics which he also has morning and night. Thanks a lot for the tip, keep your fingers crossed for his visit to the vet.... LA

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