UTI Specimin Catch??? Suggestions needed... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

MinMuf1 · 06-29-2007, 09:31 AM

Over the past two or three weeks Muffin's skin color has changed to a slate grey. She has also been excessively panting, drinking and urinating quite a bit. She's too young for Cushing's Disease or so I think. So, this morning I carted all my furbabies down to the Veterinarian to check on what may be going on with her. The Veterinarian wants to check for a UTI before proceeding with more extensive testing and wanted me to leave her at the office to be placed in a cage until she went.

NOT HAPPENING!!! So, here I am with a specimen cup trying to figure out how does one "catch" a urine sample.

I've tried aluminum foil under her bottom and she literally runs and hides. I know she has to go because she keeps heading for the doggie door that I have closed off to try and "catch" the sample. I'm at witts end... ANY suggestions short of taking her back to jail so to speak would be greatly appreciated.

lisatodd · 06-29-2007, 09:34 AM

when the vets were ck'g my girl for bladder crystals, they told me to get an specimen but i couldn't. i called them back. they stated to bring her in and they could do it. they took her back in the back and did something to get a sample. i would think that your vets could do it.
i would call them back and adv you cannot get a specimen

Tiger's Mom · 06-29-2007, 09:34 AM

dunno how this will work but if she has a diaper, maybe you can put inside one of those little clear plastic sauce cups and then take her out and as soon as she does it (hopefully she will

) then try to slowly take out the container without having her run away so it won't spill.

Good luck Kelly . . .tons of hugs to your angel and hope it is nothing serious.

LuvMySissy · 06-29-2007, 09:40 AM

I have no idea if it is the same with dogs and cats, but when my cat was checked for a UTI, the vet simply opened the urethra and got the urine sample the urine simply comes out when the urethra opening is stretched.

MinMuf1 · 06-29-2007, 09:45 AM

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll try them ALL before I subject her to jail!

pat022351 · 06-29-2007, 09:55 AM

If you could get her to pee on something in the house - even the floor - you could use a syringe to suck it up. That's what I did when I needed to bring a sample in - but Sadie was much younger and didn't hesitate to pee on the floor - LOL - I don't know if that would work now.

The vet could catheterize Muffin - but I think that would be pretty traumatic for her if she's awake.

GOOD LUCK!!

Hokule'a · 06-29-2007, 10:19 AM

How about lightly taping a small baggie on her and then putting a diaper over that and letting her go outside? That's basically what the urine bags for babies are - a plastic bag with stickie on the edges

Bizzymammabee · 06-29-2007, 10:19 AM

easiest thing if you use piddle pads or even if she goes outside.....watch her like a hawk and when she goes let it be on the plastic side of the piddle pad. then you can drain the urine off into a container.

good luck.

Patti · 06-29-2007, 07:43 PM

I used the plastic side of the pee pad and then syringed it up. The last time the vet took Cali in back and was able to get enough by doing something simple, I think it cost 15.00

Ellie May · 06-30-2007, 12:13 PM

Ellie was just diagnosed with a UTI. We could not get a sample so they took one. It is way too hard to catch it in midstream (I guess a few people have done it but that just didn't work). Anyway, it is a very busy vet so they didn't have a room open for us. They took Ellie in the back and took it via cystocentesis. Every other way of taking it has the potential to contaminate the urine on the way out but catheter is the second best (I just studied all of this before we took her in). I don't think that there is any reason your dog should have to wait in a cage to go when they could just take it.

nefertelli · 06-30-2007, 01:48 PM

I am an ER nurse. For babies and toddlers a U bag is sometimes used. it is just shaped like a U and has peel away stickersto hold it in place. A pediatric office might have them or an
ER. Or tape the baggie,don't know if it would stay though.

MinMuf1 · 07-01-2007, 05:52 PM

Thanks for all your suggestions. I tried the plastic bag with a diaper over it. It would have worked had it not been for the sample running down her legs.

So, I resorted to holding her for four hours and locking her in the bathroom with a piddle pad on the reverse side.

Worked like a charm even though she thought she was a bad girl doing it. Poor thing...So confusing for her. I took the sample to the Veterinarian's office yesterday and now she and I both are waiting for the results. Thanks again for all your help!

Hokule'a · 07-01-2007, 06:08 PM

Oh good, glad you were able to get the specimen. Sorry the baggie idea didn't work

wemple2 · 07-02-2007, 07:34 PM

I asked this same question awhile back, because Winston will only pee in the grass...I swear he'd explode before he would pee in the house...But someone suggested a dipper or ladle...just follow them around outside and catch it...don't see how this would work, but some one said it does. Lucky for me I've never had to do it. The vet should have gotten the sample...

MinMuf1 · 07-02-2007, 08:00 PM

Well folks, I got the results back today and I am happy to report that Muffin does have a UTI. I hate to sound elated but I am ever so relieved that it was nothing more serious. Funny thing though...Seems as though as soon as her skin color has started to lighten to its normal pinkish shade with the onset of her taking antibiotics. I just don't get it...

It must have been her way of telling me "Hey Mom I'm not feeling well!!!"

06-29-2007, 09:31 AM	#1
MinMuf1 Peanut Gallery Mom Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,256	UTI Specimin Catch??? Suggestions needed... Over the past two or three weeks Muffin's skin color has changed to a slate grey. She has also been excessively panting, drinking and urinating quite a bit. She's too young for Cushing's Disease or so I think. So, this morning I carted all my furbabies down to the Veterinarian to check on what may be going on with her. The Veterinarian wants to check for a UTI before proceeding with more extensive testing and wanted me to leave her at the office to be placed in a cage until she went. NOT HAPPENING!!! So, here I am with a specimen cup trying to figure out how does one "catch" a urine sample. I've tried aluminum foil under her bottom and she literally runs and hides. I know she has to go because she keeps heading for the doggie door that I have closed off to try and "catch" the sample. I'm at witts end... ANY suggestions short of taking her back to jail so to speak would be greatly appreciated.

06-29-2007, 09:34 AM	#2
lisatodd Little Boogers Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: virginia beach, va Posts: 4,460	when the vets were ck'g my girl for bladder crystals, they told me to get an specimen but i couldn't. i called them back. they stated to bring her in and they could do it. they took her back in the back and did something to get a sample. i would think that your vets could do it. i would call them back and adv you cannot get a specimen __________________ lisa lisa and the cult jam yorkies

06-29-2007, 09:40 AM	#4
LuvMySissy Luv my Angel, too! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA Posts: 9,333	I have no idea if it is the same with dogs and cats, but when my cat was checked for a UTI, the vet simply opened the urethra and got the urine sample the urine simply comes out when the urethra opening is stretched. __________________ Sissy & Angel

06-29-2007, 09:55 AM	#6
pat022351 Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Camillus, NY Posts: 340	If you could get her to pee on something in the house - even the floor - you could use a syringe to suck it up. That's what I did when I needed to bring a sample in - but Sadie was much younger and didn't hesitate to pee on the floor - LOL - I don't know if that would work now. The vet could catheterize Muffin - but I think that would be pretty traumatic for her if she's awake. GOOD LUCK!! __________________ Pat Sadie Louise's Mommy

06-29-2007, 10:19 AM	#7
Hokule'a Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 4,591	How about lightly taping a small baggie on her and then putting a diaper over that and letting her go outside? That's basically what the urine bags for babies are - a plastic bag with stickie on the edges __________________ Eva and her keikis: Hokule'a, Kalani & Pi'ilani

06-29-2007, 09:34 AM	#3
Tiger's Mom Donating YT 8000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 9,339	dunno how this will work but if she has a diaper, maybe you can put inside one of those little clear plastic sauce cups and then take her out and as soon as she does it (hopefully she will ) then try to slowly take out the container without having her run away so it won't spill. Good luck Kelly . . .tons of hugs to your angel and hope it is nothing serious.

06-29-2007, 09:45 AM	#5
MinMuf1 Peanut Gallery Mom Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,256	Thanks for the suggestions! I'll try them ALL before I subject her to jail!

06-29-2007, 10:19 AM	#8
Bizzymammabee Luvs Lulu Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 6,931 Blog Entries: 1	easiest thing if you use piddle pads or even if she goes outside.....watch her like a hawk and when she goes let it be on the plastic side of the piddle pad. then you can drain the urine off into a container. good luck. __________________ Lulu will always be in my heart

06-29-2007, 07:43 PM	#9
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I used the plastic side of the pee pad and then syringed it up. The last time the vet took Cali in back and was able to get enough by doing something simple, I think it cost 15.00 __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

06-30-2007, 12:13 PM	#10
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	Ellie was just diagnosed with a UTI. We could not get a sample so they took one. It is way too hard to catch it in midstream (I guess a few people have done it but that just didn't work). Anyway, it is a very busy vet so they didn't have a room open for us. They took Ellie in the back and took it via cystocentesis. Every other way of taking it has the potential to contaminate the urine on the way out but catheter is the second best (I just studied all of this before we took her in). I don't think that there is any reason your dog should have to wait in a cage to go when they could just take it. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

06-30-2007, 01:48 PM	#11
nefertelli Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: orlando florida Posts: 49	U bag I am an ER nurse. For babies and toddlers a U bag is sometimes used. it is just shaped like a U and has peel away stickersto hold it in place. A pediatric office might have them or an ER. Or tape the baggie,don't know if it would stay though. __________________ Joni:Lili Daisi Rosi

07-01-2007, 05:52 PM	#12
MinMuf1 Peanut Gallery Mom Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,256	Update... Thanks for all your suggestions. I tried the plastic bag with a diaper over it. It would have worked had it not been for the sample running down her legs. So, I resorted to holding her for four hours and locking her in the bathroom with a piddle pad on the reverse side. Worked like a charm even though she thought she was a bad girl doing it. Poor thing...So confusing for her. I took the sample to the Veterinarian's office yesterday and now she and I both are waiting for the results. Thanks again for all your help! Last edited by MinMuf1; 07-01-2007 at 05:56 PM.

07-01-2007, 06:08 PM	#13
Hokule'a Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 4,591	Oh good, glad you were able to get the specimen. Sorry the baggie idea didn't work __________________ Eva and her keikis: Hokule'a, Kalani & Pi'ilani

07-02-2007, 07:34 PM	#14
wemple2 Wee Winston Wiggles Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kewanee, Illinois Posts: 9,666	I asked this same question awhile back, because Winston will only pee in the grass...I swear he'd explode before he would pee in the house...But someone suggested a dipper or ladle...just follow them around outside and catch it...don't see how this would work, but some one said it does. Lucky for me I've never had to do it. The vet should have gotten the sample... __________________ As Ever, Kathy Intruducing Bentley Winston and Spencer: RIP My Sweet Angels

07-02-2007, 08:00 PM	#15
MinMuf1 Peanut Gallery Mom Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,256	UTI Confirmed! Well folks, I got the results back today and I am happy to report that Muffin does have a UTI. I hate to sound elated but I am ever so relieved that it was nothing more serious. Funny thing though...Seems as though as soon as her skin color has started to lighten to its normal pinkish shade with the onset of her taking antibiotics. I just don't get it... It must have been her way of telling me "Hey Mom I'm not feeling well!!!"