[Gpdd] HEALTH: Urinary Tract Infection

[Candy G.]

I would like to add a note to my post of yesterday about the UTI's and 
medications.  This is especially for Lauren and Perry and Debra and Calico.

I mentioned that Mollie had been on Baytril (oral and injections) for her 
first UTI and that it had finally knocked the infection out.  Here is a word 
of cation for you so that you don't make the same mistake that I did.

When the vet (the first one that is not an exotics vet) told me that she had 
an infection, he said that three different bacteria had cultured out in her 
urine.  I did NOT ask him what those bacteria were even though I wanted to 
because I was embarrassed to ask.  I am a retired nurse and I felt that he 
(the vet) already thought I was being overly "involved" with Mollie's 
situation and maybe trying to "tell him his job" (which I wasn't, but I'm 
really sensitive to that).  So, much to my regret and aggravation with 
myself, I just said okay and we did the Baytril and that was that, and I was 
so happy that Mollie was finally "over" the infection.

Now, I have (just yesterday) found out that Mollie once again has a UTI and 
the bacteria that cultured out was Psuedomonas.  I am horrified for her - 
this is a VERY tough bacteria to get rid of and Baytril is a drug that it is 
very resistent to.  In speaking with my exotics vet yesterday, she asked 
what the original infection had been and I had to tell her that I didn't 
know.  I called and it turns out that one of the original bacteria was 
Pseudomonas.  Had I known that up front, my exotics vet could have treated 
Mollie for it before her bladder stone surgery.  Now it is back and poor 
Mollie is having to go through all of this AGAIN.

Please, please - do NOT be afraid, ashamed, or embarrassed to ask DETAILED 
questions about your piggies' care.  Lauren and Debra - find out exactly 
what the infection is and make sure that the antibiotic that you are giving 
COVERS that specific organism.

Love and good wishes to all of the sick piggies.

Susi, I was so sorry to hear about your dear Hotshot.  Your post was so 
loving and it brought tears to my eyes.  Please know that you and all of you 
who have lost piggies are constantly in my heart and thoughts.

Candy; poor little Mollie and her beloved Topper