Hot off the press… the newest edition of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats has been published in The Veterinary Journal. These are updated and expanded clinical guidelines that have been in the works for the
urinary tract infections
Not all bugs must die…subclinical bacteriuria in cats
Since we developed the first version of the ISCAID guidelines for diagnosis and management of urinary tract infections in dogs and cats in 2011 (revision currently underway), most discussion about them has probably revolved around our recommendations for animals with subclinical bacteriuria. In this condition, an animal has bacteria in the urine, but no signs…
“Show Me the Evidence”….Maybe
When we’re faced with making decisions about treatments, “show me the evidence” is a common refrain. There are a lot of products being sold as “cures” but with little or no evidence to back up their claims. So, looking for any scientific backing is important. One of the highest levels of evidence would be a…
New UTI test for dogs and cats…(and a great real estate deal)
Cranimals Organic Pet Supplements has launched an at-home urinary test kit for dogs and cats that lets you "Monitor and track your pets health in an accurate and economical way, avoiding costly, unnecessary trips to the vet" (while not avoiding costly, unnecessary supplements, I assume).
The test claims to diagnose urinary tract infections (UTIs)…
Urinary tract infection treatments guidelines: Dogs and cats
Urinary tract disease is a common reason for use (and misuse) of antibiotics. In veterinary medicine, one thing that we lack is clear clinical guidelines (particularly regarding antimicrobial use) to help manage specific types of diseases. In human medicine, there are some excellent guidelines of this kind (e.g. the Infectious Disease Society of America guidelines…
Internet advice: The good, the bad and the ugly
The internet can be a strange place at times. You can find great, reputable and unbiased information right next to complete garbage. Often, the garbage is pretty apparent, but sometimes it’s dressed up well or mixed in with some good information. That’s a problem with veterinary advice and information sites.
Among the creative myths identified…
Urine collection: Why “pee into the cup” doesn’t work for dogs and cats
Urinary tract infections are quite common in dogs. (They’re uncommon in cats, but a lot of cats get treated with antibiotics for non-infectious urinary tract disease.) An important aspect of managing urinary tract infections (UTIs) is getting a proper diagnosis. Diagnosing a UTI involves a few different things:
- Clinical signs: Does the animal have
…
How not to use antibiotics
A reader’s question to InsideToronto.com highlights numerous issues with antibiotic misuse is pets (and people). Here’s the situation, with my comments.
The reader has a cocker spaniel that’s had a urinary tract infection for a year. She took it to her vet and a urine culture was recommended but she declined it. Antibiotics were prescribed…
Urinary tract infections, Part II: Cats
In contrast to dogs, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are uncommon in cats, although urinary tract disease is very common. The vast, vast majority of cats with signs of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) (e.g. straining to urinate, frequent urination, bloody urine) do not have an infection. However, many cats with urinary tract disease are…
Urinary tract infections, Part I: Dogs
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common problem in dogs, especially female dogs. UTIs are also a common reason for antibiotic use in dogs. Unfortunately the use of antibiotics for canine UTIs is commonly inappropriate, in one way or another – in some cases the drug selected is inappropriate, while in others the length of…