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Is Septrin Needed? Ongoing Bladder Problems

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Claire W

Claire W

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So, both Emma and Ellen have been diagnosed with IC over the last couple of years once everything else was ruled out for the blood in their urine and occasional squeaky episodes.

Emma has more squeaky wees than Ellen. Both girls are treated with half a capsule of Cystease daily, increased to a full capsule as and when needed and Emma has a dose of metacam daily which I increase when she is having a flare. Sadly, metacam sends Ellen's blood sugars sky high due to her being diabetic so my vet is reluctant to prescribe her with pain killers whether it be metacam or anything stronger unless it is absolutely necessary.

Anyway, my vet is very good and keeps on top of things by testing their urine regularly.

Both girls have recently had their urine spun down after I became convinced that Emna had gritty urine.

Thankfully, apart from the blood which I am now used too, both girls have no crystals and / or sludge so Emma's may have been a one off.

They do however both have bacteria in their urine. I know that some bacteria can sometimes be normal but my vet has prescribed them both with septrin just in case they are coming down with a uti but I'm unsure whether I should give it to them or not? I fear them both becoming resistant to it as this really is an ongoing issue.

My vet has given me the choice whether to give it them or not but I really am unsure?

Thankfully, my vet is aware that I suffer from anxiety so she gives me choices, but I really don't know what to do.

Like I say, I could give them the two week course of septrin due to the bacteria as a precaution but then I'm worried about them becoming resistant as this is a regular thing?

Thankfully their husbour, Edward is fine but Emma and Ellen tend to pass these things on to each other. When one of them has a slight uti, so does the other...
 
I would personally give it them. I am sure that they wont come resistant to it after a two week course. When did they last have septrin?
 
Claire W said:
Thank you @sport_billy. The last time they were both on it was December.

I just worry so much that they will become resistant as they have both been taking septrin on and off for the last couple of years?
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I would highly doubt it mate to be honest x x
 
I would go with it too, I have known of pig on it for much longer than 2 weeks and as far as I am aware did not become resistant to it.
 
Thank you both. Does it matter if they have been on and off it for the last couple of years? Emma was taking septrin for 8 weeks a year ago before she was eventually diagnosed with IC? She had urine cultures done and everything but my vet never took her off the Septrin until IC was confirmed
 
No it shouldn't matter. If it continues your vet could do more cultures but it would not be possible while on the antibiotic. How about asking her to do the cultures before starting the antibiotic? The while the culture is being done you could start the Septrin and then switch if it turns out a different antibiotic is needed.
 
Bumble was on it for nearly 5 months with severe bumblefoot after a bladder operation - he continued to be on and off it over the last 18 months of his life and he never became resistant to it.
 
Claire W said:
Thank you. Ive already started the AB, urine to be tested again in two weeks so if there is still a problem after that, I could request a culture for them both then?
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Yes I think that would be OK. Would need to be out of their systems though for the culture to work. I am not good with sciency stuff though.
 
TAN said:
Bumble was on it for nearly 5 months with severe bumblefoot after a bladder operation - he continued to be on and off it over the last 18 months of his life and he never became resistant to it.
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Thank you. That's reassuring. I just don't want them to become resistant in case they are really poorly in the future and need Septrin to get better. Neither me or my vet likes using baytril unless necessary x
 
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helen105281 said:
Yes I think that would be OK. Would need to be out of their systems though for the culture to work. I am not good with sciency stuff though.
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Thank you. The Septrin usually sorts them out and if they do have uti's, it really is only mild so hopefully it won't come to that. I think my vet waited for over a week before their last cultures after having AB's but I can't remember as it was last year x
 
I empathize Claire, one of the long term foster piggies, Eleanor, was diagnosed with a uti last year and the bacteria were resistant to many antibiotics, she was treated with doxycycline. She recently had another urine culture and this time has a different bug which is resistant to baytril but sensitive to septrin. Its well worth having cultures done to firstly see if its a significant infection and not just contamination of the sample and secondly to determine the sensitivity of the bugs. I hope Ellen and Emma settle down with the septrin xx
 
pig in the city said:
I empathize Claire, one of the long term foster piggies, Eleanor, was diagnosed with a uti last year and the bacteria were resistant to many antibiotics, she was treated with doxycycline. She recently had another urine culture and this time has a different bug which is resistant to baytril but sensitive to septrin. Its well worth having cultures done to firstly see if its a significant infection and not just contamination of the sample and secondly to determine the sensitivity of the bugs. I hope Ellen and Emma settle down with the septrin xx
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Poor Eleanor :(

Thank you. They're back in two weeks time. I'm hoping the septrin will work.

I do worry about contamination of the sample in case there's not even anything wrong with them :( xx
 
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