Posted By: SarahW
Recurring UTIs - 01/22/08 05:20 PM
I'm at my wit's end trying to figure out what to do about my two girls. They're generally pretty healthy, but for the past 18 months (really, since we've moved to the new place), they've gotten a UTI every 3 to 5 months. I think it's been 4 times we've treated them for a UTI in the last 18 months, and we're about to start another round of meds today.
I can't figure out what's going on---we care for them in the same way as before. Cage is cleaned regularly and rigorously, water changed regularly, food washed well before serving. Their vitamins and calcium levels are monitored and well within limits. They did have two stresses in the last 18 months: moving, and then a year ago their two male cagemates died of respiratory infections (they never showed signs of it, and though a vet check showed them to be ok, they were treated with meds at the time just in case).
We do know it's a UTI and not urine crystals. I don't remember the name of the bacteria but the vet said it was a common enteric (gastrointestinal) bacteria. He thinks the gliders are transferring the bacteria to their urinary tract from their digestive tract when they groom their cloaca. We've always had success treating with two weeks of meds, except one time when we started with a softer med and moved to a stronger one. I always catch it early on (they hiss when urinating), but it seems to come on faster each time and I'm worried their next one will hit when I have to be out of town.
My questions are: what do you think could cause recurring UTIs? Are gliders more susceptible to UTIs once they've had one? Have any of you dealt with this issue before?
I can't figure out what's going on---we care for them in the same way as before. Cage is cleaned regularly and rigorously, water changed regularly, food washed well before serving. Their vitamins and calcium levels are monitored and well within limits. They did have two stresses in the last 18 months: moving, and then a year ago their two male cagemates died of respiratory infections (they never showed signs of it, and though a vet check showed them to be ok, they were treated with meds at the time just in case).
We do know it's a UTI and not urine crystals. I don't remember the name of the bacteria but the vet said it was a common enteric (gastrointestinal) bacteria. He thinks the gliders are transferring the bacteria to their urinary tract from their digestive tract when they groom their cloaca. We've always had success treating with two weeks of meds, except one time when we started with a softer med and moved to a stronger one. I always catch it early on (they hiss when urinating), but it seems to come on faster each time and I'm worried their next one will hit when I have to be out of town.
My questions are: what do you think could cause recurring UTIs? Are gliders more susceptible to UTIs once they've had one? Have any of you dealt with this issue before?