CANINE MEDICINE
tone allows bacteria to more easily ascend to the
bladder. Abnormal vulvar anatomy and USMI resulted in a moist perivulvar dermatitis and increased the
number of pathogenic bacteria at the vulvar opening.
Excessive perivulvar skinfolds likely occurred secondary to weight gain.
Treatment
Georgia was treated with amoxicillin–clavulanic acid
at 13.75 mg/kg PO q12h for 4 weeks, indefinite administration of phenylpropanolamine at 1.5 mg/kg
PO q12h for sphincter incompetence, local treatment
(astringents, hot-packing, topical antibiotics), and an
Elizabethan collar to prevent licking of the perivulvar
dermatitis.
Follow-up
The owner reported that the vulva appeared improved
and the patient rarely leaked urine and showed none
of the previous signs of lower urinary tract inflammation. Urine sediment was inactive. Urine culture 10
days after antibiotic withdrawal showed no growth.
Approximately two months after antibiotic treatment
was discontinued, Georgia again showed signs of
lower urinary tract inflammation (ie, pollakiuria, breaking house training). Urine culture obtained by cystocentesis again yielded E coli but with a markedly different sensitivity profile (sensitive to fluoroquinolones)
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ASK YOURSELF?
Is this recurrent urinary tract infection a
relapse or re-infection?
CORRECT ANSWER Re-infection
Recurrent UTIs
Relapses are infections caused by the same species
of bacteria, usually within several days of treatment
cessation. With a relapsed UTI, previous antibacterial
treatment failed to eliminate infection. Relapses may
be caused by improper antibio ѥ