Expert: Delores Beck - 7/18/2008

Question
I was given a homeless cocker from my sister back in Jan. - When we got her I took her to the vet to see how old she was and just get her seen by a vet for shots and any health issues. They did blood work on her because she was constantly drinking water and then peeing everywhere - LOTS of Pee - and also because she just didn't seem like she felt well - anyways they didnt really seem to think anything was wrong with her blood just a small percentage of being a little low but did prescribe her medication for a bladder infection. It worked and she has been great until a few days ago, I noticed she went into heat about 2 weeks ago. I have never owned a dog that wasn't fixed (she is going to get spayed but we didnt know that she wasnt fixed yet) so not sure exactly when to know when she is out of heat but I have not noticed any blood for the last 4 days, anyways now all of a sudden she is doing the water thing and having accidents like before - can going into heat cause the uti or maybe her food or something? The vet told me to switch her to a low fat food - which I did and like I said she was fine until she went into heat - is this a common thing?

Answer
I have no idea why your vet would suggest a low fat food for a bladder infection.  One thing has nothing to do with the other.

Perhaps the bladder/urinary tract infection wasn't treated long enough - they can be tough to cure.  I'd take a first morning urine sample in to the vet and check that out.

As to her being in heat - you'll have to wait that out before spaying her but being in heat doesn't cause a UTI.

Did your vet estimate her age?

I'm not an expert on dog reproduction but the other expert on this board (Kathy) is and may be able to shed some light on this for you.

But definitely catch a urine sample and get it in to the vet.
Delores