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My aunt has a 7 year old cairn terrier that has had to be medicated three times in the last month and a half for a reoccuring bladder infection. The vet says it is probably getting it from a cat or dog that is using their yard to releive itself. The vet has never asked to see the dog itself, just urine samples.

Should she get a second opinion if it comes back a fourth time, or is it possible to keep getting it that often from a stray?

>>My aunt has a 7 year old cairn terrier that has had to be medicated three times in the last month and a half for a reoccuring bladder infection. The vet says it is probably getting it from a cat or dog that is using their yard to releive itself. The vet has never asked to see the dog itself, just urine samples.
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>> Should she get a second opinion if it comes back a fourth time, or is it possible to keep getting it that often from a stray?

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She should get a second opinion now. This explanation for a urinary tract infection doesn't even make sense. The dog needs blood work to check kidney function, probably needs a urine culture done rather than just looking at it for bacteria, and either a different antibiotic, stay on the antibiotic longer, or both.

I had a dog get urinary tract infection once, and the vet did urinalysis something like 6 times, keeping her on antibiotics continually and changing to a different one whenever the urinalysis indicated the antibiotic wasn't getting it. I think she was on antibiotics for six weeks in all.

Having a dog go on antibiotics 3 times in a month and a half would indicate they aren't clearing it up in the first place. This is going to make the infection resistant to antibiotics and require stronger and stronger ones--with potentially worse side effects.

Yes, get a new vet.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47