Have you contacted a acupuncturist. They can hit the nerves related to the bladder with their needles and help the nerve return to normal functioning.

Yes, the holistic vet that she goes to every few weeks does acupuncture and aquapuncture (hitting all the nerves in that area and more areas). Sawyer has been getting acupuncture and chiropractic for about 3 months. So I guess it's not helping, which upsets me so much. That is why I am seeking another alternative.

Thanks for your response.

Well, it seems that my research on catheterization shows that it is better to do on males than females...so I guess that's not an option.

Now I'm wondering if the constant UTI's are causing my dog pain. I woke up this morning to her licking incessantly, and saw puss leaking out of her vaginal opening. She seems very happy and doesn't seem like she's in pain, but I've had many UTI's in the past and they were ALL painful. I can't imagine that she doesn't feel uncomfortable.

Thanks.

Catheterizing is possible, but not likely to be of much help in this situation. We usually do it for short term relief of obstruction, or to monitor urine outflow with acute kidney failure, or some other short-term reason. And then we always worry about her developing a UTI because of the catheter.

So while it would help her empty her bladder, it may promote UTIs.

Sorry Sawyer isn't doing well. I hope the vets have some answers for you.

Thanks Meghane. I was hoping you'd chime in.

I completely understand what you are saying. You have been so helpful with Sawyer, I can't thank you enough.

I guess I will have to hope for the best. I have the holistic vet appt on Saturday, and an appt with her regular vet on the following Saturday. Hopefully they will come up with something.

Thanks again for your help.
Take care.

I don't feel so helpful :(

I can't remember, but I may have told you about a dog that I saw at school that had a pretty radical surgery for bladder cancer. The surgeon removed her entire bladder and rerouted her ureters to one side of her abdomen. The dog basically peed from a hole in the side of her belly. The owner kept her in a modified doggy diaper. Because the dog never stored her urine in a bladder, and there was always a little urine outflow which prevents infection, she has been infection-free. When I saw her, it was 2 years after surgery, and no problems. It is definitely a procedure that only a very dedicated owner could handle, but if that is an option for Sawyer, you are definitely a very dedicated owner.

I don't know if there is anything similar available for Sawyer. I hope *something* can be done for her.

Yes Meghane, I do remember that case you told me about. I will absolutely ask both vets about it.

I only worry that I work full-time, and I wouldn't want her sitting in urine all that time. But if that type of procedure is less of a health risk than the constant infections, then it would make sense. I can also try and hire someone to come (sort of like a dog walker) and change her and whatnot.

Thanks for reminding me about that dog...once again, very helpful info. And even thought you don't feel that helpful, it's only because Sawyer's case is so unique and difficult! Nobody can figure out a way out...even the vets seems to be giving up on finding a solution.

Well, I will definitely update you when I get some answers from both vets.

Thanks again.

I'm following this thread with interest and wonder if laproscopic surgery can't be done to remove/relieve some of the scar tissue. I'm guessing since she's not in pain and is functioning well, the vets believe the risks outweigh the benefits?

You've probably already asked the question but I'm just curious as to how extensive the scar tissue is.

Annz,

That's interesting that you brought that up. Removing her scar tissue is the one thing I've been wanting to have done, because that would address the main issue that is causing all her problems.

When she had the MRI done in November 2007 showing the scar tissue (i think it's intervertebral), the neurologist told me that doing surgery to remove it is a roll of the dice....and would be very difficult and dangerous (because of where the scar tissue is and how solid it is).

However, I keep wondering if there is something that can be done to loosen up the scar tissue. I've tried acupuncture and chiropractic because I was under the impression that surgery wouldn't be an option, but now I'm revisiting this possibility.

Thank you for that suggestion. I will bring that up tomorrow. Even though she is not in pain, she is deteriorating in certain areas and I worry about that every second of every day. God forbid she gets kidney failure and/or becomes paralyzed in her hind legs...that scares me so much, yet I know the likelihood is high. Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but I am determined to find something that will help her live out the rest of her years happily.

Thank you for your suggestion and for your interest in this thread.

One other thought.........I realize you're using an acupuncturist and chiropractor, but are there any (animal) massage therapists in your area?

I realize the location of the scar tissue limits what can be done but I've seen great results from the therapist that works on horses where my DS boards. His horse has also benefited after she worked on his back and also a hip injury that had scar tissue.

Another example is my DH recently had knee replacement surgery (both at the same time) and he had to have intensive PT to break down the scar tissue that developed. It took a few months but he finally got control of it.

Your chiropractor may already be doing this.....some do.........but I thought I'd throw the idea out there.

Thanks for adding that Annz. My friend also had a shoulder injury which needed surgery, and she then had to have the scar tissue broken down just like your husband. She had mentioned that when we were discussing the situation a while back, but said it was extremely painful.

The holistic vet I take her to is the one that does acupuncture and chiropractic, and he works around the area where the scar tissue is when he does chiro. Not for too long though. I did ask him a few months ago if I should get a massage therapist for her, and he didn't think it was necessary (neither did the original chiropractor I was taking her to - a human chiropractor that worked with her for several months once a week).

I'll ask him about it again tomorrow, and if he doesn't think it would cause any harm, then it's definitely worth a try. I'm sure there are people in my area....I'll just have to find someone to come to my house since Sawyer now gets anxiety when in the car (which never happened prior to this issue - it seems as if she fears falling off the seat due to her weakness).

Thanks again.

Most of the therapists I've seen do house calls......kinda have to when you're dealing with horses! :)

Keep in mind that it would be highly unlikely for a chiropractor to recommend a patient see a PT or massage therapist, just as it would be for the reverse. Besides the different approach in the 3 therapy's, most are threatened by the possible loss of a client. IMO, if a treatment isn't bringing the desired results, a therapist should be willing to tell you of other alternatives. Unfortunately, that rarely happens.

Good luck and keep us posted. Sawyer's a very lucky dog to have you!

Ha...yeah I guess a horse can't just jump into a car, huh?!

I actaully got the feeling from that chiropractor she was seeing that he didn't want her to go elsewhere. So that definitely could've been the reason.

My friend is at my apartment now, and he is a licensed massage therapist. I have been discussing the possibility of massage with him, and he told me that it wouldn't work at this point because she's had the scar tissue for several years (it was only found via MRI one year ago, but it's probably been there for years, since the surgery and radiation therapy was 4 years ago). If it had just developed, that would be a different story.

Gosh, these decisions are so difficult to make...I'll always wonder if I chose the right treatment for her.

Either way, I will ask my holistic vet tomorrow and see what he thinks about all the above recommendations. I can't thank you and Meghane enough. I will keep you posted about tomorrow's visit.

Ok, here's an update on today's visit with the holistic vet....

I brought up all the above options. He agreed that catheterization is really a short term thing, so that's out. When I mentioned that radical surgery, he said it would be way too difficult to deal with and very difficult to perform since the ureters are so tiny, and finding a vet to do it would be pretty hard. He was also not so keen on the laperoscopy - because of the area, it's just too dangerous. Then I asked about massage and he seemed open to it but he first wanted to see the MRI images to see scar tissue...so I'll have to get those. Another issue is that he is not so sure that the tumor hasn't grown back.

He wants to see her next weekend to test her urine again and see what antibiotic may work better (he couldn't do it today because he needs to wait a week after the antibiotics are done). So I will have to postpone her visit to her regular vet (I also want to stick with this vet's plan for now). He also gave her homeopathic meds (tincture) for the spinal cord, called "Hypericum 50 M".

That's about it. He is not giving up, which I love. He said the key is finding out how we can get her bladder to fully empty, and he is constantly testing her blood to check her kidney function.

Thanks for listening.