Why does my dog have urine sludge and chronic foot and skin problems?

Question

My dog has sludge in her urine-psuedonomis on her feet and legs- papillomas in her mouth- her liver enzymes were in the 700's now down in the 100's her bile acids test are normal, neg for lupus, her feet are awful. Her urine is dark - subq fluids seem to help get her urine lighter yellow but it still has sludge in it. Thyroid on low side of norm She's on Cipro 375mgday soloxine .5mg daily- med shampoo every other day for her feet and legs - I've done a/c vinegar soaks to debride feet & clorhexad. Pet's info: Dog | Whippet | Female | spayed | 8 years and 5 months old | 34 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

I'm sorry to hear that Lucy is having so many problems. It appears that you ran out of space for your question - it is limited to 500 characters - so I will attempt to give a few thoughts based on the info you provided. Urine sludge: this is not exactly a medical diagnosis. The concentration of urine varies with hydration levels and kidney function. If your vet is concerned about crystals which could form into stones, then increasing water intake to flush the bladder out would be helpful, along with a prescription vet diet. Pseudomonas can be a very difficult to treat as it is often resistant to common antibiotics. I have had the most success with topical treatment instead of oral antibiotics for this particular bacteria. Sometimes a medicated shampoo like Dechra MalAcetic Ultra Shampoo or topical ointments (many that are made for ear treatment can be used on the skin) that can be prescribed by your vet. Has your vet considered a previous infection with Canine Distemper Virus to be the cause for the thickening of the pads? This could also be a response to the papilloma virus. Papilloma virus will often resolve in several months as the immune system fights it off. Your vet may want to look into reasons that the immune system is suppressed. Also, long-term use of steroids can cause decrease in healing and immune function. Supplements like antioxidants (I like Cell Advance 880) and pet probiotics can support the immune system. You may also look into veterinary acupuncture as another immunsosupportive method. As for the skin, I would recommend bacterial and fungal cultures, and they may need to be done on a deep biopsy rather than a topical sample. It can be hard to help you just through a simple question. If you would like to discuss Lucy's case further, choose a Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach Consultation where we can chat back and forth about other options to discuss with your vet. Don't forget that referral to a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist is always an option.

Why does my dog have urine sludge and chronic foot and skin problems?

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