As I sit here doing my daily research on this topic I keep coming back to a thought. If in fact Balon has ectopic ureter why does he seem to have days where he pees all over the place, and then days like today where he hasn't had one accident? Given all the variables and constants are basically the same day to day, it just doesn't make sense. If in fact he has pipes that aren't connected properly, they can't just work one day and not work the next. It just doesn't make sense. (by no means am I saying there isn't a problem, there most definitely is, I'm just not so sure this is the problem)

I am making a chart that I will keep for the next 7 days. I am going to measure water intake (should be fun since I have two dogs), amount of times he is taken out per day, and how many if any accidents he has a day. Would love to measure urine output as well but don't think that is feasible I think I will also watch the color of the urine throughout the day.

Balonsmom wrote:

As I sit here doing my daily research on this topic I keep coming back to a thought. If in fact Balon has ectopic ureter why does he seem to have days where he pees all over the place, and then days like today where he hasn't had one accident? Given all the variables and constants are basically the same day to day, it just doesn't make sense. If in fact he has pipes that aren't connected properly, they can't just work one day and not work the next. It just doesn't make sense. (by no means am I saying there isn't a problem, there most definitely is, I'm just not so sure this is the problem)

I am making a chart that I will keep for the next 7 days. I am going to measure water intake (should be fun since I have two dogs), amount of times he is taken out per day, and how many if any accidents he has a day. Would love to measure urine output as well but don't think that is feasible I think I will also watch the color of the urine throughout the day.

Your vet will greatly appreciate your thoroughness! That's a great idea!

Balonsmom wrote:

Given all the variables and constants are basically the same day to day, it just doesn't make sense. If in fact he has pipes that aren't connected properly, they can't just work one day and not work the next.

Granted, I don't think he has ectopic ureter either; however, I don't think that is necessarily true. This is just me thinking out loud here, but although ectopic ureter may not cause the inconsistency in peeing, being a puppy surely can. He can be better potty trained one day and regress the next because he's five months old.

For what it's worth, I don't feel like this issue is a black or white, one problem or the other.

I also agree that I think the copious notes will be very useful.

June, I think it's great that you are bring thorough - but up until Caot his 6 months he would still go back and forth with Potty Training - I don't know if he just decided he felt like peeing or couldn't control it - but he made mistakes quite often. Now, it's my fault if he doesn't get out. Once he hit 7 months, it was totally different. Being a puppy has a lot to do with it...a whole lot!

Agreed Megan it's why I'm not totally convinced he has ectopic ureter !

Just saw your post Tori and this is why I made my chart with so many people taking him out here by charting everything I will have a much better idea where we may be going wrong -- or if not then I will have something to show the vet which may help her as well! He is almost 6 months still a baby I know!

I called Balon's vet today to see if any preliminary reports have come back regarding his urine culture. The tech told me that they got one report confirming his sample was "plated" and a second report saying that they had isolated something in his urine that they are now growing out! The tech told me that this usually means an infection of some sort. I am cautiously optimistic that this will mean we don't have a case of EU. I should know by Wednesday.

I will say that since being on the antibiotic since Friday Balon has had only one accident, that was this am in his crate. He was in his crate from 7:40 am (when I leave for work) until 11:41 am when my son got up, it was a very small accident compared to those he was having before. My guess is he got too excited when he knew my son was up and couldn't hold it, like I said it was a small amount and when he was taken out he went more! But he has not had any accident besides that.

However it should be noted that he being taken out out every 1 to 1 1/2 hours, he doesn't always go, but the chance to go is there. I have kept my chart and it is helping everyone stick to the schedule.

I know many of you have kept us in your thoughts and I so appreciate that, I will let you know when all the results are in, until then keep your fingers crossed!

Fingers and paws crossed here. I so hope it is just an infection. At least that can be cured!

Fingers and paws crossed.

Hope you find out what is wrong with balon,wishing the best for you :-)

I know what its like when you have something wrong with your dog and you can't find out what the problem is,and i understand the frustration when your furbabie is not well or sick or injured and their is nothing you can do but wait for results from various test's,while trying to do your own research to help matters.

I went through this with my first Siberian Mishka,( rest in peace my baby), but the difference is it took 18 months and 4 different vets to find out she had Immune Mediated Polyathritis,and all it took was a member of a forum i used to read took the time to read what i was saying about symptoms and we went from there,it also took a vet to actually listen to what a forum member had found and to take that on board too...

So i am really hoping balon's problem is resolved as quick as possible and before you know it he will be peeing on the grass :-) Good luck :-)

As promised I am here to report those results we have so far. I just got back from the vet as I had to take my lab to get her nails cut (all dark nails lol). While I was there the vet came out to tell me Balon's results. Something did grow in the culture, albeit very small numbers. It was an infection that my vet said she rarely sees. Given that Balon has responded so fantastically to the antibiotic, (having only one accident in the house since last Friday) she wants to do another week round of the antibiotic to be sure it is all killed. Apparently the lab says these cells are somewhat resistant to antibiotics so we want to be sure we get it all! She is going to call the lab today to get more on this and will call me later if anything changes. She feels confident that even though the numbers grown were small, that this was probably the reason he was peeing everywhere.

My chart came in very handy, as I mentioned so many people take the dogs out around here (there are 5 of us and all are hands-on lol) it is hard to know how often he went out. So the chart makes everyone more aware how long its been! I gave the vet a copy and she was so impressed that we did that lol. Right now I take him out about every 1 1/2-2 hours and he is doing well, he doesn't always go, but the opportunity is there, he is even beginning to use the bells again to let us know WOOHOO!!!!.


It is very unlikely now that EU is the problem, it isn't something that can be fixed with an antibiotic or even by taking the dog out more, dogs with EU will constantly drip urine as there is no where for it to be held. I am not upset that my first vet mentioned it because it sent me to research it, and if that research ever helps someone else, it was very worth it!

I thank you all for your support, Balon does too! If anyone ever wants my research on EU scroll up to see the links, and I have many more. If anything regarding this changes, I will certainly let you all know.

Glad to hear that Balon is doing better Those pesky infections can be hard to find sometimes!

Thanks for the update!
I'm relieved to hear that he is on the mend!!!

Thank you for all the information you've posted on EU as well!

So very glad to hear that Balon is on the mend.

I'm glad Balon is doing better.

wahoo!! glad everything is going well with balon! I wish sometimes they could just speak to us and tell us whats wrong!!

so you can see how big he has gotten at 6 months.....

He is stunning!

Thank you in that pic he was caught chewing the broom lol

He's beautiful! I love how he's chewing the broom lol. Lycus loves to secretly chew on brooms too!

Balon looks so handsome now! Glad you finally got an answer from your vet!

Glad he is on the mend. He is very handsome.

aww thanks you guys, he is pretty awesome!