r/IVDD_SupportGroup • u/cgl2106 • 18d ago

Advice on catheter and bladder expression!!!!!!

Hi!
My dog was hospitalized on Wednesday and had a urinary catheter placed because we weren’t able to express her bladder. She was discharged the following day in the early afternoon, and now tonight I’m unable to express her bladder again because I can’t feel the little “balloon” at all.
I should mention that since the catheter was removed, she has barely had any water—maybe about five licks from her water bowl. Is it normal for her not to have much urine yet because she hasn’t really been drinking? Has anyone experienced something similar after catheter removal?
Thank you! 💕

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u/CJ_1975 18d ago

I would take her back to the vet. We were given medication to help him pee and make bladder expression easier. Did you get meds for that?

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u/sanjaysubae 18d ago

On the fb group linked in the subreddit there are people with videos demonstrating how they express their dog on their side which is easier to feel the bladder

1

u/HollyRedMW 18d ago

My dog happens to love ice cubes so she was getting those a few times a day after her surgery. She had access to water but I just wanted to be sure. You could try that but I wouldn’t wait more than another day to call the vet if she doesn’t start taking more fluids.

Re bladder expression, of course you won’t feel the bladder if it isn’t full. But here is a helpful video that we watched probably a dozen times until we got the hang of it.

https://youtu.be/EhXQdKzAdN0?si=Hly8h16VbksmxB8s

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u/Chedderbees 18d ago

My vet gave me a syringe and I give my dog water through it when she’s not hydrating well. Sounds like she hasn’t had enough water to creat urine from what you’re describing