Recurring UTI in elderly dog

Hi vets. Please could you give me your opinions. My dog (west highland terrier) is 16. He’s a happy boy but his health has started to deteriorate in the last couple of years. He has a heart murmur (medicated), is about 1kg underweight (not actively losing weight anymore, we’ve managed to get 1kg back on him). A couple of years ago he had something similar to a stroke (vet called it something else) where he had lost his balance and was walking in circles. He was treated and recovered but now has a head tilt, it doesn’t bother him. In the last month he’s had two really nasty UTIs where he’s been really poorly and has been hospitalised so he could be on fluids, as well as having strong antibiotics etc. an X-ray has confirmed no bladder stones and bloods have came back normal for his age. Right now he’s back to his usual self but I’m concerned he’s going to get another UTI again quickly. My vet thinks to take one day at a time with him and see what happens. He’s said we need to consider if it’s fair on him to keep treating him if he repeatedly gets poorly and it might be kinder to put him to sleep. I understand what he means. He’s spent 2 days at the vets this week and the same 2 weeks prior to that but after a few hours on fluids he was much more perky and after the second day he was back to normal. I don’t know what to think. He’s my best mate. I know I’ll be lost without him but I would never let him suffer. Is there anything I can do to try and prevent him from getting another UTI?

Hello - And I'm sorry to read about all that is going on for your westie.  There are two things that I wonder from your description.  The first is how many tests have been done; whether this UTI has been diagnosed, bacteria found, identified under a microscope. This ensures that the appropriate drugs for the occasion are being given and is generally reccommended.  The second question is what caused it - healthy dogs rarely get bacteria wandering up their urethra (its a long, thin, well protected tube from penis to bladder in the male).  Thus bacteria surviving in the bladder; tend to be secondary to some other disease process - I have less information on this score than your own vet. It may be possible to seek a second opinion if you need one; your vet could chat to someone who could add to their knowledge, such as a lab microbiologist or a suitably specialised vet.  However they may be satisfied with the information they have.    Diagnosing and understanding the disease process exactly is likely to help to extend his quality lifespan for as long as possible and I can see that you have travelled sone way along that road and hear that time may be running out.  The Ralph Site is a charity that was set up to help families facing the big 'euthanasia' decision;  Ralph was a cat but they cater for dog owners too.  In my experience, every case is different.   It is not okay for animals to suffer; your vet should make carefully considered reccommendatons around that.  Within that boundary, every owner or vet has a slightly different view as to what is 'right' - and all of them are valid.