I'm glad to hear it is just a UTI! I think if she hadn't just been sooooo sick, and also on the steroid...they might not have pushed for the culture. But, given all that's gone on...they probably want to be really sure they know what bacteria is infecting the UTI so they can be sure they've chosen a antibiotic that kills it. There can be some difference in organism which drug zaps it best. They definitely won't want to miss the mark given she's just recovered and the steroids suppressing her own immune system.
I know...it get's so expensive. At some point you're like...I may need to sell my own @#$%& kidney to pay for all this!!!
If it's any consolation, it kinda sounds like you're over the worst of it, and worst expenses.
I want to emphasize, I'm not a vet and I would never want to supersede professional veterinary advice. People can get themselves in hot water going on the internet and diagnosing/ or resisting the advice of the veterinarian. On the other hand, you do have to do your "due diligence" trust your gut, and sometimes disagree with professional advice. I would say, if someone is really unsatisfied with the veterinary advice/treatment they are getting...seek another vet evaluation. And don't make a fuss about it, just locate another vet, be real cool/calm just say hey this is a big issue, scary stuff, pet sick, I would like a second objective opinion. Don't get into diss-ing the previous vet...they are a club, they won't want to get into drama or anything heated that will complicate things if they actually do not agree with the evaluation of the other vet---if it's a clinical/eval difference in opinion they are comfortable with that, they are trained to deal with that.
I've had a lot of animals/ farm animals/horses since a kid. You end up having to do quite a lot your self with farm animals/horses because of the size, circumstances...it's a lot more involved to get a vet out to your place or load them up in trailer and transport to a vet. Hence...you have to be able to do stuff yourself, and unlike small animal vets, with large animals...if your vet is too slammed out on calls, or you are several hours from a large animal vet hospital where you can haul into----the vets will give instructions over the phone and sometimes call in scripts etc. sight unseen because...you have no better options. Particularly if they know you know your experience level---it's a bit different dynamic than you have with small animal vet or clinic.. So----- this is why I appear to have a great deal of experience with veterinary "stuff". But, I must emphasize, I never over estimate my ability/knowledge...you have to be clear what you know and what you don't know...and whn to call vet do exactly what they say! Also---I've been at this for 35+ years now, time and many experiences allow you to grow that "feel" / "gut instinct" for some things. And, my mom is a MD and former USSN doctor...so since I was a baby I've been carted around in hospitals medical stuff---again I don't presume to be trained professional, but I usually have some knowledge/understanding of what the basics are and what they are talking about with labs/ body systems/ diseases.
Moral of the story---educate yourself and do your due diligence- regularly. You can't know what you don't know, but if you seek information methodically with common sense, you can build a sounder understanding that helps in these veterinary/medical crisis.
I've found the vet schools a good place to go if things have gotten serious and I'm not satisfied with how things are going with private practice vet or hospital. The vet school hospitals can be a good resource because of the amount of animals they see with all kinds of serious/weird stuff...and they have a lot of staff, equipment, resources. But, sometimes you just aren't close enough to one to make that feasible, --however, not a bad idea to find out what the nearest vet school to you is and look into how there clinic/services operate. Can be a good thing to know when pet crisis occurs.
Q
