The use of urine culture to confirm the presence of uropathogens and antimicrobial agents to eliminate them remain the cornerstones of therapy for urinary tract infections. Most urinary tract infections are simple and resolve with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. However, in some cases, a recurrent urinary tract infection reflects the presence of predisposing circumstances that must be identified and eliminated. Recurrent urinary tract infections indicate the need for further diagnostic tests. The described herein is a prime example of the frustration for both owner and veterinrian caused by a recurrent urinary tract infection in a young animal. It highlights the importance of owner history and communication with the veterinarian and the diagnostic techniques used to detect functional and structural deficits in both the upper and lower urinary tract. The case includes the indications and limitations of diagnostics for the upper urinary tract (nuclear medicine techniques for the deterimination of renal function, excretory urography, and ultrasonography) and the lower urinary tract (rigid vaginoscopy, double-contrast cystography, vaginourethrography, cystoscopy, and ultrasonography).