Urinating problem in young filly

Question
This filly came in off the ranch for the first time as a 3.5 month old, so don't know how she was from birth.  She is now 6 months old and this hasn't changed.  Although she is now for the last month starting to stretch out and fully urinate like a mare, she has always squirted repeatedly.  Squirt, squirt, squirt.  Her white tail is rust colored, skin peels from her legs.  This is my first filly from birth so don't know if this is something they grow out of.  Boyfriend is convinced vets know less than him about horses, our local vet is a cattle vet, and he won't haul me to another town to have any tests done on her, as she is a "junk" horse.  Now I notice that her - I call them third eyelids - are sticking up a bit, which in dogs would tell me they don't feel good.  I've seen animals with crystals or bladder problems and I really don't see anything that makes me think she is physically uncomfortable, like over her kidneys, or that she is straining to urinate.  I have searched the Internet for info or similar case studies, to no avail.  If there was something I could give to my BF to convince him there is something that can be done for her, I think I could get a ride to the vet.  If it's just the way she is built or she needs surgery, he will put her down.  If this is something common that fillies grow out of, that would be a miracle to learn.  If there is medicine or a test that could be done to help her, I would love to find out.  She has been on one round of penicillin and a couple of weeks later 7 days of -- dang, slips my mind, I think it's a sulfa drug, powder on her food, maybe starts with a T, that I was religious with in giving her.  So she has been treated for suspected infection with no change.

Can't think of anything else.
Thank you so much for any advice.  I really love this filly.  She is a Shire x QH cross.

Answer
Hi Kim,
I have to be honest, I have not seen this problem in fillies...so I cannot tell you this is something she is going to grow out of unfortunately, only because I have never experienced a filly doing this.
Normally, I would say that this is behavior that mares exhibit while they are in heat, but your filly is just not old enough for that.

It sounds as though you put her on a good regimen of antibiotics with the penicillin and I believe the powder you're referring to is probably Tucoprim.  Did you notice her starting to urinate normally during the antibiotic treatment or some time shortly after?  You stated that over the last month she has started to stretch out normally to urinate, but didn't state when you stopped the antibiotic treatment.

There is a test that can be done to see if she does indeed have some kind of an infection.  That could be easily done with a blood test to see if there is an elevation of white blood cells.  It's going to tell you there is an infection, just not where it is.

Considering you say that you are also seeing a change in her eyes, I personally would at least have a blood test done on this filly if she were mine.  Your cattle vet could perform that test to see if there is an infection present.  I really think that would be the first place to start.

I really wish I could be of more help, but this is something that you seriously need to consult with a vet about.

And tell your boyfriend that when you truly love a horse, that horse is not "junk!"

Best of luck,
Sandy