My 7 year old female cat has been exhibiting strange urine behaviors. About 6 months ago, we noticed that she was having trouble urinating, and in her spotted, frequent production would be blood. We took her to our vet who ran tests checking for crystals in both her urine and feces while putting her on an antibiotic. The tests came back negative and after just two days on the medication she returned to normal.
Then, only about a week after completing the 2-week antibiotics treatment, the same problem returned. Assuming that the antibiotics may have just missed killing all the bacteria we went another round, this time on a 3-week long stint of a liquid antibiotic. Her symptoms again disappeared and returned a few weeks after ending the treatment.
We took her back to the vet for full-scale bloodwork and an anti-inflammatory shot, which again appeared to return her to normal. The blood tests all came back negative and we decided to wait on the next step to see if the symptoms would again return.
It has been more than 2-months since our cat had the shot, and it seems that the urine problem is again beginning to afflict her.
What is the next step? It seems as if even our vet has no answers for us. She recommended an X-Ray, but is that really going to show us anything? What could the vet be looking for?
beyond urinary tract/bladder infection--but WHAT?
Re: beyond urinary tract/bladder infection--but WHAT?
I am sorry for all you are going through with your cat.
Did the vet test for any kind of stones or blockages? These can case reoccuring infections.
Traci should post and give you more advice soon.
Good luck and please update us.
Mona, Honeybun and Little Chloe Jean
Did the vet test for any kind of stones or blockages? These can case reoccuring infections.
Traci should post and give you more advice soon.
Good luck and please update us.
Mona, Honeybun and Little Chloe Jean
Re: beyond urinary tract/bladder infection--but WHAT?
i had cats like this and kept them on amoxi. low dose for moths at a time...when we stopped it all started again,,,we would try three months for effect and thenstart over...i know that is poor medicine but it worked, kept this up for a few years..if the cat ever came up with a different infection i would have to use another antibiotic...why or how this worked i did not know but it worked....
The next step is culturing the urine, to at least determine if there is a bacterial that the present antibiotics are obviously not targeting (i.e., staph infection).
If a negative culture results, personally, I would opt for an x-ray or a contrast cystography to rule out other causes of the hematuria. While your vet may feel no crystal formation is the cause, that doesn't mean they won't yet occur, or that some other problem isn't developing. With a contrast study, he may also be able to rule out inflammatory process, a thickened bladder wall, a kidney stone, other types of uroliths that may not have been detected on a urinalysis or sediment on slide, or urethral problems, etc.
I'm not in favor of continuing an antibiotic approach on a sporadic/long term basis unless all diagnostics have proved futile, and unless the only thing your vet can conclude is idiopathic hematuria associated with FLUTD, but even so, there is usually always an underlying cause to it.
Do you know anything else about the urinalysis results, as in...any increased protein, what was the pH level and/or specific gravity, have they fluctuated since the very first urinalysis? What is the color/concentration of her urine? Any one of these, if fluctuating or abnormal, can still help your vet in the diagnostic stage.
Also, was blood chemical analysis done to rule out associated disease conditions or conditions unrelated to urinary tract? If so, was anything in abnormal range?
Lastly, was diet and stress factors discussed when your vet was taking an account of her health history?
If a negative culture results, personally, I would opt for an x-ray or a contrast cystography to rule out other causes of the hematuria. While your vet may feel no crystal formation is the cause, that doesn't mean they won't yet occur, or that some other problem isn't developing. With a contrast study, he may also be able to rule out inflammatory process, a thickened bladder wall, a kidney stone, other types of uroliths that may not have been detected on a urinalysis or sediment on slide, or urethral problems, etc.
I'm not in favor of continuing an antibiotic approach on a sporadic/long term basis unless all diagnostics have proved futile, and unless the only thing your vet can conclude is idiopathic hematuria associated with FLUTD, but even so, there is usually always an underlying cause to it.
Do you know anything else about the urinalysis results, as in...any increased protein, what was the pH level and/or specific gravity, have they fluctuated since the very first urinalysis? What is the color/concentration of her urine? Any one of these, if fluctuating or abnormal, can still help your vet in the diagnostic stage.
Also, was blood chemical analysis done to rule out associated disease conditions or conditions unrelated to urinary tract? If so, was anything in abnormal range?
Lastly, was diet and stress factors discussed when your vet was taking an account of her health history?
..........Traci
-
Swub
Re: beyond urinary tract/bladder infection--but WHAT?
We had this exact same scenario with our cat, Charlie. One night she was really bad with it. It wasn't an emergency but having had cystitis myself I knew how horrible it was for her and had to do something. When I had it myself I took bicarbonate of soda in water so I tried this on Charle. Within 30 minutes it had cleared up!
Now I keep bicarb in the house at all times and if she looks like she's starting with it we give her some bicarb mixed with water and she's fine. She hasn't needed to go back to the vets since, which is good as they couldn't find anything wrong with her and just kept giving her more antibiotics every other week.
If you think it's worth a try, get a big syring from the vet (needle removed!). I mix about 1 tbs of bicarb with 20ml of water and just get as much into her mouth as we can! She doesn't like it as it tastes of salt water but it's much better than cystitis and vet trip.
Now I keep bicarb in the house at all times and if she looks like she's starting with it we give her some bicarb mixed with water and she's fine. She hasn't needed to go back to the vets since, which is good as they couldn't find anything wrong with her and just kept giving her more antibiotics every other week.
If you think it's worth a try, get a big syring from the vet (needle removed!). I mix about 1 tbs of bicarb with 20ml of water and just get as much into her mouth as we can! She doesn't like it as it tastes of salt water but it's much better than cystitis and vet trip.
Re: beyond urinary tract/bladder infection--but WHAT?
I don't advise this, Swub, and you need to inform your vet you are using this for your cat.
High dose or excessive use of sodium bicarbonate can introduce excess sodium, (hypernatremia), not something one needs to deal with (especially in conditions of heart, kidney disease, even urinary obstruction, etc), and can cause metabolic alkalosis. Sodium bicarbonate can also interfere and contraindicate with other medications.
Please use caution when advising other cat owners of home-remedies. Triska's kitty has yet to get a definitive diagnosis and only her vet can properly direct her with appropriate treatment.
High dose or excessive use of sodium bicarbonate can introduce excess sodium, (hypernatremia), not something one needs to deal with (especially in conditions of heart, kidney disease, even urinary obstruction, etc), and can cause metabolic alkalosis. Sodium bicarbonate can also interfere and contraindicate with other medications.
Please use caution when advising other cat owners of home-remedies. Triska's kitty has yet to get a definitive diagnosis and only her vet can properly direct her with appropriate treatment.
..........Traci
-
Swub
Re: beyond urinary tract/bladder infection--but WHAT?
Obviously I would recommend that anybody seeks proffesional advice first and foremost however Triska has asked what the rest of us think and I have simply told her of my experience with a similar situation. It's up to her how she uses the information I have given her.
My cat has had all of the tests done and nothing has been found. The only thing my vet could suggest was doing them all again. Charlie is simply prone to cystitis, just as some people are. The only thing that can be done is to keep giving her antibiotics to which she will eventually become immune and when she really does need them they may prove ineffective, or to treat the symptoms. Since she only ever requires a dose every couple of weeks I don't think excess sodium is likely to be a problem. My vet knows she has it and hasn't said it's a problem.
My cat has had all of the tests done and nothing has been found. The only thing my vet could suggest was doing them all again. Charlie is simply prone to cystitis, just as some people are. The only thing that can be done is to keep giving her antibiotics to which she will eventually become immune and when she really does need them they may prove ineffective, or to treat the symptoms. Since she only ever requires a dose every couple of weeks I don't think excess sodium is likely to be a problem. My vet knows she has it and hasn't said it's a problem.
-
Swub
Re: beyond urinary tract/bladder infection--but WHAT?
Sorry, meant to say Charlie has bi-carb every couple of months, not weeks. In fact it's probably even less frequently than that actually . How do you edit these posts?
Re: beyond urinary tract/bladder infection--but WHAT?
No, it's up to Triska's vet to determine the treatment approach. I gave you information that contraindicates the use of sodium bicarbonate. What your vet chooses to agree to in your cat's condition is probably not what Triska's vet plans to do. There is literature available for your vet to study the effects of sodium bicarbonate, I'm surprised he has not told you as much.
As Davet mentions above, there are some cases that need long term antibiotic approach, based on individual cases and based on clinical findings (or lack therof). There are also various other medications that can be utilized that are tailored to the patient's individual needs as they apply. Antibiotics used for long term has helped many cats, although getting to the root of the cause should be first and foremost in the diagnostic stage.
You can only edit posts if you're a registered user.
As Davet mentions above, there are some cases that need long term antibiotic approach, based on individual cases and based on clinical findings (or lack therof). There are also various other medications that can be utilized that are tailored to the patient's individual needs as they apply. Antibiotics used for long term has helped many cats, although getting to the root of the cause should be first and foremost in the diagnostic stage.
You can only edit posts if you're a registered user.
..........Traci
-
Swub
Re: beyond urinary tract/bladder infection--but WHAT?
Excuse me Traci, but having only been on this board for about 3 days you have already given me the impression that all opinions should be run via yourself first. I do not intend to enter into protracted and pointless posts about who's right an who's wrong.
I have not told Triska to do anything. It's her cat, not the vets, and it is up to her to decide on what course of treatment to persue. I'm not suggesting that she disregards her vets opinion. Obviously she needs to speak to him about her options. I was simply advising her on my own situation. If she's interested she can speak to her vet. If she isn't she can disregard it, however as a one off emergency measure it may save her cat a lot of pain and discomfort if she is unable to get to the vets.
As far as your reference to contraindictions, I think you'll find that most prescribed medications also have potential side effects, but they are still considered for use.
Not everybody on this board is going to have the same thoughts on everything, surely that's one reason forums exist. As I said previously, it's up to the reader to use the information in their cats best interests, with the help of a professional where necessary.
I have not told Triska to do anything. It's her cat, not the vets, and it is up to her to decide on what course of treatment to persue. I'm not suggesting that she disregards her vets opinion. Obviously she needs to speak to him about her options. I was simply advising her on my own situation. If she's interested she can speak to her vet. If she isn't she can disregard it, however as a one off emergency measure it may save her cat a lot of pain and discomfort if she is unable to get to the vets.
As far as your reference to contraindictions, I think you'll find that most prescribed medications also have potential side effects, but they are still considered for use.
Not everybody on this board is going to have the same thoughts on everything, surely that's one reason forums exist. As I said previously, it's up to the reader to use the information in their cats best interests, with the help of a professional where necessary.