Toilet Trouble
Re: Toilet Trouble
You still need a urinalysis done, though, since an infection could lead to crystals. If she is developing crystals and if they are too large to pass on their own, and if your vet doesn't check for them, she's at risk for worsening infection or painful crystals not able to pass/dissolve, scar tissue, inflammation, or even blockage. Please don't dismiss this and don't allow your vet to dismiss this, urinary tract infections or crystals are not fun for the cat and they can be extremely painful and debilitating!
..........Traci
Re: Toilet Trouble
The day after she was in I took her back because she had been sneezing all night and had runny eyes! He gave her an injection for the cold but she had no more toilet problems. She was going normally and no blood. 2 days later, the blood was back and she was having difficulty so I went right back there. He took an x ray and could see small granules in her bladder. I have to go back in half an hour (when the vet opens) with a urine sample so he can check the pH. He said a special diet is a good idea after he has examined the urine. He also gave me eye drops for her eyes and some antibiotics for her. They are called Alsir (Enrofloxacino) and I have to give her half a tablet a day. I haven't managed it so far. I hid half a pill in some butter and she ate everything except that. Then I tried pate and she didn't want any. Then I crushed the pill in a little milk and she won't drink it! I tried to put it in her mouth and close it but she wasn't having that! I feel so sorry for the poor thing. She hasn't purred in 2 days, which is very unlike her. She is eating and drinking as usual but still straining for the toilet and still sniffling and sneezing. I know there must be posts on here about how to get a cat to take a tablet so I will look next. I hope the urinalysis sheds some light on this and that she can get well again soon. I will let you know how I get on at the vet this time!!
Re: Toilet Trouble
Just got back from the vet again. He is analysing the urine and going to ring me later. The vet gave Cleo her eye drops (Virbac Tiacil) and showed me how to hold her head while doing it. Then he gave her the pill... unsuccessfully! To be kinder, he gave her an injection (same as the pill) for the stones and showed me how to inject the other (for her cold).
Because they are shut over the weekend, I have to inject her once tomorrow and once Sunday (and use eye drops twice a day) then return on Monday. The injections are way easier than the pills!!
Poor old Cleo - she will be happy when Mr Vet is no longer a daily occurence. They have special food in there for cats with stones (depending what type of stones) which is about $18 for 3lbs (or 12 euros for 1.5kg - I think I converted that right!) so cat feeding time will now be separate and monitored. All worth it though for my little furbaby. Can't wait until she is happy again.
Because they are shut over the weekend, I have to inject her once tomorrow and once Sunday (and use eye drops twice a day) then return on Monday. The injections are way easier than the pills!!
Poor old Cleo - she will be happy when Mr Vet is no longer a daily occurence. They have special food in there for cats with stones (depending what type of stones) which is about $18 for 3lbs (or 12 euros for 1.5kg - I think I converted that right!) so cat feeding time will now be separate and monitored. All worth it though for my little furbaby. Can't wait until she is happy again.
Re: Toilet Trouble
Victoria, I recommend a new vet. Enroflaxin is Baytril and needs to be dosed cautiously in cats, if there is too high a dose, there is a real risk for serious problems, like blindness. I'm also really concerned that he is using so many injections and telling YOU to use injections! There is also a concern when any injection is used, since inflammation at the injection site can cause serious problems, now or later on.
Clavamox is most often prescribed for urinary tract infections, depending on the severity of the infection. If the bacteria does not respond to clavamox, then a urine culture and sensitivity test should be done to determine what antibiotic is most useful. Clavamox, in liquid suspension form is the easiest form to give cats, as long as you do so gently and quickly, the cat will respond better than pill form. Pills are bitter, and may make the cat nauseated and may vomit, and Baytril is definately bitter. Also, most antibiotics in pill form MUST be kept in their blister-packs and protected from light so they do not lose their effectiveness. Liquids and suspensions must be refrigerated.
Sorry, but your vet sounds inexperienced or non-comitted, and I'm truly concerned about his use of injectable antibiotics, simply because you are complaining about giving pills, not to mention his taking so long to do a urinalysis when she should have done so at the very first visit and indication you gave him that she had a urinary problem. Please, see a NEW vet ASAP!
Clavamox is most often prescribed for urinary tract infections, depending on the severity of the infection. If the bacteria does not respond to clavamox, then a urine culture and sensitivity test should be done to determine what antibiotic is most useful. Clavamox, in liquid suspension form is the easiest form to give cats, as long as you do so gently and quickly, the cat will respond better than pill form. Pills are bitter, and may make the cat nauseated and may vomit, and Baytril is definately bitter. Also, most antibiotics in pill form MUST be kept in their blister-packs and protected from light so they do not lose their effectiveness. Liquids and suspensions must be refrigerated.
Sorry, but your vet sounds inexperienced or non-comitted, and I'm truly concerned about his use of injectable antibiotics, simply because you are complaining about giving pills, not to mention his taking so long to do a urinalysis when she should have done so at the very first visit and indication you gave him that she had a urinary problem. Please, see a NEW vet ASAP!
..........Traci
Re: Toilet Trouble
I understand your views, Tracy, but this is a small island and from the vets I have seen I think they all must go to the same veterinary school. I had 2 other vets when I lived in 2 different resort towns on the island and they are all very similar.
An update on Cleo: the toilet problems have gone. I am feeding her a diet of dry food (Affinity Advance Urinary for Cats) and wet food (Hill's Prescription S/D) and plenty of water - her kidney stones are magnesium and she is peeing normally and seems to have no pain.
She has stopped sneezing but her eye is still slightly cloudy (at least it is open now) and I am using eye cream twice a day (Novartis pomade). I used eye drops before but they didn't work so well as the cream seems to be. Each day it seems a little better.
Just wanted to say thanks again for your previous replies (and from the other guys too). It's really nice that you go into such detail and it really helps people who have questions or need reassurance.
xx
Oh - one last question. We live in an area with very hard water. Is it OK for cats or is bottled water preferable? The humans here drink bottled but tap water is "safe" (just high in minerals so tastes bad). Could that be something to do with the stones??
An update on Cleo: the toilet problems have gone. I am feeding her a diet of dry food (Affinity Advance Urinary for Cats) and wet food (Hill's Prescription S/D) and plenty of water - her kidney stones are magnesium and she is peeing normally and seems to have no pain.
She has stopped sneezing but her eye is still slightly cloudy (at least it is open now) and I am using eye cream twice a day (Novartis pomade). I used eye drops before but they didn't work so well as the cream seems to be. Each day it seems a little better.
Just wanted to say thanks again for your previous replies (and from the other guys too). It's really nice that you go into such detail and it really helps people who have questions or need reassurance.
xx
Oh - one last question. We live in an area with very hard water. Is it OK for cats or is bottled water preferable? The humans here drink bottled but tap water is "safe" (just high in minerals so tastes bad). Could that be something to do with the stones??
Re: Toilet Trouble
The eye(s) should NOT be cloudy!! Also, upper respiratory infections do NOT cause "cloudy" eyes unless they are treated inappropriately. What is your vet saying about that?? Did he give her a full optical exam and rule out something else? Did he rule out feline herpes?
Was it your vet who prescribed both diets, and if so, why two? You must be careful when using an already acidifying diet, because if you add additional acidifiers, this leads to the potential of oxalate crystals which are more difficult to treat. Are you sure the one is Hill's Prescription S/D? This diet in particular is designed to "dissolve" crystals and to a degree, balance the urine pH, and is not fed long term, it is only used temporarily. Usually, it is then followed by Prescription C/D, to "manage" and "prevent" further crystals. I don't know how the Affinity food is formulated, but I don't understand why both diets are being used. Only ONE prescription diet should be used when one needs to dissolve crystals...since feeding anything else defeats the entire purpose.
Yes, the tap water could be a problem, and you can ask the vet if he sees a large percentage of cats with FLUTD and if there is a connection to the local tap water. You can use bottled water for her, but remember that most bottled water is simply municipal tap water that has been filtered.
Was it your vet who prescribed both diets, and if so, why two? You must be careful when using an already acidifying diet, because if you add additional acidifiers, this leads to the potential of oxalate crystals which are more difficult to treat. Are you sure the one is Hill's Prescription S/D? This diet in particular is designed to "dissolve" crystals and to a degree, balance the urine pH, and is not fed long term, it is only used temporarily. Usually, it is then followed by Prescription C/D, to "manage" and "prevent" further crystals. I don't know how the Affinity food is formulated, but I don't understand why both diets are being used. Only ONE prescription diet should be used when one needs to dissolve crystals...since feeding anything else defeats the entire purpose.
Yes, the tap water could be a problem, and you can ask the vet if he sees a large percentage of cats with FLUTD and if there is a connection to the local tap water. You can use bottled water for her, but remember that most bottled water is simply municipal tap water that has been filtered.
..........Traci
Re: Toilet Trouble
He didn't mention feline herpes. She is going back tomorrow for a check up. Also our other cat, who has begun sneezing too! Yes he prescribed both, he just said they are for the same thing. Our bottled water is from the Canarian springs so I will see if that helps her. Understandably it is frustrating living on a small island, wanting the best for my kitty and finding expert veterinary attention hard to get (except online). The vets in the UK (where I am from) are infinitely better no doubt.
Re: Toilet Trouble
Could be an upper respiratory infection, like herpesvirus (this is a form of rhinotracheitis that mutates into long-term effects and symptoms. One or both cats could have either an upper respiratory infection or one or both could have herpes that would require treatment. The cloudiness in the eyes is NOT normal and needs to be addressed. If it is herpes, it should respond to opthalmic drops or ointment, but vet has to rule out other causes too.
Herpesvirus in cats doesn't have to be difficult to treat but you must be very observant to their health and any symptoms that might crop up, like infections, and get them treated at the onset, immediately. The condition exacerbates due to stress, so keep stress minimized at all times. Your vet may or may not prescribe l-lysine, depending on the severity of symptoms, this can be used intermittently during herpesvirus flareups. Of course, it shouldn't be used for simple upper respiratory infections that resolve themselves with antibiotics and supportive care.
Might also want to check their environment for other things like pollens, smoke, allergens, food allergies or food mites, house/dust mites, etc to rule out the sneezing component in the other cat.
Herpesvirus in cats doesn't have to be difficult to treat but you must be very observant to their health and any symptoms that might crop up, like infections, and get them treated at the onset, immediately. The condition exacerbates due to stress, so keep stress minimized at all times. Your vet may or may not prescribe l-lysine, depending on the severity of symptoms, this can be used intermittently during herpesvirus flareups. Of course, it shouldn't be used for simple upper respiratory infections that resolve themselves with antibiotics and supportive care.
Might also want to check their environment for other things like pollens, smoke, allergens, food allergies or food mites, house/dust mites, etc to rule out the sneezing component in the other cat.
..........Traci
Re: Toilet Trouble
I'll do this. Thanks again for your prompt and kind help xx