my kitty can't go
my kitty can't go
potty. He squats down and stays there for a few minutes and nothing happens. Then a few minutes later he does the same thing. Vet is closed and it's a holiday weekend. I'm worried. Please help. Thanks
Re: my kitty can't go
Get out your phone book and call ALL the nearest emergency veterinary facilities RIGHT THIS MINUTE!! If kitty's urinary tract is blocked, this can be fatal within a matter of hours, you CANNOT WAIT!!!!
..........Traci
Re: my kitty can't go
I agree...he MUST get to a vet NOW....there is no waiting...this IS life or death...as well as excruciating PAIN!!!
As for finances.....post dated checks...emergency funds..friends and family...credit card...CareCredit
whatever you have to do...DO IT NOW!!!...THIS KITTY CANNOT WAIT!!!
As for finances.....post dated checks...emergency funds..friends and family...credit card...CareCredit
whatever you have to do...DO IT NOW!!!...THIS KITTY CANNOT WAIT!!!
Re: my kitty can't go
I took my kitty to the emergency doctor last night and they say he has flutd. I'm confused. They said that he has a small bladder and that it was empty. They gave me some pain medication for him and am waiting for him to urinate so I can bring them a sample. They gave me some no sorb litter for his box and this morning the box is a little wet, but only enough to make the no sorb stick to the box. not enough to collect in syringe. I told them I saw blood in the box as well.
They also commented on the paper they gave me that he was very fractious-limited exam. EENT:NSF H/L (don't know what that means), difficult to assess over hissing. no murmur heard, abdominal palpation: bladder very small, flacid, NSF, ambulatory x4. No mysln deficites noted. Please help. I don't know what all this means and if I should take him back or give it more time. He is eating well, but I haven't noticed him drinking a lot. And he does not appear to be in pain. Even before they gave him pain meds. Thanks
They also commented on the paper they gave me that he was very fractious-limited exam. EENT:NSF H/L (don't know what that means), difficult to assess over hissing. no murmur heard, abdominal palpation: bladder very small, flacid, NSF, ambulatory x4. No mysln deficites noted. Please help. I don't know what all this means and if I should take him back or give it more time. He is eating well, but I haven't noticed him drinking a lot. And he does not appear to be in pain. Even before they gave him pain meds. Thanks
Re: my kitty can't go
Eyes/ears/nose/throat, no significant findings, heart and lungs difficult to assess because of hissing but no murmur heard. Bladder palpation with no significant findings, is ambulatory (able to walk and move about without difficulty).
If the sample in the litterbox was within the last few hours, call the vet back and tell them he has only urinated a tiny amount, not able to collect sample, and tell him if there is blood in it, and whether the blood is frank blood (very red), or pale pink.
Did the vet give antibiotics? If not, ask him if he should.
Try to get kitty to drink lots of water, and watch him closely for the symptoms you noted last night, plus any of the following: straining in the litterbox, unable to urinate or only a drop at a time, frank red blood drops, crying out, squatting in unusual places, lethargic, painful when touched or picked up, in which you would probably have to get him back to the emergency vet for fluids administration and further diagnostics. The vet needs to determine if there may be crystals in the urethra that are blocking urine flow, or if this is a bacterial infection...either way, since it is a holiday weekend, NO symptom is too slight, and you can't wait to get him seen again on emergency if necessary.
If the sample in the litterbox was within the last few hours, call the vet back and tell them he has only urinated a tiny amount, not able to collect sample, and tell him if there is blood in it, and whether the blood is frank blood (very red), or pale pink.
Did the vet give antibiotics? If not, ask him if he should.
Try to get kitty to drink lots of water, and watch him closely for the symptoms you noted last night, plus any of the following: straining in the litterbox, unable to urinate or only a drop at a time, frank red blood drops, crying out, squatting in unusual places, lethargic, painful when touched or picked up, in which you would probably have to get him back to the emergency vet for fluids administration and further diagnostics. The vet needs to determine if there may be crystals in the urethra that are blocking urine flow, or if this is a bacterial infection...either way, since it is a holiday weekend, NO symptom is too slight, and you can't wait to get him seen again on emergency if necessary.
..........Traci
Re: my kitty can't go
I forgot to mention that they also put a pocket of fluid under his skin. He is still not drinking. Had a little more urine in the box, but has been in the box most of the night/morning. He comes out, then goes right back in. I am taking the urine sample back to the vet and also bringing him with me. I think he needs more fluids and if he does need any antibiotics, they can give it to them while I'm there. It's frustrating that they won't let me go back with him. I can calm him down. He is a very sweet cat, except when he goes to the doctor. Thanks for all your help. I love him so much and don't want to lose him. Thank you.
Re: my kitty can't go
Are you taking the sample and kitty in NOW? If so, good to hear, the vet needs to be more agressive in determining if there is an infection vs blockage. Granted, when there is not enough urine to test, it is difficult, but he does need to rule out the possibility of crystals immediately.
If manual expression of the bladder is possible, it's possible this can be done in the exam room with you present. However, if he wishes to do a cystocentisis, (a needle draw of urine from the bladder), this will have to be done in the treatment room, as the procedure usually freaks out the owner. It is NOT painful procedure, but the sight of needles usually freak out some owners, and with the owner present, this can in fact, induce more stress, so that's the reason your vet takes him to a treatment room.
Sub-q fluids can also be given in your presence.
Oral antibiotics should be prescribed, regardless, since inflammation is problematic in urinary tract issues, and pain is also an issue. The antibiotics reduce the inflammation which in turn, help reduce the pain, and antibiotics target the bacterial infection that is causing the pain and inflammation. If your vet prescribes clavamox, for example, ask for the liquid form, this is easier to administrate to kitty at home.
Please let us know when you're back from the vet and what has been determined.
If manual expression of the bladder is possible, it's possible this can be done in the exam room with you present. However, if he wishes to do a cystocentisis, (a needle draw of urine from the bladder), this will have to be done in the treatment room, as the procedure usually freaks out the owner. It is NOT painful procedure, but the sight of needles usually freak out some owners, and with the owner present, this can in fact, induce more stress, so that's the reason your vet takes him to a treatment room.
Sub-q fluids can also be given in your presence.
Oral antibiotics should be prescribed, regardless, since inflammation is problematic in urinary tract issues, and pain is also an issue. The antibiotics reduce the inflammation which in turn, help reduce the pain, and antibiotics target the bacterial infection that is causing the pain and inflammation. If your vet prescribes clavamox, for example, ask for the liquid form, this is easier to administrate to kitty at home.
Please let us know when you're back from the vet and what has been determined.
..........Traci
Re: my kitty can't go
Just got back from the vet. Doc says his pH is high. He also has red and white blood cells in urine. Some crystal fragments are there also. She says he is not blocked and that she believes he has a UTI. She gave me some antibiotics and said to switch him to can food. He still won't drink and he turned his nose up at the canned food. Don't know what to do about the feeding and drinking. God, I hope this medication works. She said to just keep a close eye on him. I have him in my room separated from the other kittys I have so I can monitor his urine better. Thanks.
Re: my kitty can't go
Did she send home with you a veterinary prescription canned food? IF so, and if kitty won't eat it, ask the vet for a veterinary equivalent in another veterinary brand. Some cats won't eat a certain type, but your vet should have a couple other brands available for the same purpose.
In the immediate sense, you can try adding just a half-teaspoon or so of Iams canned or Friskie's canned food to about 3 teaspoons of the new prescription food, just to tempt him to eat. Over the next couple days, decrease the Iams or Friskies so that you end up only feeding the prescription food.
Try placing a couple different bowls of water where he can get to them, try running the tap water, place water in a clean cup, etc, all good ways to try to get kitty to drink more.
The antibiotics should kick in within a couple days, but you'll still need to watch him closely and carefully and notify your vet if necessary. She will probably want to recheck the urinalysis after the course of antibiotics is finished, but she may require sooner to determine if there are new crystals forming, etc. Followup as she advises.
Keep an eagle eye on your kitty, and notify the vet at once, if any of the symptoms noted above re-occur or worsen.
In the immediate sense, you can try adding just a half-teaspoon or so of Iams canned or Friskie's canned food to about 3 teaspoons of the new prescription food, just to tempt him to eat. Over the next couple days, decrease the Iams or Friskies so that you end up only feeding the prescription food.
Try placing a couple different bowls of water where he can get to them, try running the tap water, place water in a clean cup, etc, all good ways to try to get kitty to drink more.
The antibiotics should kick in within a couple days, but you'll still need to watch him closely and carefully and notify your vet if necessary. She will probably want to recheck the urinalysis after the course of antibiotics is finished, but she may require sooner to determine if there are new crystals forming, etc. Followup as she advises.
Keep an eagle eye on your kitty, and notify the vet at once, if any of the symptoms noted above re-occur or worsen.
..........Traci