UTI?
UTI?
I recently added a cat to my household. She was my fathers, but he moved to an apartment, and couldn't keep her, so I took her in. She only goes to the bathroom in the tub or on towels left in the bathroom. Her urine is occasionally pink, and there's also a reddish grit left behind. My dad says that she hasn't used the litter box since she had kittens when she was 2 (fixed right after) and that he solved the issue by throwing her outside for a couple of hours everyday, so he didn't notice the pink or the grit. Does this sound like a UTI? If so, what is the normal treatment for a UTI? We have some amoxicillin that's still good, and I looked up the dosage that would be safe for her, I'm just wondering if this is what I should do. My fiancee was laid off recently, and we're crossing our fingers about making rent, so a trip to the vet is a little out of the question right now. If amoxicillin is an antibiotic that would work, how long should I run the treatment? Thanks for reading!
Celt42
Re: UTI?
I know you said that money is scarce, but your cat really needs to see a vet. Traci will have more info for you, but I know she will say to never medicate a cat without a vets advice. The reddish grit could be crystals and that can kill a cat. My sister got her cat to the vet the minute she noticed a problem and it was touch an go. Please, find some way to get her to the vet, maybe your dad will help?
Re: UTI?
That sounds very bad... She definitely needs a vet as soon as possible.
But just hypothetically, if you are not going to take her to the vet, DO NOT MEDICATE HER YOURSELF. You're more likely to kill her like that than through simply leaving the problem alone.
Both are bad, but that is worse. :/
Also, call vets and ask if they'll see your cat because it is an EMERGENCY and let you start making payments at a later date. Some vets will do this for you, because they would rather save a cat's life than get their money at the exact moment of the visit.
I know what it's like to be in serious financial trouble. It wasn't very long ago that I had to make the choice between living in my car and moving in with relatives. We're better off now, but I still know how it feels. But if you don't figure out some way to get her to the vet, your cat may very well die. There's not much else I can say.
Good luck.
But just hypothetically, if you are not going to take her to the vet, DO NOT MEDICATE HER YOURSELF. You're more likely to kill her like that than through simply leaving the problem alone.
Both are bad, but that is worse. :/
Also, call vets and ask if they'll see your cat because it is an EMERGENCY and let you start making payments at a later date. Some vets will do this for you, because they would rather save a cat's life than get their money at the exact moment of the visit.
I know what it's like to be in serious financial trouble. It wasn't very long ago that I had to make the choice between living in my car and moving in with relatives. We're better off now, but I still know how it feels. But if you don't figure out some way to get her to the vet, your cat may very well die. There's not much else I can say.
Good luck.
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mamabear
- Formerly mamaof4soon
- Posts: 589
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:39 pm
- Location: The Garden State
Re: UTI?
Vet asap. You can always talk to them about a payment plan over the phone first. Call around until you find one that will. I will say that if you put this off ...when you do finally go in after she is in soooooooo much pain and everything you have is peed on IT WILL be a lot more money because she might have dehydration by then.
Many people think amoxicillin is a cure all for everything. It is not. I know you are desperate for a cure for her. But you do not know what is wrong with her and you wont until she goes in. If she has a UTI and dad never took her in shame on him. He should never have let that go on this long. The pain she must be hiding.
IF she does have a UTI and it has been untreated for this long , she will have to go on special food as well to help her not get recurrent ones. There are foods out there that are special formula that can help.
Cheap cat food does not help and it actually can cause them. A good high quality good for UTI's is best but again your vet can determine what she needs. Please make sure you bring up food as well when you speak to him/her.
THere are different ways of paying and I am sure one of the vets in your area can help you out or a clinic can. You might want to check the clinics around as well or the SPCA and see if they have anything to offer you as well.
Leaving this untreated will only make matters worse. As it is if she is peeing blood or even tinges of blood in there she must be suffering within. Please take her to the vet, call them and tell them your situation and if they say no then call someone else. THere are vets that do try to accommodate.
DO NOT treat her yourself.As it has already been said you can kill her. You do not know if this is a real UTI or Kidney problem or something entirely different. The longer you wait the worse it will get and the more money it will cost to help your kitty.
If you have any further questions please ask here. Please let us know what the vet says and keep us posted.
((((prayers))))
Many people think amoxicillin is a cure all for everything. It is not. I know you are desperate for a cure for her. But you do not know what is wrong with her and you wont until she goes in. If she has a UTI and dad never took her in shame on him. He should never have let that go on this long. The pain she must be hiding.
IF she does have a UTI and it has been untreated for this long , she will have to go on special food as well to help her not get recurrent ones. There are foods out there that are special formula that can help.
Cheap cat food does not help and it actually can cause them. A good high quality good for UTI's is best but again your vet can determine what she needs. Please make sure you bring up food as well when you speak to him/her.
THere are different ways of paying and I am sure one of the vets in your area can help you out or a clinic can. You might want to check the clinics around as well or the SPCA and see if they have anything to offer you as well.
Leaving this untreated will only make matters worse. As it is if she is peeing blood or even tinges of blood in there she must be suffering within. Please take her to the vet, call them and tell them your situation and if they say no then call someone else. THere are vets that do try to accommodate.
DO NOT treat her yourself.As it has already been said you can kill her. You do not know if this is a real UTI or Kidney problem or something entirely different. The longer you wait the worse it will get and the more money it will cost to help your kitty.
If you have any further questions please ask here. Please let us know what the vet says and keep us posted.
((((prayers))))
Almost 7 years in remission from Graves disease and no meds!
Re: UTI?
She was on a low quality cat food before, but I feed all my animals Nutro Natural, a better then average food that cost some more, but they eat less so it works out. As for my dad, he thought she was ticked because he kept one of her kittens, and soon after she was going to the bathroom outside. Since he didn't see the urine in the tub, he didn't know. It was also my mom's cat, and while he made sure it had food and water, once my mom died, she didn't get a lot of attention. I'll make calls tomorrow, although it's a small town and a holiday weekend, so I may have to wait until monday to get to a vet. I will at least talk to a vet, to see what they have to say. I did do a bunch of reading on UTI's and cats, and amoxicillin is something that they use occasionally, although a uti with crystals is a lot more serious.
Celt42
Re: UTI?
First, we don't know what type amoxicillin you have, if it was prior prescribed by a vet, or if it is the human type with a human doseage. Also, if it's reconstituted, meaning in liquid form, and in the fridge, then you can't use it because it needs to be discarded in 10 days once mixed.
Second, you cannot give amoxicillin that was prescribed for one cat, to another cat, since this is a good way to spread contamination.
Third, amoxicillin is dosed by weight and per the condition for which it warrants. You cannot calculate her weight and give the correct doseage because the doseage is mg/kg, not by pounds, etc. It also has a specific starting dose before mixing, so you can't just assume you can give this to her.
Fourth and most important, amoxicillin is [rarely used for UTI's, it is clavamox that is generally prescribed. Only your VET can prescribe the appropriate antibiotic by determining the type of infection and the severity of the infection and he will then prescribe the antibiotic by her weight, etc.
NEVER use another cat's medication for another cat. NEVER use left-over antibiotics for anything, they expire in 10-14 days once they are mixed. Even the powder form prior to mixing expires on a specific date. Antibiotics are prescribed by weight and for the condition warranting it, only determined by a VET per patient. Antibiotics are NOT a cure-all to anything, a cat can have a severe reaction to ANY antibiotic, and if you give more or less of the antibiotic, it will render it either useless, or put your cat at risk for GI tract problems, or severe allergic reaction.
Get kitty to a vet RIGHT THIS MINUTE and get a full urinalysis and culture done. If she's had a UTI for an extended time and it was never treated, she could have crystals, inflammation, hematuria, scar tissue, and bacterial infection spreading further into the urethra or even the kidneys. This should have been treated IMMEDIATELY. All UTI's have the potential of causing crystals, and these can become very detrimental and even lethal.
Btw, Nutro is not a high quality food, and if your new kitty has a UTI or crystals, Nutro is the last thing you should be feeding. Your vet will want her on a high quality, probably veterinary-prescribed diet that is specifically formulated to alter the pH and prevent crystal formation. NO commercial diet match the effectiveness of a veterinary diet for this purpose.
Second, you cannot give amoxicillin that was prescribed for one cat, to another cat, since this is a good way to spread contamination.
Third, amoxicillin is dosed by weight and per the condition for which it warrants. You cannot calculate her weight and give the correct doseage because the doseage is mg/kg, not by pounds, etc. It also has a specific starting dose before mixing, so you can't just assume you can give this to her.
Fourth and most important, amoxicillin is [rarely used for UTI's, it is clavamox that is generally prescribed. Only your VET can prescribe the appropriate antibiotic by determining the type of infection and the severity of the infection and he will then prescribe the antibiotic by her weight, etc.
NEVER use another cat's medication for another cat. NEVER use left-over antibiotics for anything, they expire in 10-14 days once they are mixed. Even the powder form prior to mixing expires on a specific date. Antibiotics are prescribed by weight and for the condition warranting it, only determined by a VET per patient. Antibiotics are NOT a cure-all to anything, a cat can have a severe reaction to ANY antibiotic, and if you give more or less of the antibiotic, it will render it either useless, or put your cat at risk for GI tract problems, or severe allergic reaction.
Get kitty to a vet RIGHT THIS MINUTE and get a full urinalysis and culture done. If she's had a UTI for an extended time and it was never treated, she could have crystals, inflammation, hematuria, scar tissue, and bacterial infection spreading further into the urethra or even the kidneys. This should have been treated IMMEDIATELY. All UTI's have the potential of causing crystals, and these can become very detrimental and even lethal.
Btw, Nutro is not a high quality food, and if your new kitty has a UTI or crystals, Nutro is the last thing you should be feeding. Your vet will want her on a high quality, probably veterinary-prescribed diet that is specifically formulated to alter the pH and prevent crystal formation. NO commercial diet match the effectiveness of a veterinary diet for this purpose.
..........Traci
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mamabear
- Formerly mamaof4soon
- Posts: 589
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:39 pm
- Location: The Garden State
Re: UTI?
Traci is right.
Just wanted to add big hugs to you for trying your best to get vet on phone and get an appt for her to get this taken care of. Let us know what vet says and how she is doing.
You're doing good, call around and see what you can do dear.
(((((celt)))))
Just wanted to add big hugs to you for trying your best to get vet on phone and get an appt for her to get this taken care of. Let us know what vet says and how she is doing.
You're doing good, call around and see what you can do dear.
(((((celt)))))
Almost 7 years in remission from Graves disease and no meds!
Re: UTI?
2nd everything Traci said. My 3 cats have FLUTD, and I just want to add that kitties suffer terrible pain with UTI's - if you've ever had a UTI yourself, you know how agonising it is, and if there are crystals present it makes it even more painful, like peeing glass shards. Please, PLEASE take this kitty to the vet asap. Once he has done the urinalysis and a culture, he will advise you on the safest medicine and a diet specifically for cats with FLUTD/UTI's. I wish your kitty the best of luck and I hope she feels better soon. Please let us know how your kitty is.
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mamabear
- Formerly mamaof4soon
- Posts: 589
- Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:39 pm
- Location: The Garden State
Re: UTI?
Oh by the way how is your other cat. Did you ever get that cat to the vet for his mouth problem?
Is dads cat vaccinated and tested for diseases before you brought him into your home with your other kitty?
Is dads cat vaccinated and tested for diseases before you brought him into your home with your other kitty?
Almost 7 years in remission from Graves disease and no meds!
Re: UTI?
Wow, mamabear, you've got quite the memory. My other cat had an abcess, which was taken care of. I ended up finding him another home, due to the fact that he became rather agressive towards my other cat, and started spraying. (the person I got him from fixed him late) I still see him occasionally, and he seems a lot happier in a one cat household. As for shots, I give them their shots myself. So they're both up to date on shots, but I haven't had them at the vet anytime recently. I'm taking mamma kitty in tomorrow to see a vet. We'll see how it goes.
Celt42