Traci, I guess I should have been a little clearer on the add-ins. It's a minimal amount considering it goes into a bowl that holds enough kibble for the 6 dogs total (it all gets mixed up and then warmed in the microwave and then sits a bit to soften for my oldsters). They get one egg between the 6 of them maybe once a week, 1 tin of sardines between the 6, 1 can of salmon between the 6.
Edited to add: No, I do not do add-ins for the cats.
Riley is doing very well today! She was just getting ready to do the UA when I called. He is on an IV to make sure he is getting a full bladder and then urinating, which he has been doing without difficulty.
She would like to keep him till tomorrow, on the IV, which is fine with me as I am of the thought better safe than sorry.
I will be starting him on the C/D when he comes home.
Traci, I do want to ask if you recommend I keep him on it permanently? I do have the option to take him off after one bag of it if he's doing well.
I had one other male cat we kept on it permanently after he had several UTI's in a row and he never had another problem.
Riley is 5, and has never had this happen before.
The cats have been eating the Iams multi-cat formula ever since that came out.
Emergency trip to the vet today
Re: Emergency trip to the vet today
Well, that depends. I assume the vet couldn't get urine for a U/A yesterday so will do so today. You said he was blocked so I assume at this point, crystals are present? The U/A should reveal something, but the catheterization should also have revealed either sediment or crystals.
Depending on the sediment or crystals (number of and size of crystals, and/or inflammation) and the extent of the blockage would depend on the necessity of the prescription diet. If crystals are found, I strongly recommend keeping him on the prescribed diet, since this will keep the pH regulated, in which to help prevent crystals from forming. Keep in mind, that the diet isn't a cure-all for some cats, because the inciting cause could be different for those cats...but, it is ALWAYS worth it to initiate the prescribed diet, followup on u/a and continue the diet if no problems develop. I think a larger number of cats with FLUTD fair much better with a prescribed diet than those who are not on one, or when the owner is wishy-washy about the diet and change it frequently, etc (which is almost always a problem for the cat).
So, yes, if there are crystals or serious infection, you fair better to manage it with a prescription diet long term or for life. In addition, the diets are likewise formulated for maintenance for healthy cats, so there is no harm in feeding long term. This rule does NOT apply to prescription diets intended for temporary use to dissolve crystals or for oxalates in particular (i.e., HIll's Rx S/D and equivalent diets for this purpose -- the S/D soon to be faded out anyway, there will be only ONE diet from HIll's to address FLUTD/struvite/oxalates, that being prescription Feline Multi-Care, being phased in now)
Also ask your vet to evaluate the ingredients in the Iams Multicat formula, I haven't checked it lately, but ask your vet to see the rationale on pH levels with this diet as well as for ash/magnesium content. If they are particularly altered, you might want to consider something else for the rest of your cats, your vet can help you with that.
Depending on the sediment or crystals (number of and size of crystals, and/or inflammation) and the extent of the blockage would depend on the necessity of the prescription diet. If crystals are found, I strongly recommend keeping him on the prescribed diet, since this will keep the pH regulated, in which to help prevent crystals from forming. Keep in mind, that the diet isn't a cure-all for some cats, because the inciting cause could be different for those cats...but, it is ALWAYS worth it to initiate the prescribed diet, followup on u/a and continue the diet if no problems develop. I think a larger number of cats with FLUTD fair much better with a prescribed diet than those who are not on one, or when the owner is wishy-washy about the diet and change it frequently, etc (which is almost always a problem for the cat).
So, yes, if there are crystals or serious infection, you fair better to manage it with a prescription diet long term or for life. In addition, the diets are likewise formulated for maintenance for healthy cats, so there is no harm in feeding long term. This rule does NOT apply to prescription diets intended for temporary use to dissolve crystals or for oxalates in particular (i.e., HIll's Rx S/D and equivalent diets for this purpose -- the S/D soon to be faded out anyway, there will be only ONE diet from HIll's to address FLUTD/struvite/oxalates, that being prescription Feline Multi-Care, being phased in now)
Also ask your vet to evaluate the ingredients in the Iams Multicat formula, I haven't checked it lately, but ask your vet to see the rationale on pH levels with this diet as well as for ash/magnesium content. If they are particularly altered, you might want to consider something else for the rest of your cats, your vet can help you with that.
..........Traci
Re: Emergency trip to the vet today
Traci, I will take in a list of the cat food ingredients to her tomorrow.
She did say there was a tiny 'plug' that came out when she cath'd him, and said she suspected struvite crystals, but wouldn't know until she completed the urinalysis today.
She did also say that sometimes a dietary change didn't help cats that continued to plug, but we won't know with Riley till we try.
I've been feeding the Iams hairball control adult formula for several years, and then switched over to the multi-cat formula maybe 8 months ago?
It won't be difficult to separate cats as I don't free feed, they get fed twice a day, and clean their bowls with gusto. I'll just put him in a separate room with his food
Thanks for the advice.
She did say there was a tiny 'plug' that came out when she cath'd him, and said she suspected struvite crystals, but wouldn't know until she completed the urinalysis today.
She did also say that sometimes a dietary change didn't help cats that continued to plug, but we won't know with Riley till we try.
I've been feeding the Iams hairball control adult formula for several years, and then switched over to the multi-cat formula maybe 8 months ago?
It won't be difficult to separate cats as I don't free feed, they get fed twice a day, and clean their bowls with gusto. I'll just put him in a separate room with his food
Thanks for the advice.
Re: Emergency trip to the vet today
A urethral plug could be possible, as in mucous plug or even a blood clot etc, but won't know until after examination of sediment once the urine is spun and viewed under a slide. In a healthy cat with no history of UTI's or FLUTD, it would be unusual for a urethral plug, unless due to a prior trauma of some sort or insult to the bladder/urethra (i.e., forming scar tissue etc).
..........Traci
Re: Emergency trip to the vet today
Riley is home and very happy to be home!
I didn't get a chance to talk to the vet today as she was with a client when I picked him up, so I'll talk to her tomorrow to get the full scoop on what the UA showed.
Traci, there are a couple of things on the invoice I don't understand, and don't know if you can help. There were the things I recognized like the lactated ringers, the setup and actual catheterization, etc. There is also 1 Profender 1.12 ml Large Cat (24 ct.), and 1 Promeris Cat Large (>9 lbs). I have never heard of either of those.
He is on the C/D multicare diet now, and Clavamox drops 2 X daily.
Riley thanks everyone for the well wishes and prayers (and me too)!
I didn't get a chance to talk to the vet today as she was with a client when I picked him up, so I'll talk to her tomorrow to get the full scoop on what the UA showed.
Traci, there are a couple of things on the invoice I don't understand, and don't know if you can help. There were the things I recognized like the lactated ringers, the setup and actual catheterization, etc. There is also 1 Profender 1.12 ml Large Cat (24 ct.), and 1 Promeris Cat Large (>9 lbs). I have never heard of either of those.
He is on the C/D multicare diet now, and Clavamox drops 2 X daily.
Riley thanks everyone for the well wishes and prayers (and me too)!
Re: Emergency trip to the vet today
glad Riley is doing better!!
Re: Emergency trip to the vet today
Profender (Bayer) is a topical multi-dewormer. Promeris (Fort Dodge) is a spot-on flea application (bpth are relatively new products). If these were applied and charged to you, it would be time to ask the vet what the heck she was thinking, and she shouldn't have given anything or charged anything without your consent. Is it possible these were done some other time? Most computer print-outs for clinics will also show a "history" on the print-out, stating what has been done in the last several months as well as reminders for certain things, so check that and see if it was a prior procedure months ago.
If she applied both of these things, she needs her head examined, since whenever there is a health problem, flea applications and dewormers are the last thing one wants to give.
If she applied both of these things, she needs her head examined, since whenever there is a health problem, flea applications and dewormers are the last thing one wants to give.
..........Traci
Re: Emergency trip to the vet today
Thanks Traci! This was the first time he had seen her, so that's not from an earlier visit.
The flea control I can see because as Amber was putting him in the kitty carrier Sunday, she spotted a flea, much to my horror. I did mention that to the vet when I took him in. I Frontlined everyone else once I got home.
I don't understand the dewormer though. She sent home a huge bottle of Strongid-T a couple of months ago when my old newf mix got sick as one of the cats gacked up a roundworm that same day, and I told her I'd rather deworm the entire crew (try adding up weights for 6 dogs, 7 cats total lol). I will discuss that one with her.
The flea control I can see because as Amber was putting him in the kitty carrier Sunday, she spotted a flea, much to my horror. I did mention that to the vet when I took him in. I Frontlined everyone else once I got home.
I don't understand the dewormer though. She sent home a huge bottle of Strongid-T a couple of months ago when my old newf mix got sick as one of the cats gacked up a roundworm that same day, and I told her I'd rather deworm the entire crew (try adding up weights for 6 dogs, 7 cats total lol). I will discuss that one with her.
Re: Emergency trip to the vet today
Riley is MUCH improved! He wasn't even coming downstairs when I'd pop the lid on the big tupperware container to feed the others.
This morning I popped the lid, and there he was with the rest of the gang!
He's been running in and out of the computer room, and chased Oreo this morning, so I'd say he's feeling much better
This morning I popped the lid, and there he was with the rest of the gang!
He's been running in and out of the computer room, and chased Oreo this morning, so I'd say he's feeling much better
Re: Emergency trip to the vet today
What are the urinalysis/sediment results? And, did you find out why the flea/dewormers were given? You probably should address that with the vet, the records need to be reviewed and all vets need to be paying attention to when flea meds/dewormers are being given! Again, I don't feel it was necessary to do that, especially since Riley was so sick, had to be under for catheterization, etc...your vets know better than that!
..........Traci