Urinary Issue not improving... Guidance please...

So I found out that my kitty Osiris has urinary issues a week ago. He had no crystals or any blockages and since his vet trip he has been on a half pill of baytril twice a day and also on dasuquin twice a day. The first few days he seemed to be much improving. All of a sudden as of yesterday/last night he is constantly in the box again and struggling to go potty (pretty much next to nothing is coming out). I make sure to give him his medicine everyday, he also gets a tablespoon of yogart for his digestive system everyday (as suggested by the vet), I was giving him the sample foods the vet gave me for urinary issues, I scrubbed out his box and put new litter in, and all that other good stuff. He is due for his check up by this weekend and Im thinking I should call the vet cause I am a little worried. I wont be able to take him today because we are in the middle of a snow storm and I have a doc appointment. Ill probably call and drop him off tomorrow before work.

What gives, has this happend to anyone else before? He was doing so good. I just want my little man to be healthy and not suffer anymore!

I don't know what's going on with Osiris but I hope he gets to feeling better soon! I know how hard it is to see your kitty go up and down with a UTI (recently dealt with that myself, again). *hugs* You're doing a great job, but if you become more worried, call the vet and ask them what you can do until tomorrow.

I called the vet and Im dropping him off between 8 and 9 am tomorrow morning. He is due for his two week check up this saturday but it seems he needs to go in earlier. Once I figure out this UTI issue and get some of my taxes back I am also having a fecal sample sent to a university in minnesota where they will do extensive testing to figure out his digestive issue. I feel so bad for the little guy. Im suprised his temperment is so good when he is feeling so bad.

I hope he feels better and know how you feel. My Coco keeps getting Bladder Infections that take 6 Bottles of Meds before it goes away. She had it last Nov to Jan and she had it in Aug 2006.

OMG that is a long time on medication. I have a feeling that Osiris is going to be on meds for awhile since his infection was so bad. He is just a kitty, he isnt suppose to be having these issues. He is suppose to be enjoying his youth.

I sure hope he feels better. Coco just finished another Antibiotic yesterday because she caught a URI from Meeko.Meeko caught a high fever from the Vets when she had Blood Tests. How old is your Cat? My Sisters Cat Midnight had the same thing as your Cat when he was 1.5 Years old then had it again. He will be 6 in Aug and it hasnt happened since 2006. My Cat is on C/D.

My cat just turned one. I got him at about 6 months old and he has had issues since I have had him (think that is why the guy got rid of him) mainly digestive. The vets are thinking that the digestive issues may be tied into the bad infection he had. Poor guy has been threw alot, a few months back he also had a horrible URI. Now we're dealing with the UTI. I gave him the vet samples of food but for now Im sticking with Max Cat. It has a mag level of .085 and C/D has a mag level of .080 Maybe once I get things settled Ill make the switch. I also plan to have a fecal sample of his sent to a university in minnesota to test for any major issues. Every fecal exam I gave the vet came back normal except with slight bacteria...

When Raven was alive, he had problems with the feline version of Interstitial Cystitis. He had many x-rays done, even an ultrasound, and many rounds of antibiotics (so many he developed an intolerance to Clavamox).

What worked best for him was as much canned food as we could get him eating (you may not like it, but a prescription or OTC urinary diet may be what he needs to be stabilized--ingredients aren't the important thing right now, getting him stabilized so you can transition back is the important thing). Raven like Max Gourmet Classics (the little cans), Pro Plan Urinary Health (it's chicken in gravy). We tried but he didn't like Friskies Special Diet. That has the same target pH as all other purina foods labeled for Urinary Tract Health (6.3). We did try Pro Plan Urinary Health last year, but the dry has something in it that doesn't agree with Nabu. And my crew has been stable for so long, I just check pH levels of foods before commit to buying them.

We used Cosequin for Raven's bout in 2004. He was also on Amitriptyline for 4-6 months that year. Amitriptyline has properties that help stop the bladder from making them feel that urge. The cosequin helps reline the bladder with the protective tissue. We also used Feliway diffusers at that time. I bought a water fountain for the guys in 2003 I think. (we've tried all the brands since then, and settle on the Drinkwell)

For Raven, concentrating on adding wet food within acceptable ranges to his diet and making sure his dry food was withing ok ranges helped. His last one though, I really think the Amitriptyline broke the cycle.

See Raven would get a recurring bladder infection, and it could go on for months. Our vet in Southern California was very understanding, and after ruling everything out--told us to call when Raven was getting one adn he would dispense meds. Well, once he got out of a UTI cycle, he could be stable for months or years. They were really triggered by stress, and he was a high stress cat, so we did our best to minimize it.

Raven had crystals (struvite) in 1999, and 2000. Everything else was of unknown origin. Nabu has had crystals (98/99/00, they always cleared up quick--but I only fed dry at the time; since I feed 50%+ wet he is fine now), and bacterial UTIs, but not the Interstitial Cystitis that Raven had. Stimpy was completely blocked before we adopted him (2002), but I'm 99.9% sure that was related to cheap food. He's also been fine since.

I hope that's not too long...I wrote more than I planned.

Coco can not have Cavamox anymore because she throws it up within 20 Minutes of giving it to her. Her last Med was cephalexin and she just finished it yesterday. It was for her Uri. Last Aug she had a very bad Cold with green and yellow coming out of her Nose. It was very thick. She got Clavamox and a Pred Shot and got better then the Bladder Infection came back, When I wipe her Vulva there is slight blood sometimes. Her last Urine Test Jan 11 was Neg and no Blood was seen in the Urine. We have dont all kinds of test and they do not know why the blood is there. Its only seen sometimes. I think that person did give you your Cat because he has problems. I hope he gets better soon.

Thanks guys. I will see what the vet says tomorrow and keep you updated. I have no issues putting my little man on wet food. He is a fan. Just need some ideas of what types that are in a lower pH range, or have lower mag levels. Also he is a very high stressed cat so I wonder if that has anything to do with his issues? I just want him better and soon. Poor Guy.

I hope everything turns out good. Let us know.

Well I dropped him off and he is going to get some fluids, pain meds, xrays, and another urine test. Im hoping there are no stones. If there are the surgery is going to be about $1000 and I only have $400 to spare today. I asked if they have a payment plan and they said that you can set it up threw care credit. Last time I tried applying for a care credit card I was denied (not sure why still waiting for the letter in the mail, nothing of mine went threw collections as far as I am aware) so Im super worried. I wish I could just set up a contract with my vet that I will make monthly payments of such and such amount without having to get the credit card. No matter what it takes Ill find a way to fix my little man. Im really hoping he doesnt have a blockage but I wont be suprised. His infection was quite severe. He was doing so well his first week on meds and now he is back where he started. I just dont know what to do for the little guy except keep taking him to the vet for treatments. I get to call the vet at 3pm to see how he is doing, unless they call me first!

talk with the vet PRIOR to them filling out a care credit ... I will note they may like to get drs apps more than someone just trying to get a card...

I agree with the wet food ..

Hi - He definitely needs to be on a good food that helps with urinary tract issues and start him on Cosequin for Cats right away. I know everybody is tired of hearing me say this, but the Cosequin has just about made by babies URI non existant. The cheapest place I have found to get it is Amazon.com. You have to give him a pill every day for life, but it it works it is well worth it. It is a capsule that you can open up, so I just mix it in with a little bit of milk for my kitty.

Also, stress can play a big part with urinary issues. Every time my Simba gets stressed, he starts with the in and out of the litter boxes. But since he has been on Science Diet C/D and the Cosequin, the flare ups don't last long at all.

Good luck... it can be frustrating when our babies are uncomfortable. Also, there are medications they can give for the discomfort that relax the bladder and help with the spasms. Maybe the vet could give you some to take home when he goes thru a spell.

Thanks for the tip.

Ok I need a list of wet foods sharky that are urinary friendly. I gave him wet once (max cat) and he was having issues with the chunks (couldnt figure out how to eat em) so I need something kind of soft and mushy and less chunky to start him out. Suggestions? Im all for the wet food and I know he would love that too. Should I alternate a urinary dry with wet or just go all wet (eventually)?

Originally Posted by 2furbabies

Hi - He definitely needs to be on a good food that helps with urinary tract issues and start him on Cosequin for Cats right away. I know everybody is tired of hearing me say this, but the Cosequin has just about made by babies URI non existant. The cheapest place I have found to get it is Amazon.com. You have to give him a pill every day for life, but it it works it is well worth it. It is a capsule that you can open up, so I just mix it in with a little bit of milk for my kitty.

Also, stress can play a big part with urinary issues. Every time my Simba gets stressed, he starts with the in and out of the litter boxes. But since he has been on Science Diet C/D and the Cosequin, the flare ups don't last long at all.

Good luck... it can be frustrating when our babies are uncomfortable. Also, there are medications they can give for the discomfort that relax the bladder and help with the spasms. Maybe the vet could give you some to take home when he goes thru a spell.

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He is on Dasuquin twice a day. Its pretty much the same thing as Cosequin. Once he gets better I can drop that pill down to once a day. I just pill him though (since he is so good about it) instead of sprinkling it on his food. Im thinking of putting him on C/D and some wet.

He is very stressed at times. I have another older cat that I keep him seperated from because the eldest cat will fight Osiris whenever he gets the chance. The two of them just dont get along. I keep Osiris in the second bedroom and Nollee stays in there all day with him and plays (by her choice...she loves both my male kitties but likes playing with Osiris during the day because he is more active). I have Calm Down to add to his water but Im not sure that I find it very effective. Ill have to check into Feliway.


Here is some info on Dasuquin:

http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/products...uquin_cats.asp

The plan would be to keep him on that for life!