help w medication

My cat had a catheter (?) yesterday due to a blockage.

I was given buperex in a suringe.

I arrived at closing and was rushed out the door and today they close at 1 and haven't returned my call.

My question is ... am I to shoot the medication in his throat? I read online to just apply to his lips??

I don't want to make matters worse by medicating him wrong.

I'm also a bit concerned in reading this med can have affects on the kidneys. I was told he could have kidney damage just from the blockage... so he gives me medication like this??

They also gave me antibotic pills which ill get to enjoy giving him later tonight.

Ah! Why do vets make it so difficult not to mention the poor animal who has to suffer thru our inexperience?

Thanks for any help.

This medicine absorbs better if done under tounge/gums. The longer a cat is blocked for the more damage can happen as body trys to absorb the toxins.

Did you discuss a rx diet with the vet? At the least I would give only canned no fish and get him on an rx diet when they reopen if not already

If I were you, I'd call an emergency clinic and speak to someone there who can tell you exactly the kind of care your cat requires until you can get him in to see your regular vet on Tuesday. A blockage is pretty serious stuff and it can happen again very quickly.

I second Catsallaround's suggestion to switch to canned. I'd do it as fast as the kitty would allow and I'd also add a teaspoon or two of warm water to the canned food. Crystals are normal in a cat's urine, however, when cat's are dehydrated - as they are on kibble - the urine is concentrated... and so are the crystals. You want to get the kitty as hydrated as you can.

Besides putting in a catheter and giving you buperex, did they do anything else? How do they know they've fully eliminated the blockage?

How is your kitty feeling / behaving today? Is he peeing freely?

AC

Thanks!

He's always been on rx canned. I got a 4 lb bag of cd dry just to get him thru this because the vet said the salt ;( will make him drink and that's what I want. But I'm thinking once he's finished the bag (and I plan on feeding small amounts) ill feed him wet only.

He just a few minutes ago ate a few kibbles. He isn't drinking though so I'm using a suringe to get water in him

He peed about 5 times today... all pretty big clumps too.

He's much more alert than yesterday. Still not himself of course.

Not sure what else they did to him. They kept him for 6 hours to monitor him with the catheter. It cost over $400. Is that the normal cost for this procedure and hold time? It was over 1400 for I think 2, maybe 3 days!!!

Thanks again!!

Originally Posted by m935

Thanks!

He's always been on rx canned. I got a 4 lb bag of cd dry just to get him thru this because the vet said the salt ;( will make him drink and that's what I want. But I'm thinking once he's finished the bag (and I plan on feeding small amounts) ill feed him wet only.

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Wait, they prescribed a dry, dehydrating diet, that includes extra salt, for a kitty who has no natural inclination to drink water (no 'thirst' sensation) and is recovering from a crystal block?

What kind of crystals did he have and what kind of prescription food did you have him on? And, if you don't mind, why on scripped food to begin with?

Originally Posted by m935

He just a few minutes ago ate a few kibbles. He isn't drinking though so I'm using a suringe to get water in him

He peed about 5 times today... all pretty big clumps too.

He's much more alert than yesterday. Still not himself of course.

Not sure what else they did to him. They kept him for 6 hours to monitor him with the catheter. It cost over $400. Is that the normal cost for this procedure and hold time? It was over 1400 for I think 2, maybe 3 days!!!

Thanks again!!

Click to expand...

Can't give you any thoughts on prices, as they're all over the place according to vet, location, etc.

Soooo glad he's feeling better!!!!!!!!! Sending lots and lots of vibes that he continues to improve....

AC

Thanks!

Well he had this issue about 6 years ago. He was on RX food during that time. I took him off the dry and switched to an Urinary all natural food (checked everything about it). Worst mistake and Im kicking myself. He stayed on the RX canned though.

The vet said it could have been a coincidence (i dont think so)

Anyway he put him back on the CD dry. Like I said, I just want to get him drinking (which he still is NOT doing). But... then I think maybe if he did so well for so long - I should keep him on the dry also. I add water to it now though.

I did notice that he would drink ALOT when on the dry. I know its not healthy. I tried an alternative which put him thru a lot of pain and cost me $400. So... at this point Im just confused on what to do. He loves the wet - and Im lucky since Ive read a lot of cats dont. But he loves the dry also.

I was thinking of maybe switching the wet to a brand like merrick (would do a LOT of research first). BUT that just puts the fear in me that this could all happen again.

He gave me no signs of an issue until it was serious so its not like I could figure out he was blocking and THEN help him before it got bad again.

He just drank twice in 10 minutes - first time since friday!!!

Now hes playing with a bug .... back to normal (for now) anyway.

But Ill always be confused about food - its seems as if the CD dry made him drink though ....