FLUTD--newly diagnosed--tips, hints?

In June-July Ritz had a UTI (rod-shaped bacteria), stress induced. She had blood on stool first of October, urine analysis showed sturvite crystals. I've been giving her 1/8 tsp of an acidifier for ten days. Her symptoms grew worse, so I took her to the vet.
This reflief vet (really liked) diagnosed Ritz with FLUTD; symptoms fit. She's having a flare up right now. Vet gave her a shot of metacam (yeah, I know) and indicated this should help a lot. He advised supplementing her diet with Omega 3. Was okay with me feeding her raw/commercial raw.
But she's licking her genital area even more now 12 hours later, it smells, still having some gas/diareha (which may be related to her eating too much cat grass), a little interested in food (but always picky). Her anal glands were "gigantic" (the vet took care of that). Little urine in the box, although the vet swears Ritz is peeing somewhere because there was no urine in her bladder (so, he couldn't do a urine analysis). The vet said if she isn't better next week or her symptoms worsen, I should bring her in early in the morning, and they will express her bladder or put a needle in her bladder to rule out infections.
I can and will research this issue to death/life/comfort for Ritz.
But my main question to you wise ones is/are: which one thing did you do that seem to help your cat the most? Any web sites you found particularly helpful.
FWIW: Ritz has been on wet food all her life. A month ago I transitioned her to raw/commercial raw. She's doing really well on raw. I have Felway next to her cat tree. One litter box. She's around two years old, a rescue, female.
Thanks. I'm worried; she's not herself.

I have an adult male who has FLUTD, and has had it for 6 years now. We discovered it when he got a block so you are lucky you discovered yours quickly. I'm surprised the vet didn't put you on prescription food to break up the crystals, granted I dont know anything about feed raw so maybe it works better. But mine eats only the wet food version only, no dry, of Purina u/r. I also add Glucosamine and Chondroitin to his food. From what the vet told me it is supposed to have an anti-inflammatory effect and help build the mucus layer inside the bladder. Petsmart sells all sorts of urinary tract health supplements that contain cranberry and other ingredients that really help keep it under control. Use only filtered water and make sure your kitty drinks plenty of it, I add water to my cats food as well. Having a drinking fountain will help in courage her to drink more water. Her not peeing in the box is something that I have found hard to overcome, they associate the pain of going with the litter box so they find alternative places to go. Mine actually goes on a puppy pee pad behind the door to the closet with a litter-box, and this is fine with me because I can easily monitor his pee and see when there is blood in it, when there is I really increase the water so that his urine is more dilute and he pees more so it keeps the crystals from scraping his bladder, it usually clears up in a few days after this. He doesn't have bad flare ups very often, it usually happens if he gets stressed or upset. If I have to leave town for a few days for whatever reason he gets stressed and usually has a brief flare up. Don't know if any of this helps but this is what I have found to be successful with keeping my cats FLUTD under control and he seems pretty happy with it, scarfs down his food and continues to play and snuggle up in bed with me.

I've had a chronic FLUTD boy (Muddy) for over 3 years now. He's on a mostly prescription diet, and when not eating that, he's on canned food. We've taken all fish off his diet, and he's on a lifetime prednilisone prescription (5 mg every other day). It took us a long time to find out what combination of food/medications he needs to remain stable.

What I know about it is that FLUTD is somewhat a general term that can be caused by a number of different urinary tract type problems. You need to keep trying different things to find out what works for you. Muddy went to 5 different vets (2 general practitioners, 2 ER and a cat specialist), along with a consult to another cat specialist. Each vet had their ideas on how to treat him, and I tried a little from each until we got what worked for him.

What I did find out from the specialists is that that the glucosomine/chrondrite doesn't work for bladder issues. The original trial that was used on cats was not controlled - the cats given those meds also had a diet change and they showed an improvement. In a later more controlled trial, cats given glucosomine/chrondrite did no have a change of diet and they showed no improvement at all. Most vets do not know this and are therefore continuing to prescribe joint health meds to FLUTD cats. Don't waste your money.

I found a FLUTD support group on Yahoo that I participated in for a while. Once I stabilized Muddy, I stopped participating.

First, I'm sorry you're having this issue - I know from experience how challenging it is. In your situation, I think I would get the urinalsysis done in any event - that should help at least in diagnosis.

Besides, what's been said above, what I found helpful was

My boy had struvite crystals. It's now controlled with diet (Hills C/D, in our case - my boy doesn't care for wet too much, so he gets both dry and wet CD). I see your vet is on board with your feeding raw, but, IMO, if the vet suggests trying prescription food, please do so. I know the ingredients don't look great to a lay person, and the raw food champions sometimes are appalled, but it's a line of treatment that has been successful for many cats.

Clean any area where she may have peed with a good enzyme cleaner. I also went out and got all new boxes (added a couple) and put them in different areas. Cats will often associate the litter box with pain of elimination, so a new box may not carry that association. I also had wonderful luck with Cat Attract litter (you can get it at Petsmart) - it was designed by a vet who treated many cats with litter box issues. I'm not sure what herbs are in there, but cats do seem to find it very attractive.

I've also read anecdotal evidence about using filtered water - I don't think it could hurt, really. Adding a water fountain can never hurt either.

Thanks for your advice. I've joined the Yahoo support group for cats with FLUTD.

Have you gotten a sample of the runny poop to the vet to rule out any parasitic or bacterial infection? In addition to taking her in so they can get a urine sample, I would definitely include that. Blood in her stool is a concern - it may not "just" be IBD as mentioned in your thread in the nutrition forum.

Thanks.
No blood in stool than I can see which I know isn't an indicator. I did see blood ON the stool in the beginning of October which eventually led to the diagnosis of FLUTD.
Her anal glands were "gigantic"; in May they were full, too. (The vet expressed her glands.)
She finally ate some bone today (I fed raw and commercial raw). She may not have been getting bone and too much raw kidney.
Monitoring her, especially if she has runny poo in the morning but not evening.
I will take her in if the runny poo continues, in the morning, so they can also get a urine sample. She is strictly an indoor cat.
Appetite good. Picky, as usual.
She wants to play now....

Yes, but you're feeding her raw, so even though she's indoor only, there is a risk of bacterial or parastic infection, and t. gondii (parasite that causes toxo) is definitely a risk in uncooked pork. Unlike the bacterial infections, which are generally managed by proper meat handling/washing, t. gondii cysts are in the meat, not on the outside of the meat, and only cooking kills it.

Seroprevalence of t. gondii in pigs destined for the market varies, but in this book by Dubey (the authority on t. gondii), the largest study (1,000 pigs) indicated a seroprevalence of 17%: http://books.google.com/books?id=5Nm...n%20US&f=false

Toxo doesn't usually cause a problem in people or cats - but it can, for people and animals with a compromised immune system.

The symptoms you describe aren't indicative of toxoplasmosis. I'm merely pointing out that even though your cat is indoor-only, because of the raw diet, you shouldn't rule out potential bacterial or parasitic infection without testing.

Toxoplasmosis oocysts aren't limited to pork (or even meat, for that matter), but active toxo cases are exceedingly rare in any species, even in immune-compromised kitties.

Ritz does not have toxoplasmosis. She has seen a vet and been diagnosed with stress-induced FLUTD (which is a catch-all term for recurring urinary tract issues; Urinary Tract Disorders in Cats). In addition, Cindy is in the process of transitioning her from commercial raw to frankenprey raw and Ritz has been a bit recalcitrant about eating bone-in meals. Not enough bone = loose stools.

Best regards.

AC

But to my understanding no sample of BM has been taken to a vet. FLUTD is not exclusive of other potential problems. Sheldon, when younger, had fresh blood on his stool that came from his colon, not his urine.

And yes, if Ritz has not been getting enough calcium, that would result in loose stools. And you're also right, t. gondii is not limited to pork (however it does have the highest prevalence of any meat). I also pointed out the symptoms are not indicative of toxo. I was merely addressing the comment "She is strictly an indoor cat" in response to my post asking if she'd taken in a poop sample to check for bacterial or parasitic infection.

Personally, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Lazlo was being treated for hairballs when he had cancer. Vets aren't always right the first time around.

Thanks for your all's input.
A recent sample of Ritz' BM has not been tested. If she continues to have loose stool, certainly, I will get it tested.
I am transitioning Ritz from commercial raw to full raw, and somewhat ineptly. She did eat some bones and one oz of Prima Quail yesterday (albeit reluctantly), and so far, so good--no stools of any kind. Of course, I will monitor this situation--obsessively.
I tend to "catastrophic-size" matters: if Ritz has loose stools, maybe she has a parasite. My own guilt coming out--maybe the pork was a bit smelly? My bad....
Since Ritz has FLUTD, maybe can never ever get anything repaired in my house or take a vacation again. Not....
Reality checks always welcomed!
Thanks again.

He's back on a wet food diet of perscription food. So far so good. He's even wanted to play again which he hasn't in a while.