Really scared again for Bonaparte

Just when I thought he was recovering from all his problems he has had a massive setback. This morning right in front of me he turned and sprayed all over the chimneypiece and woodburner, and to my horror I saw that the urine that reached the floor was red. I managed to get a small sample in a syringe, then phoned the vet. While I changed ( I had just got in from my yoga class) I left him in the hall with an empty litter pan and he did another pee in it, really bright red. I took that with me too. I have left him at the vet for tests and observation, and they will call me later. At least the poor boy had the sense to show me the problem.

He had a catheter in for ten days in december, and had his system flushed clear of gravel. But it has come back so quickly I can only hope there is nothing else wrong. And he never peed blood to this extent. He is still taking antibiotics for the tail abscess, which have obviously had no effect on the bladder. I am really scared this time.

Oh no!  As you said, at least he showed you right away!  for your little guy.

I just heard from the vet. The tests so far have not shown up what the problem is, so they are keeping him in overnight and doing an xray in the morning. The vet thinks there may be a large stone obstructing the urethra. Poor boy, he hates being confined and has never spent a night in a cage in his life.

Oh Jenny NO!!!!!! Oh the poor baby! And poor Momma!

Oh, no, poor Bonaparte! That's really worrying. that the vet can put him right asap. Please keep us updated.

Poor guy! I can sympathize with the cage thing. Our Flambe gets frantic in a cage.

For that maatter, having had several kidney stones, I can sympathize with Bonaparte's whole misery.

Oh Jenny - Poor Bonaparte - but he is really in the best place right now - the hospital. I really hope the xray will show as to exactly what is going on - a stone - something. :cross: I know this is so hard on you I will be thinking of you both tonight and hoping to hear some good news and that this will be easily treated. Poor little man - I am sure they are giving him something for the pain and making him comfortable too. :nod:

Sending vibes for Bonaparte!

Keeping your sweet boy in my thoughts

Well, the xray did not show anything specific, I wish it had. So they have him on antibiotics again and I can pick him up today. But when I go down there I will ask what good antiniotics are since the urine test did not show any infection. They say that if iot does not get better or recurs they will open him up and do a complete clean-out of his system My poor boy, I just feel so confused and worried.

Oh Jenny! How annoyingly frustrating. So no crystals or gravel in his urine, either? Many for Bonaparte!

Lauren's Pipsqueak had the same thing (though I don't think he ever had a problem with crystals) - only it seems maybe not as much blood. She's trying Dasuquin. Though it turns out the glucosamine studies weren't controlled, and they now believe it doesn't really help with idiopathic cystitis, in some cats it does (by thickening/buffering the bladder wall). I don't know if it's worth discussing with the vet or not, but wanted to put the idea out there. :heart3:

Is the vet using the same antibiotic all the time that he might he resistant?  I hope he handles the cage okay and his problem can have a good outcome.

Hi I do hope he gets better soon. I have a Tomcat that used to get the same problems I say used to because since I have had him on Hilla CD prescription dry food , chicken or fish and bottled water only he hasnt had an attack. It was a nurse at the vets that told me about bottled water she said that her cat hadnt suffered again since she stopped giving him tap water. If you live in a hard water area especially it could be worth a try it can be bought for just a few pence a 2 litre bottle. The fish and chicken do not work out much dearer than canned food if you buy from the supermarkets basic range. 

dragonmyst47 said:

Hi I do hope he gets better soon. I have a Tomcat that used to get the same problems I say used to because since I have had him on Hilla CD prescription dry food , chicken or fish and bottled water only he hasnt had an attack. It was a nurse at the vets that told me about bottled water she said that her cat hadnt suffered again since she stopped giving him tap water. If you live in a hard water area especially it could be worth a try it can be bought for just a few pence a 2 litre bottle. The fish and chicken do not work out much dearer than canned food if you buy from the supermarkets basic range. 

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Yes, thanks all for the suggestions. Because we do live in a very hard water area my cats have drunk only low calcium bottled water for four years now, so it is not that. He does go out and drinks rainwater sometimes, but that is softer than tapwater. When I went to pick him up my favourite vet was on duty and I had a chat with her and got some more details. He is not on the same antibiotics - she said they have flushed him out again, and did find some sand that was irritating the tract. Because of that, he is on the antibiotics - a routine precaution in the case of any internal intervention. He is now on RC urinary food to rebalance his system, although his regular diet is Sanabelle urinary - I give it to all of them. The vet said the RC is more aggressive in the case of actual problems. He seems happy to be home, very hungry and exploring everything. Now he is asleep beside me. So I will monitor him very carefully, with his own room and litterbox at night, so I can see what he does, and in a week if he is not better, or if it gets worse, they will operate. But what I don't understand is what has caused this problem in the first place, and no-one seems to be any hte wiser on that. So I don't know what if anything to change.

He is in hospital again and being operated on this evening. He began being very uncomfortable this afternoon, trying to pee, in the litterbox, on the tiles, in his catbed, with no success, and was licking and biting at himself. So we went straight to the vet and they will open him up and try to find the cause and clean him out from the inside. I am booked to go to a major dinner party tonight, and am taking some of the food, so I have to go, at least for a while. The vet has promised to call me first thing in the morning.

Oh, Jenny, that's such a shame - for Bonaparte and for you. that the operation goes well and helps him. I'll be keeping :cross:

This really may help him. We had something similar with Tuxie years ago. They used a high resolution MRI before opening him up - but a regular MRI showed nothing. Turns out he had minute crystals embedded in his bladder wall. The surgery worked. :nod: I hope it's this straightforward for Bonaparte! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The op went OK last night and he is resting this morning. They are going to keep him in all weekend. There was more sand/gravel in his system, and some small calcium stones. I have only spoken to the tech so far - the vet is going to ring me later so I haven't any more details. But this time I think they will not let him go until they are sure the problem is sorted. Thanks LAurie - I will ask about that wnen I speak tot he vet - I think they did an ultrasound before surgery, but they don't have MRI scanners there.

:cross: that his problems are now gone. for a quick recovery.

Prayers sent for Bonaparte for a rapid and full recovery!