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Really scared again for Bonaparte

post #1 of 65
1/11/12 at 8:02am
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #2 of 65
1/11/12 at 9:41am

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

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post #3 of 65
1/11/12 at 9:50am
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #4 of 65
1/11/12 at 10:26am
Oh Jenny NO!!!!!! Oh the poor baby! And poor Momma! hugs.gifhugs.gifhugs.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #5 of 65
1/11/12 at 11:01am
Oh, no, poor Bonaparte! That's really worrying.hug.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif that the vet can put him right asap. Please keep us updated.
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post #6 of 65
1/11/12 at 11:54am
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.
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post #7 of 65
1/11/12 at 2:03pm
Oh Jenny - hugs.gifhugs.gif 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.gif I know this is so hard on you hugs.gif 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. agree.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #8 of 65
1/11/12 at 5:21pm

Sending vibes for Bonaparte! vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif

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post #9 of 65
1/11/12 at 7:13pm
Keeping your sweet boy in my thoughts vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #10 of 65
1/12/12 at 1:09am
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #11 of 65
1/12/12 at 6:31am
Oh Jenny! How annoyingly frustrating. hugs.gif So no crystals or gravel in his urine, either? Many vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif 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. heartpump.gif
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post #12 of 65
1/12/12 at 6:43am

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.

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post #13 of 65
1/12/12 at 6:56am

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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post #14 of 65
1/12/12 at 8:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by dragonmyst47 View Post

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. 

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.
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post #15 of 65
1/13/12 at 10:13am
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #16 of 65
1/13/12 at 10:21am
Oh, Jenny, that's such a shame - for Bonaparte and for you. vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif that the operation goes well and helps him. I'll be keeping cross.gif
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post #17 of 65
1/13/12 at 11:43am
vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif

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. agree.gif I hope it's this straightforward for Bonaparte! hugs.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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post #18 of 65
1/14/12 at 12:39am
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #19 of 65
1/14/12 at 1:37am
cross.gif that his problems are now gone. vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif for a quick recovery.
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post #20 of 65
1/14/12 at 10:40am

Prayers sent for Bonaparte for a rapid and full recovery! vibes.gif

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post #21 of 65
1/15/12 at 7:08am

Hoping they have him all cleaned out and the problem does not re occur.

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post #22 of 65
1/15/12 at 8:27am
vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #23 of 65
1/15/12 at 10:52am
Just checking in and adding more vibes.gif for Bonaparte.vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #24 of 65
1/15/12 at 11:20am

Just wondering how he's doing today. vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif

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post #25 of 65
1/15/12 at 12:06pm
Thread Starter 
He is OK, they are keeping him lightly sedated to avoid stress. The vet will decide tomorrow if he can come home. But it will not be till they are sure he is peeing OK on his own. He will have a catheter again for a while. They have 'tefloned' him - coated his tubes with some kind of slidey substance that discourages sand or gravel from sticking to him.
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post #26 of 65
1/15/12 at 12:12pm

I just saw this. This forum and the RB one break my heart so I rarely view them,  but I saw Bonaparte's name and came to the thread.

 

Poor boy!  Lots of vibes that he feels better soon and is able to come home tomorrow! vibes.gif


Edited by Natalie_ca - 1/15/12 at 1:19pm
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post #27 of 65
1/15/12 at 12:15pm
Hope he's home SOON! vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifhugs.gifrub.gif
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post #28 of 65
1/15/12 at 4:19pm
vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif For your sweet Bonaparte - I hope he will fully recover and be home to you very soon. cross.gifhugs.gif
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post #29 of 65
1/15/12 at 4:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post

Oh Jenny! How annoyingly frustrating. hugs.gif So no crystals or gravel in his urine, either? Many vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif 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. heartpump.gif

Pipsqueak does have FIC - blood in urine with no known cause - no crystal's or stones. I took him through all of the tests: xrays, culture sensitivity urine tests, and ultrasound. Everything was normal. Very frustrating not to be able to find out the WHY... I have not been able to see actual blood though (red urine) although when I collect it from him it is a brownish color. He let's me collect his urine while he goes, I just use a sterile small plastic container. He is currently on Dasuquin http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/vet/products/Dasuquin-for-cats.aspx It is suppose to help strengthen the bladder wall against irritation.
I am not sure it is working though. These last few day's he is going to the box a bit more again, not like before, but a little more and the urine clumps are not as big. He was also on an anti-depressant but not at the current time. The antidepressant he was on was called Elavil. It helps the cat's to retain their urine and allows the bladder to heal. Although it did stop his urinating frequently - it did not clear the blood in the urine. He was on it for three month's. I may have to go back to it just for his stress and urine retention. His FIC is most likely due to his high strung nature. Stress goes directly to a cat's bladder causing inflammation and irritation - which produces the blood.
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post #30 of 65
1/16/12 at 1:06am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Feralvr View Post


Pipsqueak does have FIC - blood in urine with no known cause - no crystal's or stones. I took him through all of the tests: xrays, culture sensitivity urine tests, and ultrasound. Everything was normal. Very frustrating not to be able to find out the WHY... I have not been able to see actual blood though (red urine) although when I collect it from him it is a brownish color. He let's me collect his urine while he goes, I just use a sterile small plastic container. He is currently on Dasuquin http://www.nutramaxlabs.com/vet/products/Dasuquin-for-cats.aspx It is suppose to help strengthen the bladder wall against irritation.
I am not sure it is working though. These last few day's he is going to the box a bit more again, not like before, but a little more and the urine clumps are not as big. He was also on an anti-depressant but not at the current time. The antidepressant he was on was called Elavil. It helps the cat's to retain their urine and allows the bladder to heal. Although it did stop his urinating frequently - it did not clear the blood in the urine. He was on it for three month's. I may have to go back to it just for his stress and urine retention. His FIC is most likely due to his high strung nature. Stress goes directly to a cat's bladder causing inflammation and irritation - which produces the blood.

Thanks for the info. Lauren. The vet has called me this morning and I can bring Bonaparte home htis afternoon. The vet says he removed a lot of gunk form his tubes, some of which was embedded and had been there a long time. I must keep him on a special diet for the rest of his life, difficult in a mulit-cat (and dog!) household, but I will sort things out. He is also an inside/outside cat and eats the prey he catches, and I cannot change that - I have a feeling that it may be no coincidence that this has happened just after I had to keep him in for a month because I had a cat-killing dog staying in my gite and the poor cat was definitely very stressed. All the cats are already on the best urinary balance food I can find, but it will need to go further. I will discuss the details with the vet when I see him later.

It will be wonderful to have him home. There has been such a Bonaparte-shaped hole in the house, and everyone is feeling it. Tasha is definitely missing him and the cats are quiet and not themselves.. I miss having him in his normal spot on the bed at night and on my pillow in the morning to wake me up. My neighbour has asked where he is, as he is a regular visitor to their garden.

So I will update tonight when I have got him back. Thank you all for your kind wishes and vibes - we all know what a great difference it makes having TCS support behind you.
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