Urinary blockage, now other issues. Some reassurance needed.

Hello!  I am new here, but have been reading your forum and have been getting some insight.  I need some reassurance, or opinions on my furbaby Merlin.  I adopted Merlin from a local no-kill shelter when he was about 1.5 years old.  He is now nearly 12.  About 3 weeks ago, he started not acting like himself, hiding, straining in the box.  I took him to the local ER vet and he had a blockage from crystals.  They said his kidney function was ok, but urine was pretty bad.  They kept him overnight and sent him home with directions to be on a canned food only diet, which I have followed to the letter.  He seemed to be doing well on it and has been urinating well until Wednesday when I thought his urine output had dropped.  I got nervous about another obstruction and took him back to the vet.  They said his urine was MUCH better and that he wasn't obstructed, but his penis was purple.  They said he may have some irritation and sent me home with antibiotics and Buprenex for pain.  Well when I brought him home he jumped down from my arms and started limping on his back leg.  I figured he twisted something as he is a big boy, about 13.20 lbs, and he has done this before.  So I gave him his meds and he went to sleep and so did I.  The next morning I woke up, his food bowl had not been touched and he didn't really seem that active.  I attributed to the pain med hang over and went to work.  When I got home he was hiding under the bed (which he will do during the bed as one of his favorite safe sleeping places) but he wouldn't come out, even when i petted him and spoke to him.  I brought him out and he was still limping.  He sniffed at his food and went back under the bed.   The vet said to give him the pain meds and call today if he was worse.

This morning he got up when my husband was here, went to the pan, but still hadn't eaten.  I woke up and he was under the bed again.  I brought him out and he seemed to be walking much better and even started following me around, which he does alot.  The weird thing is that he acted hungry but wouldn't eat. When I sat the plate with his wet food in front of me, on the floor and sat and petted him, he wolfed it down like he was hungry,but wouldn't eat unless I was right there.  He even played when I engaged him.  He is napping next to me now on the floor. 

Is he having insecurity issues right now because of all the trauma and vet visits?  I am off work today through Tuesday, so I planned to spend some time with him.  I was actually off the whole week last week and was home with him a lot. He is very clingy and super close to me and has insecurity issues anyway if I am gone  too much, so I am wondering if that is manifesting with this since he feels bad.

My husband thinks I am making more of this than I should, but I know my boy and has been acting weird.  He is much better today though, just clingy.  The eating thing just was weird to me!  any comments, suggestions?

I'm so sorry you're having these issues with your kitty! :rub: ...but glad you found TCS.

I have a kitty that has an issue with nausea, and that's the classic symptom. He's hungry - but being nauseous, the smell puts him off. If he eats when you sit with him, then sit with him so he eats. :nod: Hopefully this will clear up in a day or two.

Is he still being given pain meds? That may be the culprit - for both the clinginess and the nausea. I know that when my cats come home while still under the influence of anesthetic for whatever reason, they're REALLY clingy/lovey/needy. :nod:

Given he's on a wet food only diet, what you may want to do is head to the pet store, and buy some freeze dried meat treats. Because he has urinary issues, skip ANY fish or shrimp. But try small packets of freeze dried chicken or turkey, or chicken or beef liver. When Lazlo is nauseous, it can change from meal to meal what works for him, but any of the above, when crushed into a powder and sprinkled on top of his wet food will often get him to dig in. :nod:

if he doesn't eat more enthusiastically on his own over the next few days, you may want to ask the vet about pepcid a/c. Lazlo had ulcers, so is on a maintenance dose of one a day (10mg, the generic is famotidine). If given an hour after or before a meal, once a day, it works for 24 hours. It might help if he needs it for a few days or so.

Vibes for Merlin!

Thanks!  actually he is going to the dish better now.  The freeze dried stuff is actually a good idea though, as my guy can be kind of picky sometimes.  I think he needed some mommy tlc today. 

I know he is nauseous, he vomited a little last night.  That was my fault because i gave him some milk last night to get him to eat anything.  He isn't used to it and it was a bad idea.   He is eating much better today and isn't hiding now.  He even played some a bit ago.

He is resting well out here with us around.

I will keep you advised11

Oh that's great! Bummer about the milk - but live and learn. FYI, I keep jars of chicken baby food (Beechnut - Gerber's now has corn starch in it. ) around for those desperate moments....