Angel Has Cystitis AGAIN (3rd time in 5 mo.s!)

angels mommy

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I hope every one had a merry Christmas.

I ended up somewhere I didn't want to be. The animal E.R.

Angel went to the litter box fine about 8:30am. a good amount. Then again 3 more times w/ little to no results in the same hour.

The last two times he threw up all of his breakfast, big time!! So, off we went to the hospital.

We were there from 11:30-almost 2:30. Surprisingly, (or maybe not)  they were busy.

They took an X-Ray just to make sure there were no blockages, & there wasn't.

They gave him some anti-nausea meds & a shot for pain, & sent us home w/ more. It's a sub-lingual, buuprenorphine. His bladder was empty, so they weren't able to get a sample to do any more test.

We have an appt. w/ his vet tomorrow morning. He is urinating, so is okay until then. He used the litter box some time this morning between 5:00 & 7:30.

I am just feeling so defeated!!!!  
  I don't know why he would keep getting these!

The first time in Aug. it was bacteria related.  The 2nd time in Oct. it was not.

His p.H. has been fine every time, so that's not the reason.

He eats good grain free food, Bravo Complete raw burgers, & Before the Grain beef, or turkey, 

w/ filtered water mixed in for even more moisture, because of this problem.

Nothing major has happened as far as stress.

No dry food At ALL!  His treats are freeze dried beef (Vital Essentials) (or Pure bites freeze dried turkey).

I just don't know what else I can do. 


I have resisted the Rx food from the vet's for this because it's crap! Corn, wheat gluten, by products...chicken, which will make him more itchy. (because it's warming & he has damp heat according to a holistic vet) (was chewing raw spots)

BUT, at this point, I feel like I really may not have a choice. AND it's more expensive that his good food!!


(Thank god for Care Credit, but after all three rounds of this, it's going to have a balance over a grand!)
 

I just want my baby better, so he doesn't go through this any more!

His last pain meds were given at 10:45 last night, so I was going to give him his next dose, (12hrs) but decided to wait & see how he seems.

I think they kept him up all night. He was up all day yesterday & he usually sleeps at night, but was WIDE awake every time I checked on him last night. Laying down, but head up, & because of the meds, pupils BIG!  He needs to sleep, but I don't want to give him the meds if they will just keep him stimulated & he won't rest. I don't want him to be uncomfortable either.


I just checked on him, he is finally laying down on my pillows, on the bed, but still awake. Hopefully he will sleep soon.


I appreciate any in-site from you all & sure could use lots of hugs!!
 My heart is just so heavy over this. It has to stop happening!

Sorry for the long post, thanks for reading.

Kelly
 

flintmccullough

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How-much-water-are-you-giving-him,mixed-with-his-food?

Other-pets?

How-calm-or-stressed-is-the-household?

Cat-boxes-picked-every-day?

How-many-cat-boxes?

I-have-a-crystal-kitty-too,his-happened-on-a-sun-night,6-yrs-ago.He-been-fine-since.I-remember-the-terror-of-that-night,I-am-so-sorry,you-had-to-go-thru-that.

I-looked-at-the-ingredients-of-Before-Grain,no-grain,but-alot-of-other-junk.You-have-to-watch-the-minerals-too,which-is-why-you-give-them-filtered-water,which-you-are-doing.

I-think-you-may-not-be-giving-him-enough-water,keeping-them-flushed-out,is-the-key,and-I-am-suspect,of-the-ingredients-in-BG.

I-feed-Blue-Wilderness-wet,its-by-Blue-Buffalo.His-wet-is-mixed-with-water,so-its-real-soupy.Tried-putting-him-on-dry-for-one-feeding,back-in-he-went,and-got-promply-yelled-at-lol,she-said,he-has-to-be-fed-wet-only,mixed-with-the-water.Its-been-2-yrs,no-more-probs.
 

finnlacey

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I can help you with this and it's all natural. This happened to my sister's cat Midnight who I care for full time and this was recommended to me by a couple of friends. Worked like a charm!!! First off, Cosequin! Even though it's technically for arthritis it says right on the insert that it helps heal the bladder lining and it's true, it really works! Give that once per day. Also, get some organic, decaffinated cornsilk tea. Seep a teabag into a container with 1 cup of hot water for 30 minutes and let cool. Then refrigerate and with a medicine syringe give 6 ccs 3xs per day for 3 weeks. Works like a charm! The one teabag will stay good for about 6 days then do another one. 
 
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angels mommy

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I mix in enough water to make his food oatmeal consistency, or even a little thinner, so he is getting plenty of water.

As far as flushing him out, both times in Aug. & Oct. I had to give him sub-Q fluids every other day, until the bag was gone. (I forget how much they had me doing, but was about an inch & 1/2 of the bag ea. time.)

I suspect when we go tomorrow, I will be coming home w/ that again. :/  (I hate that big ol needle!!)

The house is very calm, no other pets, just Angel & I. ("I'm a single Meowmy")
 
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angels mommy

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I can help you with this and it's all natural. This happened to my sister's cat Midnight who I care for full time and this was recommended to me by a couple of friends. Worked like a charm!!! First off, Cosequin! Even though it's technically for arthritis it says right on the insert that it helps heal the bladder lining and it's true, it really works! Give that once per day. Also, get some organic, decaffinated cornsilk tea. Seep a teabag into a container with 1 cup of hot water for 30 minutes and let cool. Then refrigerate and with a medicine syringe give 6 ccs 3xs per day for 3 weeks. Works like a charm! The one teabag will stay good for about 6 days then do another one. 
He has been on Dasequin sense Aug. when it all started. Same thing as Corsequin.  I've never heard of the cornsilk tea treatment. What is it supposed to do? I will look for it at my health food store.

Thanks for the suggestion.
 

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I don't think it's exactly the same thing and you have to give it time to work. It doesn't happen overnight but it really does work! The cornsilk tea is for the inflammation, it calms it down. 
 

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Merrick Before Grain is a good food, nothing wrong with it.
 
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angels mommy

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Merrick Before Grain is a good food, nothing wrong with it.
Thanks so much!!
 It's good to get another opinion. I didn't think so, but hadn't looked anything up.

-Also he has been on Dasequin sense August, it's had plenty of time to work. I think it is working, (& proof in the follow up ultrasounds), that's why I'm confused as to why this happened again.

I saw the Cosequin  on line & it is almost identical ingredients. I thought about ordering it next time because it's cheaper than the Dasequin.
 
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angels mommy

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Just went & checked on him, & he is finally asleep! I knew he must be exhausted, being up so long. He is knocked out! He usually isn't a heavy sleeper, but I put a blanket on him & he didn't move.

(& he's breathing fine)
 
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finnlacey

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Awwww little cutie pie. If the ingredients have just one different thing then I think you should try it together with the cornsilk, that's what I did and it started working pretty fast.
 

ldg

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Oh no hun! Poor little Angel! :hugs: :rub: :heart2:

...What some may be missing here is that in none of these events did Angel have crystals - and the last time, he didn't have an infection either. It's kitties with crystals that we need to worry about the mineral profile of the food. But this isn't that. This is basically inflammation of unknown origin - so the issue is figuring out a method of preventing/controlling the inflammation (assuming you don't want him on steroids long term!). :heart2:

:sigh:

Hun, have you chatted with Jules (WhollyCat) about using D-mannose before? If there is infection "hiding" in his bladder wall lining, it may cause the inflammation but turn up negative on a culture of his urine. It can't hurt to use it - it's a short term treatment anyway. You may also want to consider a short term course of colloidal silver. Cornsilk and other herbals are discussed here (along with the D-mannose and the CS): http://holisticat.com/flutd.html

I don't know what's causing his on-again / off-again inflammation, but I sure hope that one of these options will help! :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:

FYI, the difference between Dasuquin and Cosequin is bioavailability and pill size. The Cosequin is much larger and takes a bigger dose to get the same amount of glucosamine/chrondroitin IN kitty. Check the cost per amount of glucosamine - I'm not sure Cosequin is actually less expensive to use. But as it hasn't been working, you may want to check into the herbal options listed on the Holisticat FLUTD page.

:vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
 
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angels mommy

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Oh no hun! Poor little Angel!

...What some may be missing here is that in none of these events did Angel have crystals - and the last time, he didn't have an infection either. It's kitties with crystals that we need to worry about the mineral profile of the food. But this isn't that. This is basically inflammation of unknown origin - so the issue is figuring out a method of preventing/controlling the inflammation (assuming you don't want him on steroids long term!).


Hun, have you chatted with Jules (WhollyCat) about using D-mannose before? If there is infection "hiding" in his bladder wall lining, it may cause the inflammation but turn up negative on a culture of his urine. It can't hurt to use it - it's a short term treatment anyway. You may also want to consider a short term course of colloidal silver. Cornsilk and other herbals are discussed here (along with the D-mannose and the CS): http://holisticat.com/flutd.html
I don't know what's causing his on-again / off-again inflammation, but I sure hope that one of these options will help!

FYI, the difference between Dasuquin and Cosequin is bioavailability and pill size. The Cosequin is much larger and takes a bigger dose to get the same amount of glucosamine/chrondroitin IN kitty. Check the cost per amount of glucosamine - I'm not sure Cosequin is actually less expensive to use. But as it hasn't been working, you may want to check into the herbal options listed on the Holisticat FLUTD page.
Thanks Laurie, I'll check out that thread. He has had some crystals in the past, but were tiny enough & I guess that's why I was sent home w/ the fluids to give him every other day until gone.

He's never had a blockage. Thank God!!!  So?????? Not sure if it's JUST the inflammation until we go to the vet in the morning & get the ultrasound done.

It's just frustrating. I feed him good food, & it seems like he keeps having this problem, & before I knew better & he ate not horrible dry & some wet too, he didn't have problems. (other than the itchy skin). 
 
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angels mommy

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Laurie, I checked out the link. Thanks! Good info. I sent it to my Vet, sense I don't have a printer to print it out & take w/ me tomorrow.

Angel slept until 4, so he at least got 4 hrs, but as we know not even close enough for a kitty. LOL!

I did give him his dose of the Buprenorphine when he got up. He then ate the other half of his raw pattie, plus 1/8 can of BG. Both mixed w/ water of course.

So far so good. he seems content, not revved up by it like he was yesterday. I just want him to be able to sleep tonight.  
 
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angels mommy

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Blue-Wilderness-wet-chicken-or-turkey,is-pate.


http://www.bluebuffalo.com/cat-food/wilderness-chicken-canned

http://www.bluebuffalo.com/cat-food/wilderness-turkey-canned

edited-to-add

the-small-cans-are-$1.69

the-large-cans-are-$1.49

ballpark
Thanks for the info, but that is expensive for the small cans. Are the small ones more expensive than the large, or did you get the prices reversed?

 I pay 1.59 for a 5.5 can of BG, or by nature. Box of (Bravo Complete patties: 14.00 for 12 turkey & 18.00 for 12 Beef)  Good to know that they have a pate,' however, I have found most other foods I looked at also contained chicken, even if it said it was turkey. I see in this, the turkey is just turkey, good, but still more expensive than BG or by nature.  (I struggle living check to check, as it's just me here.)  Angel's gonna have to get a job if he keeps this up. Lol!

I have read A LOT of labels in the past couple of yrs because of Angel.

Thank you for the links & info.
 
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ldg

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Thanks Laurie, I'll check out that thread. He has had some crystals in the past, but were tiny enough & I guess that's why I was sent home w/ the fluids to give him every other day until gone.
He's never had a blockage. Thank God!!!  So?????? Not sure if it's JUST the inflammation until we go to the vet in the morning & get the ultrasound done.
It's just frustrating. I feed him good food, & it seems like he keeps having this problem, & before I knew better & he ate not horrible dry & some wet too, he didn't have problems. (other than the itchy skin). 
I'm so sorry, I remembered wrong! Was it just the last flare-up where there were no crystals present? Or have there always been crystals present in the urine analysis? What kind of crystals were they - struvite or oxalate? Because how to manage them is different.

When he has a urinalysis done tomorrow, what we need to know is whether or not there are cyrstals, what type are they, and what is the urine specific gravity? (How concentrated is his urine?).

:vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: !!!!!
 

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Had-to-pull-out-a-receipt,lol.


5.0-cans-$1.69

3.3-cans-$1.49

If....the-urine-is-too-concentrated,as-in-they-are-not-getting-enough-water,to-keep-them-flushed-out,it-burns-their-bladder-walls.They-feel-like-they-have-to-go-all-the-time,so-they-get-in-and-out-of-the-box,and-pee-a-little,or-nothing.

Found-this-out-when-I-tried-to-cut-back-on-expenses,and-gave-him-dry-one-feeding.She-said,he-has-to-have-wet,both-feedings,and-mixed-with-water,so-its-real-soupy.

It's-also-very-painfull-for-them.

The-urinealasys-will-tell-them,if-his-urine-is-too-concentrated,or-there-are-crystals,or-bacteria,and-what-meds-to-give.

My-vet-also-said,they-no-longer-give-Cosequin,for-UTI's,forget-now,why,might-want-to-ask-about-it.

Stress-is-also-another-biggie,cause-of-UTI's/bladder/crystals,what-is-your-household-like?

Best-of-luck.
 

ldg

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My-vet-also-said,they-no-longer-give-Cosequin,for-UTI's,forget-now,why,might-want-to-ask-about-it.
Because the first studies that showed benefit were not well controlled. Follow-up studies showed no statistical difference in FLUTD between cats given cosequin and cats not given cosequin (well, glucosamine/chrondroitin).

But for some cats, it works. For others, it doesn't help. It's always worth the try.
 

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I still have trouble believing that. It stopped Midnight's blood and inflammation cold. She's been fine ever since I started giving it. Nothing else worked!! NOTHING. I am a part of a group on another forum and it works for MANY kitties. I know you said it works for some, I'm just letting you know it works for A LOT of kitties. 
 
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