Clavamox question

Don't think that way!

Our Spooky has FLUTD flare-ups at times. We're dealing with crystal issues right at the moment, but in the past, she's had no signs of crystals OR infection. The vet prescribed clavamox because "sometimes it seems to help." Well - who knows if it was the clavamox, or if it was just something that was going to self-resolve anyway without it? :dk:

The thing is - to actually cure a bacterial infection in the bladder, either Baytril or Orbax is usually used. Clavamox would be too mild. :dk:

But with the IBD, I think it's best to know for sure whether or not there is an infection. In the meantime, if she's uncomfortable, you can ask the vet for pain meds. You can also consider picking up some Bach's Rescue Remedy. You'll know tomorrow if it's crystals, right? (I wonder why my vet is able to tell me before we leave the appointment? :dk: ) Though infection is possible, it's not usual. So if it's a "FLUTD" flare-up kind of thing, all you can really do is focus on increased water to keep her flushed, and promoting a feeling of calm.... so Feliway (plug in - expensive, but more effective than the spray in our experience), and Bach's Rescue Remedy are usually helpful. :heart2:

JenL said:

Yeah, I saw that. Oh, I feel like I do everything wrong with this kitty :-(

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Oh hun, of course not
the truth is, every medicine has side effects......
I have used Cerenia SO much..... it is very safe..... Very good to have around, specially fon an IBD kitty :nod:
Clavamox is one that I don't touch, but I have my reasons - and I just can't recommend to anyone with an IBD cat.
I would call the vet and ask..... Just keep watching her..... But know that almost 90% of the UTIs are not due to bacterial issues :nod:

Also, try to give her the most amount of wet you can...... and keep her stress level down :nod:
Those two things are paramount in lowering the risks of UTIs

I am so scared of her getting a seizure! I saw that as a side effect now I'm scared beyond reason. I should have just stayed with famotodine. I am not giving her another dose.

I get so emotional when she is sick. It's ridiculous. I just cry. I am sorry to vent on here, really. It's just that she has had so many problems since September I feel like "I" need medication. She's really special, I just want to take the best care I can of her.
 

Have your kitties slept a lot on Cerenia? I just wonder why she hasn't peed since 2. She's drank enough. But she just wants to sit on the bed.

JenL said:

Have your kitties slept a lot on Cerenia? I just wonder why she hasn't peed since 2. She's drank enough. But she just wants to sit on the bed.

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Probably because she doesn't like to pee :dk: My kitties don't pee all the time either - when they pee, they pee big pees.... That's better..... I would be more concerned if she was jumping ina and out of the box trying to be without being able to pee. You said that she pped a big pee earlier on - maybe she just doesn't have to go.... :dk:

Try to relax...... Kitties feed on stress.... Ii know it is hard.....

Thanks Carolina.

I am happy-she got up, ate, drank water, played with the printer, and had a nice pee! She didn't seem to have any pain. When she has pain, she usually vocalizes or does a slow blink. She hasn't had that problem (knock on wood) the past few days.

I am realizing that I didn't give her wet food the past few days. I wonder if that had something to do with the little pees, because she didn't drink as much as she normally does (almost a cup)-maybe because the temp on the radiators was lower due to the higher temperatures outside, and it wasn't so dry when we slept with the door closed (which we do to keep her from our bully cat). We wake up parched when the radiators are high, so I'm sure my kitties do.

I also kept scooping yesterday to check, and adding fresh litter. I remember that when I do that, my kitties try to pee in the box cause they can't smell themselves. Because she didn't pee much except one time last night, so that doesn't point to urgency?

This is all terribly confusing. I usually give her a wet "slurry" on a dish three times a day, and since she was having softer poops, I didn't, to try and see if the dry i/d would firm it up, and it did.

I'm exhausted!

JenL said:

Thanks Carolina.

I am happy-she got up, ate, drank water, played with the printer, and had a nice pee! She didn't seem to have any pain. When she has pain, she usually vocalizes or does a slow blink. She hasn't had that problem (knock on wood) the past few days.

I am realizing that I didn't give her wet food the past few days. I wonder if that had something to do with the little pees, because she didn't drink as much as she normally does (almost a cup)-maybe because the temp on the radiators was lower due to the higher temperatures outside, and it wasn't so dry when we slept with the door closed (which we do to keep her from our bully cat). We wake up parched when the radiators are high, so I'm sure my kitties do.

I also kept scooping yesterday to check, and adding fresh litter. I remember that when I do that, my kitties try to pee in the box cause they can't smell themselves. Because she didn't pee much except one time last night, so that doesn't point to urgency?

This is all terribly confusing. I usually give her a wet "slurry" on a dish three times a day, and since she was having softer poops, I didn't, to try and see if the dry i/d would firm it up, and it did.

I'm exhausted!

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Yeah..... Hun..... :dk: but doesn't sound to me like she has an UTI..... It is really reassuring she had a nice pee :bigthumb:
Just watch her..... And try to relax so she doesn't pickup on your stress. Keep her on the most wet as you can - if you can feed ALL wet, .... better. She doesn't need more thant a can a day..... If she is a normal sized cat.
If she is peeing and happy I would just wait for those results before giving her antibiotics..... IBD and clavamox really don't mix IMHO.
IMHO antibiotics are way overused for UTIs.
Again - I believe in antibiotics - for infections - not as in "just in case" :nod:
It's going to be alright hun

I know. It's starting to seem like "maybe" she doesn't. I'm hoping not!! 

She is not a normal sized cat, unfortunately. We have been working on her diet but it's been setback after setback since she was sick. She's around 19 pounds-we found a food that worked with her IBD and were so happy to see her eating we overdid it due to the joy of finally seeing normal stools and her eating normally. I feel horrible now.

But we are working on it.

I just wish it wasn't the weekend. Results would be faster for the culture, and I wouldn't feel so bad withholding an antibiotic if it *is* bacterial.... Urinalysis comes back tomorrow.

Thanks to both you and LDG for your insight.

JenL said:

I know. It's starting to seem like "maybe" she doesn't. I'm hoping not!! 

She is not a normal sized cat, unfortunately. We have been working on her diet but it's been setback after setback since she was sick. She's around 19 pounds-we found a food that worked with her IBD and were so happy to see her eating we overdid it due to the joy of finally seeing normal stools and her eating normally. I feel horrible now.
But we are working on it.

I just wish it wasn't the weekend. Results would be faster for the culture, and I wouldn't feel so bad withholding an antibiotic if it *is* bacterial.... Urinalysis comes back tomorrow.

Thanks to both you and LDG for your insight.

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If she is peeing and behaving ok tomorrow, I don't think you have much to worry about it......

i know this sounds crazy but when one of the cats i used to have had UTI and the meds didn't work the vet recommended to give her some crainberry tea no sugar maybe like a 2 tablle spoons after i made her drink it about 2 hrs later she was in the litter box for 20 mins peeing

and are you sure she don't have crystals on top of the infection?

Vet said no sign of anything sinister in urinalysis. He said to discontinue antibiotics for now and just make sure she keeps peeing. I will know more on Monday when the culture comes back. He says it could be idiopathic cystitis, but we are in a watch and wait mode. Miss has had a few good big pees today, so hopefully it keeps going in that direction. I keep putting her water bowl in front of her, and have given her soupy wet food today along with her dry. One more soupy wet food before bed time. Kitty vibes appreciated!
 

I am so glad she is ok!
Yeah, keep her on lots of wet food, and keep the stress down.... She will be fine hun :cross:

With Clavamox, it's useful to give at least, acidophilus (best is a probiotic called S. boulardii but any acidophilus will be good) and to follow it up with syringing water.  The easiest way to administer these capsules for me, is to put the capsule in my mouth to get it slippery, and either spit it in (yeah, I know) or take it out of your mouth and put in her throat.  Water won't have the effect.  And capsules that are NOT first made slippery like this will get stuck in her throat.  These probiotics would also help her IBD.

Keeping a large syringe (not the size for giving meds -- you need to give her the equivalent of a glass of water (about 15 cc) as you would take after any pill) is important.  Further, UTIs are exacerbated by concentrated urine.  That irritates their bladders and inflames it so it swells shut.  Male cats can die from this as their bladders will burst.  Dilute urine is the MOST important thing, and cats do not have a good thirst mechanism as they are created obligate carnivores, and built to get their fluid needs from their kills.

I do hope your baby is feeling good soon!

LDG said:

Did you get pain meds for her? Our vet prescribes buprenorphine. It's given every 12 hours. If none was administered, and they sent you home with none, I'd call tomorrow to ask about picking some up. :nod:

I'm so sorry for your girl....

FYI, you might want to read through the Holisticat page on FLUTD. Given it's safe to administer, perhaps a local health food store carries D-mannose? :dk: For while you wait.... http://holisticat.com/flutd.html

!!!!

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When Hoot had her bladder infection he prescribed buprenorphine also. I used Clavamox with Ramsey when he was so sick. I got absolutely no results from it, either positive or negative. Because of that experience I'd prefer not to have Clavamox if possible. I'd much rather NOT have the negative side effects with no positive results. Thankfully we didn't get the negative side effects. We got nothing at all!

JenL said:

Vet said no sign of anything sinister in urinalysis. He said to discontinue antibiotics for now and just make sure she keeps peeing. I will know more on Monday when the culture comes back. He says it could be idiopathic cystitis, but we are in a watch and wait mode. Miss has had a few good big pees today, so hopefully it keeps going in that direction. I keep putting her water bowl in front of her, and have given her soupy wet food today along with her dry. One more soupy wet food before bed time. Kitty vibes appreciated!

 

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Oh that's great news so far!

it was just a passing thing, and her culture is clear! :rub:

What did the culture results indicate? :cross:

And how's she doing?

Miss culture came back bacteria free. But even though she is peeing better, with the exception of today, she is leaving brown urine droplets on my sheets.
I need solutions. I am overwhelmed with her IBD, obesity and this. I need types of wet food suggestions as I have to get her off dry. And she is an addict.
The vet really wants an ultrasound for all of her issues. Money is tight.
I am so frustrated...