I have a 10 year-old calico who has what is becoming a chronic bladder crystal problem. She has been treated 4 times with anti-biotics and diet. The first treatment was a success, but after a month the crystals returned. The last 3 treatments were not effective. The symptoms are very frequent attempts to urinate and pink urine. The vet is now recommending surgery. Is anyone familiar with this surgery? Is it safe for a 10 year old cat? Is the recovery easy? Is it effective? Are the results lasting? Surgery is the last thing I want to do, but of course I will do it if it is the only way to go. Does anyone have any other suggestions for treating bladder crystals? Supplements, homeopathic remedies, food change, etc? I would really appreciate any help. This has been going on for a few months and I need to do something. Thank you.
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Cat with bladder crystals
- Thread starter elizabeth k
- Start Date
What surgery is being recommended? What type of crystals are they (struvite or oxalate)? Has her urine been cultured - has there been infection? (Why have the antibiotics been administered?) What has her urine pH been?
With pink urine, clearly her bladder is inflamed (if there's no actual infection).
Is she eating dry food or wet food?
If the crystals are calcium oxalate, then if they're too large to pass, she needs surgery.
If the crystals are struvite, they can be dissolved with a urine acidifier, like L-methionine. You need to be careful with this, and your vet should be able to provide guidance on its use, but to be able to use it you have to be able to track her urine pH at home. Would you be able to slip a test strip into her urine stream when she pees?
Again, if struvite crystals, you should be able to help dissolve them with diet, and you can additionally help flush them out if you're wiling and able to give her sub-q fluids at home.
How to help really depends on answers to these questions......
But for a better understanding of FLUTD, you may find these helpful:
(All written by vets)
http://www.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth
http://vetgrad.co.uk/show10MinuteTopUp.php?type=&Entity=10MinuteTopUps&ID=36 ("How I approach Cats with Lower Urinary Tract Signs" by Jodi L. Westropp, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM February of this year. Dr. Wetropp is one of the leading docs when it comes to FLUTD).
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=743091&sk=&date=&pageID=6
With pink urine, clearly her bladder is inflamed (if there's no actual infection).
Is she eating dry food or wet food?
If the crystals are calcium oxalate, then if they're too large to pass, she needs surgery.
If the crystals are struvite, they can be dissolved with a urine acidifier, like L-methionine. You need to be careful with this, and your vet should be able to provide guidance on its use, but to be able to use it you have to be able to track her urine pH at home. Would you be able to slip a test strip into her urine stream when she pees?
Again, if struvite crystals, you should be able to help dissolve them with diet, and you can additionally help flush them out if you're wiling and able to give her sub-q fluids at home.
How to help really depends on answers to these questions......
But for a better understanding of FLUTD, you may find these helpful:
(All written by vets)
http://www.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth
http://vetgrad.co.uk/show10MinuteTopUp.php?type=&Entity=10MinuteTopUps&ID=36 ("How I approach Cats with Lower Urinary Tract Signs" by Jodi L. Westropp, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM February of this year. Dr. Wetropp is one of the leading docs when it comes to FLUTD).
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=743091&sk=&date=&pageID=6
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Thank you LDG. I will get the answers to the questions you raised and post again. I'm also reading the articles you referenced. Again, thank you.
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2013
- Messages
- 110
- Purraise
- 25
Lots of water can help.
Try using an eye dropper to feed your cat water. It might help flush out your cat's bladder. I give my cats about 6-8 eye droppers full every 15 minutes or so for a few hours or until I see the symptoms going away and it seems to help a little. I would still make sure you get her checked out to see if it is helping at all, it's not a guarantee, but it might help a little, as well as help keep them from forming and getting very bad.
This does help with one of my cats who is prone to it. If I see any signs (like extra licking) I'll do that and it seems to have lessened the number or attacks.
Try using an eye dropper to feed your cat water. It might help flush out your cat's bladder. I give my cats about 6-8 eye droppers full every 15 minutes or so for a few hours or until I see the symptoms going away and it seems to help a little. I would still make sure you get her checked out to see if it is helping at all, it's not a guarantee, but it might help a little, as well as help keep them from forming and getting very bad.
This does help with one of my cats who is prone to it. If I see any signs (like extra licking) I'll do that and it seems to have lessened the number or attacks.
Feeding ONLY wet food is VITAL for prevention. What are you feeding her? If the crystals are recurring, it may be best to get the surgery. But the older the cat, the more possibilities of complications during surgery.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2013
- Messages
- 4
- Purraise
- 11
I had this problem with my male cat a long time ago (passed on now) and went to the vet. He treated with anti bi's and flushed the urinary system. The cause was calcium mostly found in fish and anything with fish derivatives. He was quite happy to eat chicken and was always fussy anyhow. His urethra was smaller than expected which mixed with the fish caused the sweetheart to briefly suffer. That is my story and hope it helps.
