11 yr old male ragdoll blood in urine, going outside his box

Hello,

My 11 yr old male names Spanky has been experiencing blood drops in urine, frequent trips to the litter box, and he is also uncharacteristically going pee outside his box (in towels, dog bed, etc.). Been to the vet twice...unable to draw urine in either case. Vet did an x ray and saw no stones and indicated his bladder was dry. She administered an injectable antibiotic and gave me pills (essentially Xanax).

I feed both my cats a dry premium cat food. Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated!

Thanks

Do you know what the name of the antibiotic was?  This site has good information on dealing with bladder issues:  http://catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth   The best thing you can do for a cat with bladder issues is to increase their water intake via food.  I would switch your kitty to a canned food only diet, as well as adding additional water to the diet, this helps keep the bladder flushed out.  I have a water fountain for my cats that they drink out of.   It sounds like your kitties bladder is definitely irritated/inflammed.  Cosequin can help with inflammation of the bladder, I have a cat who has chronic interstitial cystitis, we have essentially kept it under control with canned food and cosequin.

The blood in the urine is often a sign of bladder inflammation. More fluid intake to flush out his system more would be helpful. Here is one vet's take on why any canned food is better than dry food, especially for urinary health: www.catinfo.org. If the injectable antibiotic that was given was Convenia, you may also want to read the section on that site on the risks associated with Convenia.

Sounds like a UTI to me. Check out this site www.catinfo.org and especially the part where Dr. Pierson talks about urinary problems in cats.

As far as advice, I'd get him off of dry food and onto canned (the website I gave you gives a thorough explanation why). I'd rather a cat eat the worst canned than any dry kibble, providing that it's balanced of course. Second, get kitty drinking water. Put water in the canned food if he'll eat it. My cats are on raw and their food is swimming in water yet they still drink water occasionally. When I had them on canned I added water and I am still surprised by the amount of urine they produce on raw with additional water. It would be even less if on dry.

@LDG wrote a terrific article about tips for getting more water into your cat. I can't post links from my phone.

Good on you for getting your kitty veterinary care and seeking out additional help!

Thanks for the replies.  I have .5 mg of prazosin and .25 mg alprazolam that I'm giving him daily.  In addition, he's had diarrhea (my guess is from the antibiotic injection).  Blood seems to have decreased but he's still going all the time, and outside the box.  Thinking about taking him back to the vet, but have been there three times now and do not feel as if they are helping to resolve the issue.  Should i continue the course and try to gradually switch to a canned, wet food?  Or do I try the vet again to possibly try and obtain a urine sample?  

Best regards

How long ago did he have the antibiotic injection?  If there is still blood in the urine, that is of concern.  Yes I would try to switch your cat to canned food as that is better than dry especially for bladder issues.

Sometimes stones will not show up on x-ray but will on ultrasound. I am kinda surprised with 3 trips back to the vet an ultrasound has not been suggested yet. Male cats must really be monitored closely when it comes to UTIs. I would make an appointment for an ultrasound ASAP. Make sure he is still able to urinate. If he does not, then you have a blockage and he must go to the ER immediately.

The very first thing you should do, is find another vet. The kitty has a bladder infection. The walls of the bladder are inflammed, due to the urine being too concentrated, as in, he is not getting enough water intake, to dilute the urine. 

This is accomplished, by feeding wet, mixed with water, so its like a soup, this keeps the urine diluted and him flushed out. 

If you ever had a bladder infection, I have, its very very painful. You feel like you have to go real bad, all the time, even tho you have no urine in your bladder, hence the getting in and out of the box. They associate the box as causing the pain, thats why they go in other places, like towels and a dog bed. When they do pee, it burns, its very very painful.

The vet gave him an injectable antibiotic, most likely Convenia. Convenia is used to treat skin issues, its really not rated to give to kitties, and there are alot of side effects and death caused. As with any antibiotics, there can be reactions, such as the diarea. With pills, you can stop taking them, and go on another class of antibiotics. With an injectable, its in there, you can't stop it, if there is a reaction, you are sca-rood.

http://www.catinfo.org/?link=convenia

Prazosin is used to treat high blood pressure. Does the kitty have high blood pressure? This is not a medication to give for a bladder infection.

http://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/learn...-horse-owners/prazosin-for-dogs-and-cats.html

Alprazolam is used for behavioral issues, like Xanax.  He does not have a behavioral issue, none was mentioned in the post, and this is not a medication to give for a bladder infection.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=0+1303+1457&aid=3202

He does not have behavioral issues, he does not have high blood pressure, he has a bladder infection. He needs to be on antibiotics, specifically for a bladder infection. 

That he is not blocked is good, that is a way worse issue to deal with, as issues go, this is a minor issue and very easily fixed, with the proper medication and the proper feed. 

What the vet is trying to do, is what is called a "clean catch", they do this by inserting a needle in the bladder, in humans, we pee into a cup. They test the urine for bacteria, its called a urinealasis, which I can't spell, lol. With a bladder infection, he pees what little he has in there, so its harder to do, but you can leave him for the day, and they have this kind of box, per say, that when he does pee into it, they can test that urine, I had to go that route the first time. 

Find another vet, that knows how to treat a bladder infection. Best of luck.      

Your cat could have crystals in his urine, you can't see crystals on an xray.  Crystals irritate the bladder and can cause the bleeding.  When the vet I work for can't get a urine sample we will keep the cat for the day with lots of water, sometimes overnight, we usually get urine out of them that way.  I agree if there is blood in the urine it's not due to a behavioral problem.  I would either find another vet or insist that your vet does a Urinalysis.

antibiotic injection was on Wed (day before Thanksgiving).  Very concerning indeed…thanks for the note.

Will do ASAP…thanks for the note

Vet told me the Prazosin would help "relax his urethra".  I've since discontinued the xanax since I wasn't seeing any point and didn't enjoy watching my poor cat walk around all groggy and uncoordinated in addition to having his bladder issues.  Well, this Vet needs to go perhaps.  Will go ASAP to get an ultrasound…have already started the canned food mixed with a lot of water with great success.  He drinks it all up with no problems.  Am monitoring the litter box to ensure he's not blocked.  Appreciate all the sound advice.  

Best regards

I hadn't heard of using Prazosin for that before but did some research and apparently it's true.  I am glad to hear your kitty took to the canned food.  I know it has been heaven sent for my girl who has interstitial cystitis, we haven't had a flare up for quite some time now.