charlie is very sick

I hope someone here has some infor on this!! Charlie has been struggling with urinary crystals for some time now. I took him to the vet about a month ago and had him catherterized. He did ok for awhile, but my boyfriend had to take him on Monday again. We had to take him to a more expensive vet because our regular vet was not open. This vet wanted to catherterize him and keep him for three days for obsevation. It was going to cost $580. We decided to have the catherter done and just take him home with us. We also got some prescription food, Science Diet stuff. It still cost $250. He is now having some bleeding from his genitals, but he seems to be passing urine in the litterbox. He also licks that area all the time. We are giving him distilled water, but he won't eat the food we got from the vet. We have tried pouring tuna juice on it, but he just licks the juice off. I am afraid he will need to go back to the vet, and we just can't afford these vet bills all the time. He is only 18months old, and slightly overweight. I was wondering if anyone knew anything that could help this. I will do anything for him, including taking him back to the vet and paying those monstrous bills, but I would love an alternative to that. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Amy

This sounds exactly like what my Sunshine went through a few years back. He kept re-blocking because there were so mnay crystals in his urethra. They eventually did surgery to widen the urethra so it wouldn't re-block. It wasn't cheap. But he is still here with us years later, and has not had any further problems.

Good luck!!!

Amy I am afraid there are no alternatives. Sounds to me like he needs to go to back to the vet and have surgery. He is licking himself because he hurts back there and can't figure out why, and even though he is using the litterbox (probably more times than you have noticed before?) He is still blocked and hurting. He needs your vet- I am sorry, but he does, and quickly especially if he is bleeding.

My sister-in-law had the same problems with her cat. He ended up not being able to pass them and the vet did surgery (goodness... from what I understand they removed his kitty weewee?? ). He was finally able to pass them then and has been healthy since. I'm not sure how much it all cost her.. but she had no qualms paying.

thanks for the info everyone. No one had mentioned surgery to me, and I guess I didn't know that was an option. I will talk to the vet and find out more about it. I guess I could always pull out the old Visa and pay for it that way.

Originally posted by woodsygirl
My sister-in-law had the same problems with her cat. He ended up not being able to pass them and the vet did surgery (goodness... from what I understand they removed his kitty weewee?? ). He was finally able to pass them then and has been healthy since. I'm not sure how much it all cost her.. but she had no qualms paying.

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On Sunshine, they didn't remove it, but they did have to, er, shorten it. But he hasn't had any problems since. And they did tell me in his case it was a life or death choice, that he would die without surgery.

They did not remove it, they more than likely went in and widened the uretha so the crystals when they did form would pass easier. This is done with cats who have FLUTD Frequent Lower Urinary Tract Disease and although it is very common in males, females can get it as well.

Amy I would talk to your vet about this possibility, and although the surgery is expensive, so are repeated vet visits and meds.

I am going to call my regular vet today. They don't open until 4, so I will keep you guys posted. Charlie is such a little sweetie, still purrs and tries to be sweet even when he is feeling bad. I would pay anything I had, ultimately for him to feel better. I am just a college student and my boyfriend has not found a job yet after graduating, so we ar every tight on money. I will use plastic if I have too though. Our other kitty, Chester, is trying to take care of Charlie, by grooming him and snuggling him. It is very cute and sad.

It's amazing how the felines in the home can pick up quickly when their friends are not feeling well. Good luck, and I well understand the financial struggles you face, and commend you for being responsible enough to understand this could be a serious issue.

I hope Charlie feels better soon

What a good mommy you are for wanting to do anything you can to help him. My visa is semi-reserved for vet bills as well.. sucks but you gotta do it, they're your babies.

I'm going to take him tomorrow for a consultation for the surgery. They want to try some antibiotics first, though. I am so worried about him, he has the saddest little meow. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get him to eat the yucky prescription food in the meantime. It smells really bad, I could understand why he wouldn't want to eat it.

maybe nuke it for a few seconds or add some meat baby food.

Good luck at your consultation, my sister-in-law was in the same situation as you.. she was a full time student and her boyfriend was struggling to support them both. I wish the best for you and your cat family.

:kitty5: