Shy Guy and his UTI...

momof3b1g

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Well Shy Guy finished all his medicine on Saturday(13th). Amitriptyline, prazosine, and baytril. Thought all was fine.  He had been feeling good. Now today he comes down for lunch and notice he is back to licking himself again.  He ate all his lunch, licked himself again and went back upstairs.  I bought the Friskies Special Diet canned food. It gets good reviews for cats that get UTI's. has anyone used it? Or is the precription food any good? The vet suggested it and was hoping  not to have to feed it to buy it.

Do you really think its stress that causes UTI's? Or dry food or what? He is 4 years old and never had a problem.  Not sure what the vet is going to suggest now? Anxiety meds every day? There is no way i can afford $1000 vet bill if he gets blocked. I would have to sadly put him to sleep. 

I havent switched him completely to canned food. right now he gets just over 2oz of wet food and 3/8 cup of dry. 1/4 which is soaked in water in the am.  Looks like i have know choice but to give him all wet food. I just worry about getting him to eat enough not to lose weight.  he did seems to lose a little since the last time he was weighed. About a pound.(january he was 14lbs) But i dont know how long thats been, he doesnt get weighed often.  Could what ever is causing the weight loss be causing the stress, causing the UTI? 
 

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Stress is definitely a big factor in UTIs, and a dry diet can definitely also trigger it. I'm not sure how stress affects a uti, but the issue with kibble is a lack of hydration. There's a definite link between UTIs and high urine concentration. A wet diet keeps a cat far better hydrated so the urine stays more dilute. This in turn helps to flush out any impurities or very small crystals before they have chance to build up and cause a blockage. More dilute urine is also much better at flushing out any bacteria, which helps prevent actual infections.

The weight loss is most likely stress related - just like some people lose weight when stressed. He does sound like an anxious little boy.

Firstly - diet. I don't think that a prescription diet is absolutely necessary to prevent blockages (though they are definitely helpful in breaking down crystals in the early stages, or post catheterisation). A wet, low carb/grain free diet is the best way to keep things working properly. If he'll accept water added in to his wet food then that's even better. This article has more ideas to boost fluid intake http://www.thecatsite.com/a/tips-to-increase-your-cat-s-water-intake.

If you need to feed a little dry food to make sure he gets enough calories, then that's absolutely fine, so long as he gets extra fluid to compensate. Soaking kibble isn't ideal, as it can stimulate the growth of all kinds of bacteria. The methods mentioned above are far safer ways to compensate for the lack of moisture.

I have a cat that blocked totally when he was 3. He's had a primarily wet diet (normal food...he was even a 'junk food' addict until very recently) ever since, with about 20% of his intake coming from the royal canin urinary s/o kibble. He's 13 now, and we've never had a recurrence. That might be a good compromise option for you...especially if you get the veterinary diet online - so much cheaper than from the vets. The other route (if you wanted to feed some kibble) would be to go for a non veterinary, low carb, grain free kibble. The other advantage of these is that they're generally very calorie dense, so you'd actually be feeding less kibble for the same calories - better for your bank balance as well as for uti risk.

With stress - have you tried natural options such as Spirit Essences/Bach Flower Remedies? They really can make a difference, and are kinder to the body than long term medication. IMO, it's always worth trying. Having said that, lifetime medication is a far better option than a permanently stressed out cat.

Hang in there. Try not to stress yourself (so much easier said than done, I know)...Shy Guy will most likely pick up on that and it may exacerbate his issues further.
 
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momof3b1g

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he just left the litter box and cannot pee again. of course its 5:30 and no vets are open. :(
 
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momof3b1g

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Last time he had a plug, but was walking all over crying. This time he isnt really crying.  So im not sure if is is actually blocked.  I did have one Prazosin left, so im hopng that helps. Do you think it could be the bladdar spams? I know the other day he couldnt pee, then later that day he was able to. Not sure why.  I have to remember if that was when i called the vet again.
 

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A spasm could certainly make urination difficult or impossible briefly (not to mention painful). If there's no improvement, or he gets worse, then you'll have to get him to a vet. If in doubt, get him seen tonight.

I hope it is just a spasm, and that he's able to pee soon. Mega :vibes:
 
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momof3b1g

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A spasm could certainly make urination difficult or impossible briefly (not to mention painful). If there's no improvement, or he gets worse, then you'll have to get him to a vet. If in doubt, get him seen tonight.

I hope it is just a spasm, and that he's able to pee soon. Mega
I hope the prazosin helps tonight. He finished all his dinner, so is appetite, as always is good. I almost hate giving him can food tonight, as if he is blocked will only add to his bladder :(  Going to be a long night
 
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momof3b1g

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Well he finally pee'd a good amount at about 11:30 pm. So I think saving that Prazosine was a good thing. But I wonder then he must not have been blocked? That wouldnt have released that? I dont know but will be asking the vet in the morning. Now to get him to drink more water. and find a good diet. I read the plugs are build up caused by cheap food. Now i wonder what they consider cheap food? I know I now have 2 posts about this/him. So please if the admin wants to combine them. PLEASE DO!
 

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I'm so glad he was able to pee. I think you're right that he wasn't fully blocked in this case, though it's perfectly possible that he is partially blocked and that the prazosine was able to dilate his urethra enough to compensate.

Great that you're calling the vet in the morning - if I were in your position I'd be getting Shy Guy checked out just be be sure he wasn't getting blocked again.

With diet, I think 'cheap food' refers to food with lots of fillers and carbs. Any low carb, grain free, high meat wet food should be absolutely fine. I believe sheba patés and fancy feast classic patés fall into this category as well as some of the more premium brands.
 
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momof3b1g

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Shy Guy has his appointment tomorrow morning. He was doing good, with no licking as he is still on the prazosin. That was until today. I noticed that he was this morning. So I called and they couldnt get him in today, but suggested I get him in to stay over night.  he was fine all day and at 2:30 he pee's in the litter box.  So i decided to not leave him there over night. I never asked, but worried he would be there alone and it wouldnt do any good. Having to be kenneled wouldnt help for stress.  He has been on an all wet diet and i bought some of the c/d wet food. I have been giving him some of that at some feedings, as well as the friskies special diet. And other wet foods. Im glad he isnt blocked but something is still bothering him and what is going to happen when he is taken off of the prazosin? I fear he will need surgery to open up his urethra. 

Can someone tell me what they will need to do to figure this out? I assume a urinalysis to check for any infection,  ph/protein levels, check for stones or crystals?  I am stressing over what its going to take to keep him healthy, surgery expensive food, etc. I am afraid its not going to be an easy road :(
 
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momof3b1g

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Well not enough urine in his bladder to do a test :(. But they are going to check his blood.
 
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They checked his kindneys and white cells. Both good. I got the c/d chicken canned. He doesnt eat lunch til 2pm. But was acting hungry when he got home. So i fed him at 1:30. Well he threw up all his lunch. Not sure if its stress or he ate to fast or what. But I am getting very stressed out over this. Any advice how to deal with this? I am in tears. Our ac unit has been acting up and isnt helping my stress. UGH!
 

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If he vomited straight after eating then it's almost certainly simply that he ate too fast. He's probably a little stressed from the vet visit too.

Try to stay calm and not over analyse everything. So hard when you have a sick cat, but very necessary..for your sanity, if nothing else! Read a book, watch a favourite movie, take a walk...anything to get your head out of stressing about him.

What's the treatment plan from here? Do they want another go at expressing a urine sample, or is it a case of wait and see if the c/d food works by itself?

:vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
 
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momof3b1g

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If he vomited straight after eating then it's almost certainly simply that he ate too fast. He's probably a little stressed from the vet visit too.

Try to stay calm and not over analyse everything. So hard when you have a sick cat, but very necessary..for your sanity, if nothing else! Read a book, watch a favourite movie, take a walk...anything to get your head out of stressing about him.

What's the treatment plan from here? Do they want another go at expressing a urine sample, or is it a case of wait and see if the c/d food works by itself?

TY, Im trying. I just wish he would take a nap. I made some tuna water and he liked that.  So at least he has some fluids. 

They said the food could take a month to even his levels out, so now its a wait and see.
 
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momof3b1g

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Yikes im trying not to go stir crazy now. Shy guy again threw up his food tonight. I cant remember what time it was( i think between lunch and dinner) earlier i gave him 1/2 oz of wet with some water. he kept that down.  then 6-6;30 they had dinner and he did fine on that.  Tonight about 10pm he was crying, I assume he is hungry but feeding time isnt til 11pm. i did end up giving him a few pieces of dry food. So it wouldnt throw up his food at 11. well he did anyway. He  barely touched the new c/d chicken. wanted what the others had. So i gave him some and it didnt stay down :( I feel so bad, as breakfast isnt til 7am. Would you give him something later? I always worry not having anything in his tummy all night. But maybe he is better to let his stomach rest overnight. 

Oh do probiotics help with vomiting? Not sure I call it IBS as he has never been diagnosed.
 
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I'd give him a break from food to let things settle. When you feed again, go with something gentle such as plain chicken breast. Contact the vet if the vomiting continues...I'm not sure what's causing the problem, but he does need the prescription diet and the vet needs to know the situation.
:vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
 
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