16 year old with urinary blockage

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misters mom

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Hi. I am in desperate need of advice. My 16 year old had a urethra blockage last Sunday. His blood sugars flew off the charts causing seizures. He is now blind. I have had him home since Tuesday. He will not eat unless I hand feed. He is starting to lick off the plate. He just lays around very limp. I have a vet appt in an hour and need advice. Would you continue to try? I'm so lost right now. My heart is breaking.
 

DreamerRose

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Of course your heart is breaking. He's been your friend for 16 years.
 Let the vet examine him and go over options with you. It could just be that it will take some time for him to regain his appetite. My Mingo just got over struvite crystals, and he took him a week or so to start eating well again. 
 
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misters mom

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We just got back from vet. The vet said that Mister's eyes are reacting alittle to light. They sent me home with iv fluids to give him every 24hrs. We take him back on Monday. I am to continue giving him a/d food. So far today he has eaten a can. My biggest concern right now is his lack of not moving. He just lays there limp.
 

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We just got back from vet. The vet said that Mister's eyes are reacting alittle to light. They sent me home with iv fluids to give him every 24hrs. We take him back on Monday. I am to continue giving him a/d food. So far today he has eaten a can. My biggest concern right now is his lack of not moving. He just lays there limp.
Is he moving around any better now that he's getting fluids.  I know when I am dehydrated, I'm exhausted and don't want to do anything by just lay there.  What about his blood sugars?  Did they go back to normal, or are they still out of whack?  That could also be causing him to be lethargic if they aren't back where they should be. 

At least his eyes are reacting to light.  That's some good news, yes?  Poor old guy, he's been through the wringer this past week, hasn't he
.    How's his main issues, the uretha blockage?  Everything ok in that department?

 
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misters mom

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Today Mister is doing alittle better. When he came home Tuesday his blood sugars where back to normal. They have not been checked since. The vet said yesterday his urine looks great as he peed all over counter when doing iv fluids.he will take himself to the potty every hour or so and he does pee. I'm usually right there so I scoop it and it's about the size of a knocker marble ( sorry that's the only thing I can think of for size) he will then try to go again. He will lay in the litter pan for a short time. Then in and out in and out with a tiny more pee usually. He is exhausted by then and lays on the bathroom floor. I let him do this for a bit then I bring him back to his bed. I'm worried he'll get to cold on the bathroom floor. He will eat when I am right there. Everytime he wakes I'm offering food. He will eat alittle. I have to move the food around and put some to his mouth then will start licking the plate. But im kind of pushing then food on the plate towards him.He is eating a can of a/d every 24 hours. I'm scared to not offer. I don't know if he will do it on his own yet. He still will not drink water. In an hour I have to do my first iv fluids on him. I'm so nervous. Any advice on getting him to drink and should I give him time to eat on his own? I'm worried if I do that he will get weaker again.
 

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I would NOT wait for him to eat on his own.  sounds like he needs all the nourishment he can get.  MORE, if possible.  Do you think he might drink some raw goats milk?  My sick old girl wouldn't drink it, but some cats do.  Maybe warmed up?  I never tried to warm it up.  When feeding wet food already, a lot of cats just aren't thirsty. I feed only wet food, and I rarely see my cats drink.  Granted, i do add extra water to every meal though. 

Don't be nervous about giving him his fluids.  They showed you how, right?  It helps if you warm them, and I also tossed a bath towel in the dryer first too, to wrap Callie up in, because she always started shivering whenever she got fluids, even though I also warmed the fluids.  But she had zero body fat left when she was getting them
.  Anyway, I warmed the fluids by filling a big bowl with hot water and submerging the bag in it,...just don't submerge the end of the bag where the IV Admin is inserted.   Also, the higher you can hang the bag, the quicker the fluids will flow.   And remember, you are not hurting him, you are helping him. . He should feel better afterwards.  Be brave
  Once you get the hang of it, it'll be a piece of cake. 
 

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You are doing well. By all means add extra water to his food. I mix Mingo's 1:1 with water and heat it up if it's been in the fridge. He laps up the "gravy" first thing. He will not drink water on his own, and I have a fountain for him. Hang in there. You're making progress.
 

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How's he doing today?  How was your first sub-q fluid treatment?  Did everything go okay? 
 
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misters mom

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Fist fluid treatment did not go well. We got it in him but not without 2 pokes and 5 cat bites. Poor baby. I am not looking forward to tonight's treatment. He has eaten 1 1/2 cans since 7pmy last night. Still wants no water. He has started hissing at me my husband and his best friend our dog which he wasn't doing before. Any ideas why. He also seems more disoriented.
 

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Hmmmm.  When you poked him with the needle, what happened?  Did you do it in his scruff?  Did he react as it he hurt?  Wonder why he bit you or your husband unless it hurt him?  I HAVE actually heard of one case where they had  to use a muzzle on one cat, but that was indeed an unusual case, and I figured the cat was a feral or something. 

As to his disorientation, are you talking about just when he walked around, or what?(since he can't see right now)    Is there any issues with his head tilting to one side, or him walking in circles, anything like that?  Those are signs of a stroke, as i recall.  At least he eat 1 1/2 cans of food in the last day, which is a good sign.  Are you adding extra water to that? I would add plenty extra, but still make sure he eats a full can of FOOD, plus.  And did he used to eat dry food or wet?  If dry, then the wet food is probably plenty for his palette to think he's had enough water.  

How are his stools?  Is he beginning to have more and softer stools? 

I'd call the Vet tomorrow and discuss the situation of him biting and see if maybe you can take him in and YOU give the fluids there at their office so they can see if you are doing something wrong or not.  OR, maybe see if someone at their office lives near you and would be willing to stop by your house on their way home and watch you (for a fee) to see what's happening.  That would make less stress on your old guy.  (just be sure he doesn't run and hide when the doorbell rings
 
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misters mom

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It breaking my heart to say Mister passed yesterday evening. I want to thank everyone for their tips and support. You guys where my life line. RIP my baby boy. Momma and dad miss you horribly. Until we see you again.
 

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I am so very sorry. Mister was a handsome guy. You loved him for 16 years, and he will always be part of your life. You did everything you could for him and you were a comfort to him in his last days.
 

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I am so sorry to hear this news. You did all you could, but his time had come. He knew he was loved and you gave him all the comfort you could. It is normal when a cat has passed to close the thread out of respect, and to enable the owner, if they so wish, to open a new tribute thread for their cat in the 'Crossing the Bridge' forum. There is no hurry, take as much time as you want, but I am sure that there must be many stories and loving words you would be able to tell us about Mister. he had a long and happy life with you. Meanwhile, on behalf of the moderating team, I send our deep condolences.
 
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