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- Aug 9, 2018
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Hello, I am eagerly hoping from anyone whose cat has re-obstructed immediately after being put on a catheter/fluids and subsequently discharged from the hospital.
BACKSTORY:
Apple is a 4-year-old, neutered Maine Coon mix, strictly indoor, hyper-sensitive. Immediately following our out-of-state move, Apple started exhibiting extreme vocal signs of distress and was taken to the ER. He had a complete obstruction and had to be unblocked. Struvite crystals were found in his urine. At that time, we opted to take him home right after the procedure due to financial reasons. So he was not immediately put on a catheter/IV but was receiving antibiotics, pain meds, anti-inflammatories, and prazosin. Still, he re-blocked two days later and brought back to the ER. We scrambled to find the funds to have him properly hospitalized, and ultimately had him receive the recommended, "full" treatment including the IV, full bladder flush, and catheter. He was discharged after he was able to eliminate on his own, about 36 hours after intake. First day back home, he did wonderfully -- urinating like normal, eating, quite active. He started eating the Royal Canin S/O wet diet right after our initial episode. Now it's the second day back from the hospital and he seems to be doing much worse. Making hourly trips to the litter box (now there are three), straining, and producing only coin-size clumps. I also started seeing blood. He has eaten maybe 1/5 of a 5 ounce can in all, but drinking the liquid from the food bowl (I am adding water to the food and some tuna juice for flavoring). I am worried to death that he is obstructing again. (We started seeing similar signs after his initial re-block, only he is perhaps a bit more active this time). He already used up his last pain med dose.
PROBLEM: We are in a new town, no regular vet. All the ER doctors we are dealing with keep changing, so there is no consistent observation/source of advice. The last doctor I spoke to on the phone (who hadn't seen or treated Apple at any point, but did review his file) did not sound too optimistic. We can't go the PU surgery route, it's simply not realistic financially.
QUESTION: Has anyone had a similar experience and had the cat recover, without PU surgery? What was the outcome? We are trying our best in terms of minimizing environmental stressors (Felliway is plugged in; water fountain (but no signs of use, possible apprehension); three litter boxes) but Apple has always seemed on the skittish/reactive side and I can't help but to think the move was just too much for him to handle.
We are slowly coming to terms with the possibility of euthanasia if his condition continues to worse and/or it becomes clear he is distressed and in pain. But if anyone out there has had a better outcome in a similar situation, we could use the hope!
THANK YOU FOR READING!
BACKSTORY:
Apple is a 4-year-old, neutered Maine Coon mix, strictly indoor, hyper-sensitive. Immediately following our out-of-state move, Apple started exhibiting extreme vocal signs of distress and was taken to the ER. He had a complete obstruction and had to be unblocked. Struvite crystals were found in his urine. At that time, we opted to take him home right after the procedure due to financial reasons. So he was not immediately put on a catheter/IV but was receiving antibiotics, pain meds, anti-inflammatories, and prazosin. Still, he re-blocked two days later and brought back to the ER. We scrambled to find the funds to have him properly hospitalized, and ultimately had him receive the recommended, "full" treatment including the IV, full bladder flush, and catheter. He was discharged after he was able to eliminate on his own, about 36 hours after intake. First day back home, he did wonderfully -- urinating like normal, eating, quite active. He started eating the Royal Canin S/O wet diet right after our initial episode. Now it's the second day back from the hospital and he seems to be doing much worse. Making hourly trips to the litter box (now there are three), straining, and producing only coin-size clumps. I also started seeing blood. He has eaten maybe 1/5 of a 5 ounce can in all, but drinking the liquid from the food bowl (I am adding water to the food and some tuna juice for flavoring). I am worried to death that he is obstructing again. (We started seeing similar signs after his initial re-block, only he is perhaps a bit more active this time). He already used up his last pain med dose.
PROBLEM: We are in a new town, no regular vet. All the ER doctors we are dealing with keep changing, so there is no consistent observation/source of advice. The last doctor I spoke to on the phone (who hadn't seen or treated Apple at any point, but did review his file) did not sound too optimistic. We can't go the PU surgery route, it's simply not realistic financially.
QUESTION: Has anyone had a similar experience and had the cat recover, without PU surgery? What was the outcome? We are trying our best in terms of minimizing environmental stressors (Felliway is plugged in; water fountain (but no signs of use, possible apprehension); three litter boxes) but Apple has always seemed on the skittish/reactive side and I can't help but to think the move was just too much for him to handle.
We are slowly coming to terms with the possibility of euthanasia if his condition continues to worse and/or it becomes clear he is distressed and in pain. But if anyone out there has had a better outcome in a similar situation, we could use the hope!
THANK YOU FOR READING!